Agriculture
-
Grieving Owner-Operator of Promised Land Organic Farm in Yardley Gets Help with Summer Harvest
A Yardley organic farm family, left short-handed and heavy-hearted by the passing of its matriarch, received some unexpected help with a labor-intensive task. Freda R. Savana, for the Bucks County Herald, covered the volunteers who responded to this grieving clan at Promised Land Organic Farm. Paul Hansen and his wife, Jackie, were the owner-operators of…
-
Bird Feeder Pushback Reported as Songbird Mortality Declines
The call to take down bird feeders and birdbaths while scientists figure out what is causing a mysterious and deadly disease among songbirds met strong and angry public opposition, writes Marcus Schneck for the Harrisburg Patriot-News. The Pennsylvania Game Commission reported the disease affected songbirds in 27 counties, though the mortality rate is subsiding. Cause…
-
Lesson from Skippack Couple: Homebuyers Who Skip Their Inspections May Want to Bee Careful
When Sara and Jason Weaver decided to buy their Skippack home in December, they also opted, in the name of brevity, to skip the associated inspection. They knew there were bees in the walls of the house. But they figured things would work out, writes María Paula Mijares Torres for The Philadelphia Inquirer. What they…
-
Hydrofarm, Citing a Relationship That Has ‘Organically Grown,’ Acquires Canadian Ag Nutrient Company
Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc., a Fairless Hills distributor/manufacturer of hydroponics equipment, has purchased a Canadian nutrient company. Hydrofarm intends for the $83 million acquisition of Greenstar Plant Products, Inc., to help cultivate its agribusiness brand. Greenstar is one of several plant nutrient manufacturers Hydrofarm is eyeing or has bought. The acquisition mode is part of…
-
PestWatch: It’s Not a Termite Traffic Report; It’s a PSU-Devised Tracker for Monitoring Lanternfly Egg Hatchings
A new online tool, PestWatch, created using research by scientists in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences helps predict the seasonal egg hatch for spotted lanternflies, according to a staff report from the Morrisons Cove Herald. PestWatch uses weather records for specific dates and durations to offer an estimate of first instar emergence. The estimate…
-
Lancaster County Ag Business Losing Land; Farmers May Someday Ask, ‘What Happened to Our Farms?’
Lancaster Farmland Trust has released a new report warning that Lancaster County is losing farmland every year. It is being steadily nipped away by a growing population. The trust recommends that county officials devote $125 million to farmland preservation by 2030, writes Tom Lisi for The Morning Call. “The State of Farmland Preservation in Lancaster…
-
Downingtown Couple’s Transplanted Garden a Certified Wildlife Habitat
When they moved from West Chester to Downingtown, retirees Gary and Susan Erb took more than their furniture and closet contents. They transported their entire garden, writes Sally Downey for The Philadelphia Inquirer. “We were spending more time at home and wanted more space to garden,” said Susan. Before moving, the pair dug up 399…
-
Sure, They’re Everywhere; But Not All Local Communities Are Spotting the Spotted Lanternfly
Spotted Lanternflies seem to have disappeared or are traveling in much smaller numbers in the Philadelphia region. The operative word is “seem to,” writes Frank Kummer for The Philadelphia Inquirer. The lanternflies are still around us and spreading, but the numbers fluctuate from neighborhood to neighborhood. “We have observed that areas can see a decline…
-
In the Garden With Andrew: Planting Tropicals in the Garden
By Andrew Bunting May is one of my favorite times on the gardening calendar. I like to give my garden a tropical touch by adding wonderful plants like bananas, cannas, and elephant ears. Over the last few weeks, I have been combing some of my favorite nurseries for some new tropicals. Last weekend, I made…
-
If Picking Berries Is Your Jam, Here’s Where to Go in Pursuit of Summer Fruit
Greater Philadelphia is home to many farms and orchards that have fields bursting with seasonal berries. Gathering them is a fun, outdoorsy family activity, especially in Bucks County, writes Nick Vadala for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Lovers of fresh blue-, straw-, black-, and raspberries can head to three notable local farms, ripe for a pick-your-own excursion. Shady Brook Farm (Yardley) hosts fruit harvesters from…
-
DelVal University Students Participate in Annual Dairy Challenge, Showing Off Their Cow Know-How
Seven students from Delaware Valley University, Doylestown, participated in the 19th annual Dairy Challenge. The nationwide competition compels dairy science students to turn theoretical classroom knowledge into demonstrable skills. The two-day event began with the download of real-life data from a Wisconsin dairy. A virtual tour supplemented the numbers, replacing the traditional boots-on-the-ground visit. The onsite farm operators answered students’ questions in depth. Once that discovery was completed, competing teams developed recommendations for: Nutrition…
-
In the Garden With Andrew: Great Yellow Magnolias
By Andrew Bunting In the magnolia world of the 1970s, creating a yellow magnolia was considered the holy grail. The cucumber tree magnolia, Magnolia acuminata, has slightly yellowish flowers, and people theorized that — if the right second parent could be identified — a yellow-flowering hybrid could be produced. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s breeding program…
-
Fairless Hills’ Hydrofarm Buys Agribusiness Manufacturer of Commercial Cannabis Growth Product
Agriculture equipment manufacturer Hydrofarm East of Fairless Hills announced its purchase of Field 16, a maker of plant nutrients. Pat Maio reported the $78 million transaction in the LA Business Journal. Field 16 manufactures and distributes Heavy 16, a liquid that boosts the yield and quality of crops. The nutrients it supplies are a staple in most commercial cannabis growing operations. After the…
-
Bucks County’s Traditional Crops of Produce and Vineyard Grapes Expand to Include Hemp
More than 20 Bucks County farms are now planting, growing and harvesting hemp. The key to succeeding with this multiuse crop is careful monitoring, reports Peg Quann for the Bucks County Courier Times. Fred Hagen grows hemp at his Sugar Bottom Farm in Buckingham Township. He believes it is a “miracle” plant with upsides that include pain relief, cancer treatment and even solving climate change. According to Hagen, the plant was grown 8,000 years ago…
-
The 2021 Cicada Invasion Will Yield a Stealthy Response from Mother Nature
This year’s emerging crop of cicadas is about to yield another wildlife phenomena — one that may be as unwelcome as the bugs themselves, reports Doug Gross in the Yardley Patch. Next month, thousands of Brood X cicadas will wake from a 17-year underground slumber. Then they’ll wriggle to the surface and sing in their trademark buzzy voices. But that song may be short lived. Mother Nature’s…
-
Andrew in the Garden: Beyond Rhododendrons: Great Broadleaved Evergreens for the Garden
By Andrew Bunting As we leave winter behind, I am reminded of how important evergreen trees and shrubs are to the garden. On the East Coast, we enjoy an amazing diversity of evergreen rhododendrons and azaleas, which are staples in many of our gardens. However, there are many other fantastic broadleaved evergreen shrubs to consider…
-
Moo-nlighting DelVal University Senior Isn’t Sheepish about Her Future Plans
W.B. Saul High School, a 150-acre working farm in Roxborough, trains the farmers of tomorrow. One grad returns to campus every weekend, supplementing her Livestock Science and Management coursework at Delaware Valley University with real-life experience, reports Kristen A. Graham for The Philadelphia Inquirer. “This is full circle for me,” Lyghts said, reflecting on her reconnection with the animals she nurtured getting her high…
-
Clientele May be Skittish or Aggressive or Disinterested, But This Local Craftsman Nails It Every Time
Some male senior citizens spend time doing things like playing cards or pitching horseshoes. Sonny Pistilli, 82, is pretty good with a horseshoe himself, but not for sport, for his livelihood. Pistilli, from Lower Saucon Township, is a rarity: a full-time farrier, a horse-shoer, writes Jason Nark for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Pistilli grew up in N.J. and learned the technique…
Founding Partners
Advertisement
Affiliate Partners
