What I learned this week...

What I learned this week...I was thinking about farms, fresh food and the high price of gas/diesel...

• PA has more than 58,000 farms, with 99% owned by families or partnerships.
• PA has more than 1,000 farmers markets. The local fruits and vegetables grown
and sold at farmers markets across the state generate over $50 million in annual
revenues.
• Of PA’s non-federal land, 19.6% is cropland and 8.2% is pasture.
• The Pennsylvania Farm Show is held in January because, traditionally, it was the time of year that farmers started looking ahead to the coming season.
• Farmers’ High School opened in 1859. Chartered to teach the application of scientific principles to farming, it was renamed the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania in 1862. It received its final name in 1953 when it became known as Penn State University.
• PA leads the nation in the number of county and community fairs with 116 across the state.
• “Agritourism” was officially added to the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate® Dictionary last year. PA is home to more than 100 agritourism destinations.
• There are nearly 60 Farm Stays across the state. Vacationers have the opportunity to learn about farm-life and agriculture while enjoying the hospitality of PA’s producers.

Check out Bill Moyers Journal on the Farm Bill :http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/04112008/profile2.html

"By April 18, 2008 the huge spending bill commonly know as "The Farm Bill" must be reauthorized. The bill encompasses so many programs and payouts that its fans and foes don't fall into predictable camps. "