June 11, 2014 – Plumsteadville Grange

• Monthly Meeting – 7:30 p.m. at the Grange Hall

Program
– Madison Ochoco, will describe her experiences during her year as Middletown Grange Fair Queen. Sydney Ochoco will present “Strawberry Fields Forever” her entry in the 4-H demonstration contest during A-Day.

June 28, 2014 – Bucks Co. Pomona Grange

• Saturday Luncheon Meeting – 12:00 noon
• Presentation of Donations to local service organizations from Pizza Booth Proceeds
• Memorial Service in memory of members who have passed away during the year
• ALL Grangers are welcome and encouraged to attend.

July 9, 2014 – Plumsteadville Grange

• Monthly Meeting – 7:30 p.m. at the Grange Hall

Program
– Presentation of 2014 Ellen Elaine Crooke Scholarships

Plumsteadville Grange Farm Market

May 31 – Opening Day – First Saturday there will be a tree planting demo by Bedminster Land Conservancy. Tree to be planted in memory of Ellen Elaine Crooke.

June 7 – Carol Stranahan -singer/ guitarist

June 14 – Alyssa Neiman – singer/ guitarist

For the latest news on demos, entertainment, vendors and special events Visit our Face book page

Keystone Grange Fair – June 27-28

“Keystone Grange #2 in Trappe would like to invite everyone to their 42nd annual fair. This year’s fair will be held at the Montgomery County 4H Center on Route 113 in Creamery.  The dates will be Friday June 27 from 3 pm until dusk and Saturday June 28 from 9 am till dusk.  Friday will feature a pet show, a pageant to select the Grange Fair Queen, bar-be-que from Bigg Dutts and many more activities.  Saturday will feature opening ceremonies at 11 am, music, children’s activities, commercial exhibitors, antique tractors, plenty of food and various groups from 4H showcasing their talents.  Please stop by the Keystone Grange booth and say hello from Plumsteadville Grange! For additional information call Keystone Grange at 484-948-6916, by email at [email protected].  They also have a Face book page and website www.keystonegrange2.org.”

Middletown Grange Fair – Snack Bar

Save the date to help us for our major fundraiser of the year – August 13-17, 3014. More details next month.

From the Desk of Marguerite Quinn

State Representative, 143rd Legislative District

Harrisburg Agriculture Update

One of the most brutal winters on record is finally behind us; spring has sprung, and with it comes hope and optimism for a bountiful growing season in Pennsylvania. In Harrisburg, law makers and state officials are working on updates to existing laws, and introducing other legislation and programs that will hopefully make it easier for those of you working the soil to make the most out of our Commonwealth’s agricultural resources. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture puts out an informative email each month and I would like to share the latest edition with you. It includes a message from Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Agriculture, discussions of how to take more of our products into global markets and other tips to help you thrive this spring and summer. As always, do not hesitate to reach out to my district office at call (215) 489-2126 for further assistance or questions regarding agriculture related legislation and issues, and you can always find me at RepQuinn.net.

Message from George Greig Secretary of Agriculture. Teamwork moves our state forward. I’ve mentioned the importance of partnering with our ag orgs, but as I head for China this afternoon, I’d like to highlight the importance of working with our sister agencies. Whether it’s working with DCED to open new markets for our agribusinesses or DEP to strike the right balance for ag and the environment, teamwork ensures PDA, and the rest of state gov’t, is putting its best foot forward. It also saves taxpayer dollars. On Tuesday our Bureau of Food Safety staff joined Gov. Corbett as he announced $650 million in cost-saving efforts that also improve services and eliminate inefficiencies. Last year our staff partnered with the PA State Police for Operation Code R.E.D., which made it easier to inspect refrigerated food trucks. State Police flagged down the trucks and learned from our food sanitarians as they identified food code violations and helped ensure the safety of our food supply. From electronic filing of paper work to field computers that save staff time and boost productivity, PDA and other state agencies are serving Pennsylvanians more efficiently than ever.

Sec. Greig Embarks to China to Expand PA Markets. Through a trade mission to China, Sec. Greig hopes to help develop and encourage new export markets for PA ag products. Today through Monday, May 12, he will meet with Chinese buyers and gov’t leaders to establish connections and determine potential trade partnerships with PA companies. Yesterday he met with the CEO of China’s Stanley Fertilizer Company at the PDA office in Harrisburg, ahead of his visit to their Chinese operations next week.

Sec. Vilsack Announces Farm Bill Initiatives in Adams County. Applications for two new NRCS conservation initiatives created in the 2014 Farm Bill are now being accepted. During a visit to Kuhn Orchards in Orrtanna, Adams Co., USDA Sec. Tom Vilsack announced the Ag Conservation Easements Program and the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program. The programs will provide up to $386 million to help farmers restore wetlands, protect working ag lands and support outdoor rec activities.

Chester Co. Business Leaders Host Ag Roundtable. Sec. Greig and DEP Sec. Abruzzo were guests Tuesday at the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry’s ag roundtable discussion. Local ag industry professionals had the opportunity to discuss with the secretaries about PDA and DEP and their work with ag and businesses in the county.

 

Farm Bill Funding for Cooperatives, Small Producers. Nearly $9 million in 2014 Farm Bill funds are available for developing rural coops and businesses and providing tech assistance for small farmers. The Rural Coop Development Grant Program will provide up to $5.8 million to coop development centers to support start-ups, expansions or operation improvements. The Small, Socially Disadvantaged Producer Grant program assists those farmers, with $3 million available for market research, product or service improvement, feasibility studies, training and implementing business plans. Contact PAgrows at 717-705-9513.

When Buying Seeds, Ensure You Get What You Pay For. A quick look at the labels on seed bags can save you the headache of buying the wrong product. PDA’s Bureau of Plant Industry Seed Program verifies that seeds sold in PA are tested for quality and labeling accuracy. Check the label for varieties in a mix, germination percentages and weed or undesirable seeds. If you suspect a problem with your seeds or have questions about labeling, contact the seed lab at 717-787-4894.

Did You Know? From the 2007 ag census to the 2012 edition, PA’s livestock and animal products increased in value by 17 percent to $4.62 billion, while crops and hort products increased by 48.9 percent to $2.78 billion.

Plumsteadville Grange Minutes –

The minutes for the May 2014 meeting as recorded by Don Moss (for Karen Moss), secretary, are included in their entirety. Plumsteadville Grange #1738 met Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at 7:30 p..m. Present: Men – 9 Women – 7 Total – 16.

OPENING: The Grange opening ceremony was led by Jim Diamond, followed by the roll call of officers and committee members. Minutes of the previous meeting of April, 2014 were mailed with the monthly newsletter. A motion was approved to accept them (as written)/

GUESTS: Nancy Stevenson and the 4-H Teen Council weeded and mulched the flower beds. They received much thanks from the Grange.

NEW MEMBERS. Larry Kling of Ottsville joined the Plumsteadville Grange.

STANDING COMMITTEES REPORTS:

Deaf Activities/ Fish Fry. The Fish Fry activity this spring raised $1781.00. With costs of $831.00 the event made a profit of $950.00.

Farm Market. The Farm Market will open on May 31, 2014. The hours will be from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM.

Fair Snack Booth. Steve Byrnes has met with the Middletown Grange Fair and has submitted our menu. It is the same as last years. The proposed addition of Lamb Barbeque is on hold waiting for input from the Lamb Council.

Correspondence/Communications: State sent information concerning Pomona Scrapbooks and Family Activities Contests (Quilting).

The Bucks County Bee Keepers Association donated $100.00 to the Ellen Crooke Scholarship Fund in memory of Harold Steely.

Pomona, National & State Reports: The Secretary reported all reports have been filed. The Plumsteadville Grange paid $932.00 to State for 115 registered members.

The Grange has not heard from Jeanne and Roy Snyder or Christine Crook concerning continued membership. Any updates would be appreciated.

Treasury Report:Income For April: $3,924.12, Expenses for April: $1,967.26

NEW BUSINESS:

A motion was made to donate $1000.00 to the Bucks County Intermediate Unit for hearing related functions. The motion passed.

A motion was made to increase the scholarships to $1000.00 this year since we only have two entrants and we have $2000.00 in the scholarship fund. It was decided to leave the scholarship at $500.00 each for this year and review a possible change for next year.

A motion had passed earlier this year to plant a tree in the Grange lawn in remembrance of Ellen Crooke. Meg Lomax recommended suggested that we plant the tree during the May 31, 2014 Farm Market. She will investigate which tree would be appropriate.

Bucks County Pomona has decided not to run the Pizza Booth. Middletown Grange will find another vendor to take over. They will also donate their portion of the proceeds to community groups.

The meeting closed with the traditional Grange closing ceremony.

Did You Know?

• According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Weekly Newsletter, PA is home to 1.6 million total cattle valued at nearly $1.6 billion on 25,189 beef and dairy operations. It ranks second in the nation in veal production – just one way to enjoy PA’s bountiful supply of beef during the summer grilling season.
• According to the “Weekly News From Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture,” proximity to major highways, population centers and quality ag commodities makes PA a prime location for food manufacturers. PA exported nearly $2 billion worth of food products last year, bringing profits back to PA’s communities.

Happy Birthday

To all Plumsteadville Grange members who have a birthday in JUNE 2014. They say you lose your memory as you grow older. I say “forget about the past” and live life to the fullest today and the many tomorrows. Start your day with ice cream.
Happy Birthday!

Update On State Grange Efforts To Eliminate Taxes On Grange Properties

According to Versant Strategies has indicated that a priority issue of the PA State Grange has been the elimination of taxes for Grange properties. Unfortunately, there are two roadblocks to resolution of the issue. The Grange is not organized as a 501c3 which is required for organizations to be eligible for exemption as charities in the tax code. Also, deep in the tax code, there are two lines which state that agricultural and fraternal organizations may not be given tax exempt status. Even with these seemingly insurmountable obstacles, we have friends in the House and Senate who are looking to help. While this issue will not likely be solved during this session, MeeCee Baker feels confident there is momentum to continue to investigate ways to provide tax relief. In the meantime, the county comptrollers make the decision on a county to county basis. When making the ask on a county level, being prepared with a detailed list of the good works Granges do can be helpful. Let us know if we can assist you.

Satellite imagery boom for farming

 

 

By David Hest, Farm Industry News

In 2014, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) may deliver actionable images every week on every crop acre across the America’s heartland could come to fruition. When combined with crop imagery from manned aircraft and ground-based sensor systems like Trimble’s GreenSeeker and Ag Leader’s OptRx, U.S. crop producers will have a wealth of imagery sources to help improve management of their crops.

With little fanfare, GEOSYS, the French-based satellite imagery company bought by Land O’Lakes in late 2013, began delivering weekly satellite crop images to U.S. farmers through WinField-affiliated ag retailers in April. Satshot, another major satellite imagery provider, says it will begin providing weekly crop images beginning in 2015. For 2014, it has increased the frequency of its 5-meter resolution crop images to every three weeks, up from every four weeks in 2013. Meanwhile, UAVs could begin delivering real-time anytime crop images for the 2016 crop season – assuming federal regulators hold to their fall 2015 schedule for releasing regulations governing commercial UAVs – or recent legal challenges to FAA regulations don’t speed up the timetable.

Use of the Grange Hall

:
If you know of a group needing a meeting place, or to inquire about hall rental for an event, contact Meg Lomax at Meg Lomax at 215-766-9801 or [email protected]

2014 Quilt Raffle

Quilt raffle tickets are available at all Grange events – $2 each or three for $5 – who wouldn’t want to win this beauty!

Sales have been brisk so far – let’s keep the momentum going.

 

Like us on Facebook

– We welcome members, friends and market vendors to post your comments. Search for “Plumsteadville Grange” or “Plumsteadville Grange Farm Market”

Newsletter

If you have something to share in the newsletter, or to get it via email, please contact Jane Birk at
610-657-7668 or [email protected].

Dates To Remember

31 May 2014
Opening of 2104 Plumsteadville Grange Market

11 June 2014
Plumsteadville Grange Meeting, Plumsteadville Grange

28 June 2014
Bucks Co. Pomona Grange Meeting at Plumsteadville

9 July 2014    Plumsteadville Grange Meeting, Grange Hall, Plumsteadville

12-14 Aug 2014
Ag Progress Days, Penn State University

13-17 Aug 2014
66th Middletown Grange Fair

10-17 Jan 2015
99th Pennsylvania Farm Show, Harrisburg

 

 

 

 

Box 335, 5901 Easton Rd.
Plumsteadville, PA 18949

www.plumsteadvillegrange.org