UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Reauthorization of the federal Farm Bill, emerging climate change-friendly technologies and other agricultural policy issues will be the focus of several events at Penn State Ag Progress Days, held Aug. 13-15 in Rock Springs.
The three-day expo is expected to bring together state and federal officials, Penn State experts and industry leaders to view exhibits, workshops, tours and demonstrations, as well as to discuss and hear from as many as 50,000 agricultural producers, consumers and families from across the state on policies and issues affecting agriculture in Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Scheduled events include:
— Town Hall Discussion on Pennsylvania Agriculture, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 10-11 a.m., Red Barn Annex and via webinar at https://psu.zoom.us/j/94081326471. New College of Agricultural Sciences Dean Troy Ott and Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding will discuss the current state of Pennsylvania agriculture, including emerging issues and opportunities, specifically the impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza on dairy farming. Opening remarks will be followed by a question-and-answer session.
— Panel Discussion: Farm Progress Planning, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 1-2:30 p.m., Red Barn Annex. Representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and partners will discuss why Farm Progress Planning is important to the future of Pennsylvania agriculture while highlighting available resources and support.
— Joint information meeting of the Pennsylvania House and Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committees, 10 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, Aug. 14, Red Barn Annex. The meeting is open to the public, space permitting. The topic will be “Partnerships in Agriculture: Making On-Farm Conservation an Attractive Investment,” as well as other items that may be taken up by the committee.
— Farmer Insights: Adapting and Thriving with Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 1-2 p.m., Farm Family Learning Center. This panel discussion with industry leaders and Pennsylvania farmers will explore climate-smart agricultural practices and their practical application on Pennsylvania farmland. The session will also cover legislative topics related to climate provisions in the upcoming Farm Bill reauthorization.
— Farm Bill Forum with U.S. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson, Wednesday, August 14, 2-3:30 p.m., College Exhibition Building Theater. U.S. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson, who represents Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District and is Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, will provide an update from Washington and share his committee's efforts to reauthorize the Farm Bill. This session will also include time for questions and answers.
— Panel Discussion: Cultivating Pennsylvania’s Agricultural Technology and Robotics Ecosystem, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 3:30-5:30 p.m., Red Barn Annex. Hosted by the public-private partnership Team Pennsylvania and the College of Agricultural Sciences’ Technology Initiative for Agriculture and Living Systems, this session will bring together experts in the technology and robotics field and agriculture industry leaders. Panelists will discuss the technology and robotics ecosystem in southwestern Pennsylvania, and agriculture industry experts will provide insight into the current and future role of technology and automation.
Elsewhere on campus, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Building will feature exhibits and presentations on the state's various initiatives, including animal and plant health, food assistance, food safety, farmland conservation and programs such as PA Preferred.
Other exhibit areas will allow visitors to learn about government services and programs that can help address production and economic challenges. State and federal agencies present at the event include the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation, the State Department of Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and several agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including the Agricultural Research Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Farm Service Agency, and the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Ag Progress Days, hosted by Penn State's College of Agriculture, will be held at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center in Rock Springs, nine miles southwest of State College on U.S. Highway 45. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 13, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Aug. 14 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 15. Admission and parking are free.
For more information, visit the Ag Progress Days website. The official social media hashtag is #agprogressdays. You can also follow the event on Facebook (@AgProgressDays).
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