County Officials Participating In Ag Sciences Tour

Commissioners from several counties, including Potter, will be participating in the July 18 Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Research Tour, scheduled for July 18 at the PSU Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Manheim. Spotlight will be on critical issues affecting Pennsylvania’s agriculture, directly tied to the quality, quantity, safety and availability of our food and fiber supply. Issues affecting Pennsylvania agriculture have a direct impact on the health and well-being of families and communities, as well as the conservation of natural resources.

Potter County’s representatives will be especially interested in trends and issues involving family farms. While agriculture remains a major industry in the county, the face of farming has been changing, with fewer dairy operations and steady increases in the median age of a Potter County farmer (54.3 years at last report). There has been an increase in niche farming and experimentation with crops not normally associated with Potter County, as well as a growing interest in organic farming. Average size of a Potter County farm is 275 acres and more than 92 percent of the farms are owned and operated by an individual or a family. Shown are Ron and Candy (Barker) Cooney, multi-generational Potter County farmers who have continued to adjust their operations to meet the challenges confronting local agriculture.