Hauntingly good year
Mirror photo by J.D. Cavrich
Employee Margaret Edmunson straightens up the selection of pumpkins for sale last week at Baronners Farm Market in Hollidaysburg.
There’s nothing scary about Pennsylvania’s pumpkin crop this year. “It looks very good this year,” said Kelly Baronner, co-owner of Baronners Farm Market in Hollidaysburg. “We had an adequate amount of moisture early, and that really helped. It got a little dry [in September], so we were able to keep the disease away.” Like Baronner, pumpkin growers throughout the region saw “overall good yields,” said Tom Ford, director of Penn State’s Blair County cooperative extension office and commercial horticulture educator. “A lot of times with pumpkin growers, they don’t use irrigation,” Ford said. “So they’re more dependent on rainfall. This year’s rainfall was perfect — we didn’t have excessive rain and we didn’t have not enough. The pumpkin crop did very well for the local grower.” The pumpkins, Ford said, are about 6 to 10 pounds, which is what most consumers want for carving, with sturdy stems for handling.
» Full StoryFSA announces farmer elections
HUNTINGDON — Elections are an opportunity for farmers to select a representative on the Huntingdon/Blair County Farm Service Agency Committee.
» Full StoryPa. youth to join national 4-H?event
UNIVERSITY PARK — On Wednesday, youth across Pennsylvania will join hundreds of thousands of young people around the nation to simultaneously create biofuel as part of “Biofuel Blast,” the 2009 National Science Experiment scheduled for 4-H...
» Full StoryAg Career Day presents options
UNIVERSITY PARK — Students are invited to the Ag Career Day sponsored by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Bryce Jordan Center.
» Full StoryMore farms compost carcasses to save money
Six to eight cows die each year at Mill Hill Farms in Williamsburg, but you’d never know the carcasses are decomposing on the property in compost piles.
» Full StoryRegional ag office cuts staff
Those needing diagnostic testing and other services from the state Depart-ment of Agriculture’s regional office may face delays due to staff cuts.
» Full Story


