Trending
EBENSBURG
Tree and plant sale catalog available
The Cambria County Conservation District Annual Tree & Plant sale catalog is now available. It offers tried and true favorites and new offerings. Seedlings and bare root nursery stock are offered to help customers create small orchards, wildlife habitat, small fruit gardens and beautiful landscapes.
The catalog includes many new varieties of fruit trees, shade and flowering ornamental trees/shrubs and evergreen seedlings.
The berry selection includes strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and elderberries. In addition, offerings include rhubarb and perennial flowers, peonies and ground cover. Wildlife boxes are also available with support items for plants.
The catalog and order form can be accessed at www.cambriaconservationdistrict.org, visit the Cambria County Conservation District Facebook Page or contact the office at 814-472-2120 to request a catalog.
The deadline for orders is March 13 with payment. Orders need to be picked up between 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. April 12 at the American Legion Cambria County Fairgrounds Agriculture Building, Ebensburg.
HARRISBURG
USDA seeks applications to help ag producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for grants to help agricultural producers maximize the value of their products and venture into new and better markets.
USDA is making the grants available under the Value-Added Producer Grants program. The grants help farmers and ranchers generate new products, create marketing opportunities and increase their incomes through value-added activities.
Eligible applicants include independent producers, agricultural producer groups, farmer or rancher cooperatives and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures.
USDA may award up to $75,000 for planning activities or up to $250,000 for working capital expenses related to producing and marketing a value-added agricultural product.
Paper applications must be postmarked and delivered by mail, email or in person to the state office where the project is proposed by close of business on April 16. Electronic applications will be accepted via Grants.gov until 11:59 p.m. April 11.
UNIVERSITY PARK
PSU Ag College training doctoral degree students
A team of faculty from five departments in the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences and the Department of Biology in the Eberly College of Science has created a novel program to train doctoral degree students to conduct interdisciplinary research on the relationship between soils, plants and consumers.
The initiative is funded by a $262,500 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute for Food and Agriculture. The award comes from the National Needs Graduate Fellowship Grant Program.
The Penn State effort is intended to address a lack of integrated knowledge about how soils, plants and human genetics and lifestyle interact to affect human health, according to Joshua Lambert, professor of food science, who is leading the project, titled "Soils, Plants, and Consumers: A systems-based approach to the relationship between plants and human health."
Initially, the team will recruit a diverse cohort of three doctoral students, who will be co-advised by mentors with complementary disciplinary expertise. Faculty team members will provide research training and professional development opportunities focused on improving communication, grant-writing, entrepreneurship and mentorship skills.