Summit Gives Farmers a Chance to Network with Ag Community
Special to the Local News, Wednesday, March 10, 2010

       WEST FALLOWFIELD--Farming is still an important part of the region's economy, and Chester County officials want it to stay that way.  The Chester County Economic Development Council, along with Chester County 2020, the Penn State Cooperative Extension and the Chester County Agricultural Development Council joined in sponsoring the eighth annual Keep Farming First Summit, held Saturday at Octorara High School. 

       "I'm interested in keeping farming alive in Chester County.  I've been to most of them (the summits) and they're always interesting," said Mary Sproat of New Garden.  She noted that the networking between farmers and agencies is an integral part of the event.  "I think that's a lot of it.  For active farms that is an important thing.  There's always something new to learn in farming."  The Keep Farming First Summit is a chance for area farmers to network with others and learn what is new in farming and related fields.  There were displays for farm related organizations and businesses as well as educational programs.  "I think it's a great event.  Agriculture is very important for our business.  We're very interested in staying involved in the farm community," said Robert Lowery of Atlantic Tractor, who brought a large tractor to the school for display. 

       The keynote speaker was Dr. Tim Kelsey, professor and State Program leader for Economic and Community Development with the Penn State Cooperative Extension.  He began with an overview of ag related activities in the county.  In a county in a major metropolitan area, the majority of benefits from farming relate to tax-and-service implications, the environment, the culture, the quality of life and the economy.  "The proximity of a large number of consumers in proximity to the county creates large opportunities for local farms, and for agricultural-related economic development," he said in an earlier press release.  Kelsey was also part of a panel on "Agriculture in the Community: Its Value to the Local Economy."

       Break-out sessions in the afternoon offered a wide range of topics to meet a variety of needs.  Subjects included: Smart Farm Finances in Tough Economic Times, Food Safety Strategies Learned by the Mushroom Industry, Lyme Disease Awareness, Innovative Business Approaches to Farming on Other People's Land, Understanding Milk Prices, What's New with Federal Programs, Planning for the Future of Agriculture, --Township and Planning Perspectives, and How Does the Horse Industry Support the Local Economy. 

       Melissa Walsh from the Chester County Health Department was one of the presenters of the Lyme Disease session along with Doug Fearn from the Lyme Disease Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania.  "We're here to provide information to the public.  We know that the farm community is at very high risk for Lyme Disease," Fearn said. 

       The day also included an open house for the Octorara High School's ag education program, where visitors could see the facility, including the new Aqua Culture Lab, meet the teachers and FFA officers, and see displays of student projects.  The Agriculture Education program covers all kinds of skills that may be used on the farm including welding, masonry, small engine repair, carpentry, and leadership, as well as plant and animal science and fish culture.  Another presenter was Lynda Farrell, who spoke on risk management but also represented PA WAgN (Pennsylvania Women's Agriculture Network), an organization supporting women in agriculture.  That group and others are working to promote the Buy Fresh Buy Local Campaign and encourage local sales of produce.  "If the community in general knew more about where their food comes from, they would support local farms," she said.  "It preserves the local economy, and preserves land."

By MARCELLA PEYRE-FERRY

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Keep Farming First-- A Challenge in Chester County
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 13, 2010

       ATGLEN, Pa.-- Dr. Tim Kelsey, a professor of agricultural economics at Penn State Cooperative Extension, recently addressed farmers at the eighth annual Keep Farming First seminar at Octorara High School, Atglen, Pa.  His presentation, "Agriculture in the Community: Its Value to the Local Economy" was well received in an area of Pennsylvania that feels economic sprawl from Philadelphia and Baltimore.  Kelsey first defined agriculture in Pennsylvania as two separate things: production and consumption.  He pointed out that although the production of agriculture has declined, consumption has increased and is guaranteed to always be around.  Farms have a strong economic impact in the county.  When comparing Chester County to the greater Philadelphia area, Chester County spent more than $3 billion dollars on food consumption.

       That includes groceries, food stores, food services and consumers.  It pales in comparison to the metropolitan area at $35 billion spent but is still significant in comparison to the rest of the state.  The 2007 census of agriculture shows that farms of larger size are critical to the county's annual sales and account for a large portion of the economic value.  Chester County's value of agriculture production was estimated to be $553.3 million in 2007.  Pennsylvania farms provided 123,884 jobs in farm production that year.  According to Kelsey, the family aspect of agriculture is unique as compared to other industries.  In Pennsylvania there are multiple generations living on farms.  Kelsey pointed out that the close proximity of farmers and consumers in places like Chester County gives consumers a direct farm experience and helps them understand where their food comes from.

       He stressed that farmland in Pennsylvania provides significant open space benefits.  A little more than one third of Chester County is farmland, while the rest of the state has 27 percent.  Most farmland is lost due to construction even though Pennsylvania farms provide tax and revenue benefits to communities.  Many people don't realize the value of farmland-- but it's cheaper to keep land in farming than to crowd the school systems with more housing developments.  Kelsey reminded participants that Chester County is fourth in the country for the number of acres of in land preservation with much of that credit being given to a strong support from the county commissioners, county ag agencies and farming community.  After having seen valuable farm land destroyed for construction, "how much farmland is necessary to keep farmland viable?" Kelsey asked.  He pointed out that the loss of farm-related businesses can hurt remaining farms, ag suppliers and processors.  There is an "impermanence syndrome" when farmers believe farming will not survive, won't invest in new equipment, change with the growing economy or manage for the future.  However, the local community can help sustain survival of farms.  The ag economy is larger because the dollars are spent locally-- the more consumers in Chester County purchase local foods, the greater the impact and economic value.  Other profitable opportunities for farmers, resulting from close proximity to neighboring consumers, including agritourism, CSA's (community supported agriculture operations) and value-added commodities. 

       Because of their proximity, farmers and neighborhoods need to coexist.  There are more people living in ag areas than ever in the past and farm versus non-farm conflicts are a community issue, not just a farm issue.  Kelsey said that conservation easements, ag protection zoning and land preservation sends a clear message that housing will not take over a designated ag area.  Kelsey challenged farmers to "look at the huge opportunity before them and understand the link between ag and consumer in the metropolitan area."  He also encouraged them to be "proactive in reaching the consumer, maintain good neighbor relations and find joy in educating non-farmers."

       Nancy Mohr, director of Keep Farming First, said that the "farming community is the common ground that brings us together."  Mohr also said that Keep Farming First intends to provide opportunities for those who want to "learn and share knowledge with those that love the land."

By Marilyn Hershey, Southeastern Pa. Correspondent

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Panel Discussion Highlights Ag in the Community
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 13, 2010

       ATGLEN, Pa-- "Agriculture in the Community" was the subject of a panel discussion at the recent Keep Farming First seminar here at the Octorara High School.  About 180 people listened to the discussion by panelists Dr. Tim Kelsey, Penn State professor of agricultural economics; Lowell Fry, Fulton Bank; Mike Brown, Honey Brook Township; and Glenn Cote, Laurel Valley Farms.

       Each panelist began by sharing his connection to agriculture.  Cote spoke on the mushroom industry, which is 120 years old and represents the number one cash cop in Chester County.  The county leads the nation in mushroom production, growing 493 million pounds annually.  Mushroom growers have been at the forefront of recycling ag products by turning waste products into fertilizer for local ag and horticultural businesses.  They also benefit the ag industry by purchasing several tons of mulch hay, straw, poultry litter, cottonseed hulls and miscellaneous products.  Because mushrooms are harvested by hand and are labor intensive, the Chester County mushroom industry alone provides 9,500 jobs.  The industry has a $2.169-billion impact in Chester County and is a long-term economic force. 

       Brown, a supervisor in Honey Brook Township, spoke about his experience in local government and the impact of agriculture in an urban sprawl environment. Agriculture is a critical mass in Honey Brook Township.  Brown said that in taking a long-term look at the community, residents need to not only look at land usage but also land costs.  According to Brown, it is "cheaper to keep the land in agriculture than to develop into houses."  Brown was a strong supporter in passing a referendum requiring taxpayers to contribute 1.5 percent of their taxable income to land preservation in the Honey Brook area.  Brown stressed that taxes "are not an evil but a part of sustainability that needs to managed." Townships need to educate citizens on keeping agriculture a viable community.

       Fry challenged participants to view "agriculture as a business," and questioned what the community sees.  "Do they see a business when they look at our farms?"  Fry compared celebrating the opening of a new business with local officials on hand compared to the starting of a new farm operation that intentionally doesn't draw outside attention.  Because the farm is not viewed as an outside business, the agricultural society does not spend enough time catering to the general public, Fry believes.  He noted that neighbors need to "understand the economic power of the agricultural industry" and stressed that farmers must find opportunities to educate in venues that are not typical.  Although there is not one "silver bullet in educating the public, there is a broad rush of opportunities" in farm tours, career days in school, and one on one contact, he said.  Fry also presented a breakout session, "Farm Management in Tough Times: Are You a Survivor?"  He said that farmers need to "know the industry, the trends, competition and their neighbors."  There are fundamentals of management that include knowing your core business, cost of production, liquidity, leverage and minimum risks.  A weakness in the East Coast, Fry said, is that cost of production is not a term often passed down from generation to generation.  But it takes more than just working hard to keep a farm in business.  The eighth annual Keep Farming First Seminar was hosted by Chester County 2020, the Chester County Economical Development Council and Penn State Cooperative Extension.