National Ag Experts to Converge on Groff Farm
7th Annual Farm Field Day will explore the latest in sustainable farming
techniques
National agricultural experts will gather at Cedar Meadow Farm on July
26, 2000 for the 7th Annual Farm Field Day. This free event will be
hosted by farmer Steve Groff, owner of Cedar Meadow Farm, in cooperation
with The Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Lancaster
County Conservation District’s Expo. The Northeast Region SARE Program
and Pennsylvaina Association of Sustainable Agriculture are sponsoring
the field day as well. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
As indicated in its theme, “More Mouths, Less Land, Greater
Expectations: A Balanced Approach,” this year’s Farm Field Day will
focus on the latest, most innovative farming techniques that are proven
to conserve soil while increasing productivity and sustainability. A
host of national experts will be on hand to speak about and demonstrate
these groundbreaking techniques, including Steve Groff, a
local and national agricultural leader. Groff’s efforts to implement
environmentally-sound farming practices have not gone unrecognized as he
continues to attract national media attention. In April 1999, Cedar
Meadow Farm was featured in a three-part mini-series, “Journey to Planet
Earth,” which was nationally broadcast on PBS. Groff was also selected
as the 1999 National No-Till Innovator of the Year. The April, 2000
issue of Successful Farming Magazine featured a story on Cedar Meadow
Farm.
The event will be highlighted by the expertise of some of today’s most
noted agricultural leaders who will speak about the up and coming
farming practices of the 21st century. Experts will include: Dr. Robert
Steele, Penn State Dean of Agriculture; Mike Hubbs from the USDA Soil
Quality Institute; Paul O’Connell, Natural Resource Economist of Rural
Development for the World Bank; Dr. Ray Weil, University of Maryland;
Dr. Fred Magdoff, University of Vermont and many others.
This year’s “learning stations” will feature a number of fascinating
demonstrations. A 4-foot deep soil pit will give attendees an
understanding of what happens underground, allowing them to see
earthworm channels and plant roots in the soil. USDA - Agricultural
Research Service will operate their Rainfall Simulator to determine if
phosphorus leaves fields during heavy rainfalls. The Lancaster County
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Department will be on hand to
demonstrate its Color Infrared Imagery (CIR), and will explain how this
technology is used by farmers, researchers and the government. New to
this year’s event will be backhoe excavations immediately following deep
tillage passages and a primary field trial of fiber and cover crops
Kenaf, Roselle, and Sunn Hemp. In addition, there will be several
demonstrations of the latest in farming equipment, including a new
no-till vegetable transplanter designed by Groff and R.J. Equipment of
Ontario, Canada.
Children won’t want to miss an educational adventure with local
naturalist Chotty
Sprenkle, as she takes them on a stream exploration. Kids can also
crawl through an earthworm tunnel and assemble soil tubes to create a
soil profile. There will be plenty of food available for purchase.
Partial funding for this Field Day has been made possible through a
grant from the Northeast Region of the USDA Sustainable Agriculture
Research and Education Program.
For more information on the 7th Annual Farm Field Day, please contact
Steve Groff: sgroff@epix.net
-- Steve Groff"Enhancing the Environment" http://www.cedarmeadowfarm.com/ Cedar Meadow Farm 679 Hilldale Road Holtwood, PA 17532 USA
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