If you just read the headlines in the last few months, you would think Lititz Run, that 7-mile-long stream that bubbles out of the ground in Lititz Springs Park and makes a beeline for the Conestoga River, is one of Lancaster County's most troubled waterways. • Study: Lititz Run wat......

Large-scale Lancaster County livestock farmers have found themselves caught in a dispute between an environmental group and the state Department of Environmental Protection regarding paperwork needed for operational permits.This disagreement led PennFuture to list more than half the farms ......

Lax state oversight of large-scale livestock farms in Lancaster County is abetting the pollution of the Susquehanna River, an environmental advocacy group charges.More than half of the county's industrial farms, known as concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, are out of comp......

Despite a pair of court challenges, the state says it's full steam ahead for its nutrient-trading program in which farmers are paid by developers and municipal sewage-plant owners for conservation measures. Pennsylvania's nutrient-trading program, the most ambitious in the nation, was u......

A New York-based firm intends to spend $3 million to $5 million to install an innovative manure-treatment system on a local dairy farm as part of the Chesapeake Bay cleanup effort. Bion Environmental Technologies said today it plans to build the system at the Ron Kreider farm in Manheim to remo......

Lawmakers in Harrisburg will try to figure out this week how to keep municipalities from being bankrupted by the cost of cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay.Under a federal mandate, municipalities in the bay's watershed, which includes the Susquehanna River and its tributaries, have just tw......

White milk is a legal gray area for Levi Miller. The state cited him last year for selling the beverage unpasteurized and unlicensed from his Leacock Township dairy. Other Amish farmers are in the same boat. The controversy over so-called raw milk has long weighed on them. And the bur......

Q. I am 64 and have had problems with my sciatic nerve on the right side for the past 10 months. My right side now feels much weaker than my left. I would like to get my body back in balance and improve overall strength and conditioning so I can continue an active, healthy lifestyle. — CONNIE ...

Sally Mast is a fighter. Her opponent is hepatitis C. And, she has been fighting for 16 years. Alternately sitting and walking inside the blue-papered and blue-curtained living and dining rooms of her West End duplex, Mast’s mood, this day, is anything but blue. A determined adversary in ......

Also, every year my black-eyed Susan flowers are full of holes. I can’t see any bugs. I hope you have some answers for me. — ELSIE GLICK, GORDONVILLE A. Penn State’s Timothy Elkner says insects are feeding on both your beans and Susans. Aphids and leafhoppers are causing the bean problem. Some ot......

A. If you are not already an exerciser, it may not be wise to start on an intense, vigorous exercise program right before you are scheduled for a procedure. Instead, it may be better to get in touch with a physical therapist to start making plans for your recovery and for a safe, progressive exercis...

A. Most likely, you are feeding it too much nitrogen with Miracle-Gro, causing lots of green growth but no flowers. Do not use any more Miracle-Gro, but use something with “bloom” in its name, or an analysis like 3-9-18. Do not use any fertilizer in the winter to give the plant a “rest.” Keep it in ...

All this means we have to consider our calories more closely and monitor our nutritional threshold more efficiently. Look at how an older body digests food, for example. Saliva and stomach acid are necessary for the efficient and complete absorption of vitamins B-6, B-12 and folic acid, but as we ag...

In a mere 400 years, changes to the ecosystem by humans have damaged 7,100 miles of the watershed’s 36,000 miles of streams, according to the report, “Waters at Risk: Sources and Solutions — Pollution in the Susquehanna River Watershed.” The key problems, according to the report released today: s......

Not long after, when the local chapter of the Donegal Chapter of Trout Unlimited was fishing around for a new stream-improvement project, treasurer Dee Lehman said she knew of a high-quality stream in the southern end that had wild trout. Oh, the West Branch of Octoraro Creek, the members assumed......

When a state official was called out to investigate a fish kill on a small stream through Solanco farm country several years ago, the investigator was stunned to see wild brown trout among the belly-up fish. Not long after, when the local chapter of the Donegal Chapter of Trout Unlimited was fish......

A. You are a brave man to drink this first thing in the morning! According to University of Colorado registered dietitian Bonnie Jortberg, “From a nutritional standpoint, this is not all that bad. He is probably getting all of the ‘intestinal scouring’ he needs, depending on how much he adds to the ...

In the United States, obesity and being overweight has risen at an epidemic rate during the past 20 years. The prevalence of being overweight has more than doubled among children and has tripled among adolescents since 1980, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Too many c...

Brubaker Farms, operated by a Mount Joy family, and Mount Joy Borough’s sewer authority are willing to take a chance on the nutrient-trading initiative that Gov. Ed Rendell began pushing last fall. And, a Manheim Township-based ag-consulting company has set up shop in hopes of making Lancaster Co......

PennEnvironment charged in a report released today that 57 percent of 383 major industrial and municipal facilities across Pennsylvania exceeded discharge limits at least once from July 2003 to December 2004. The report, “Troubled Waters: An analysis of Clean Water Act compliance,” criticizes the......

The Lancaster County Conservation District’s 2006 Cooperator of the Year Award went to the Rohrer family’s “R”-Farm, a 125-acre business in Strasburg and Paradise townships. Most of the family farm has been permanently preserved from development. The award was one of several handed out during ......

But algae and weeds multiplied and the water clouded over time. The pond became less desirable for swimming, and fish numbers dropped. So the Reiffs decided to do something about it. Aaron, 17, and his brother Philip, 15, attended a workshop last year on pond management with their mother, Kath......

Octoraro Watershed Association, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Ducks Unlimited recently completed a five-year $200,000 project in the watershed that restored 28 acres of wetlands and is keeping livestock out of the water on just over two miles of four southern Lancaster County creeks. ......

A. About 6 pounds of our body weight is skin. Skin is not only the largest organ in our body, but it is also one of the busiest, protecting us from germs and infections, as well as being a barrier to the environment. General guidelines for skin care are: Drink plenty of water. Cleanse daily......

When trees in the forest drop their leaves, nutrients in the leaves eventually return to the soil to nourish the trees. If you’re like most homeowners, you rake the leaves from your lawn, leaving the trees without the nourishment they get in the forest. Over time, soil fertilizer may decline, and......

"I am particularly sensitive to Amish people,'' he says in a telephone interview from his car in northern Virginia. "They're fighting a losing battle many times but, by God, they try. They have a good work ethic.''

On Wednesday, Grosvenor will discuss issues related to farmland at the Barshin...

“Vital Signs — Assessing the State of Chesapeake Agriculture in 2005” paints a struggling yet potentially hopeful picture of farming in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. The study was prepared by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation citizens group. According to the report, family farms continue to......

The state is forcing nearly all sewage treatment plants in Lancaster County to increase the removal of water-polluting nutrients that are choking local streams and the Chesapeake Bay. The water-cleansing initiative — part of Pennsylvania’s commitment to help the bay — will cost local sewer author......

Once reserved for apartment dwellers only, container gardening can now work for every lifestyle, as more and more people are discovering. If you’re looking for a way to grow vegetables, flowers or herbs without all the tilling, weeding and pest control and without tearing up large portions of your y...

More than eight in 10 people polled - 83 percent - said they personally work in their yard or garden, reflecting the passion people have for these outdoor extensions of their homes.

Benefits cited by these “green thumbers” range from simply relaxing in the great outdoors and personally harve...

The USDA also recommends that the majority of fruit servings come from whole fruits, rather than fruit juices.

A tasty way to help meet the government’s new recommendations is by eating bananas.

“Making bananas a part of your diet is a great way to get a lot of the nutrients your bod...

A. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease characterized by inflammation and ulcers deep in the layers of the large intestine. UC is considered rare (affecting 50 of 100,000 people in the United States), primarily affecting those who have a family or genetic history of UC, eat a diet high in su...

On Wednesday, after 11 days without rain, Coleman planned to spend the day spreading manure and planting corn and soybeans on some of the 300 acres he farms in Ronks.

Coleman said this was the first week the ground was fit for planting corn. Kneeling in one of his fields, h......

A. There are many discussions among health professionals regarding the best type of exercise we need to do to maintain bone density. Hands down, exercises where the bones have to bear weight or endure impact are high on the list, including but not limited to walking, weight lifting, tennis, martial ...

The continued dumping of sewage into the 444-mile-long river running through New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland earned the Susquehanna the top spot on American Rivers' annual list of the nation's Top 10 endangered waterways.

"The volume of untreated and poorly treated sewage that ......

A. Once we pass age 50, aches and pains seem to become part of the daily drudge. But when pains come on suddenly — affecting primarily the muscles of the neck, shoulders, hips, butt, thighs, lower back and/or upper arms — it has nothing to do with your recent eligibility for AARP membership. Sudden ...

Others say “I’m snacking on cookies and nuts because the fruits and vegetables I like are out of season” or “I can’t stay active because it’s too cold outside,” and the list goes on.

Although seasonal weight gain varies from person to person, there have been surveys that show most people gai...

With spring fast approaching (only three months away!), it’s time to decide what you would like to do with your garden. Seed catalogs conjure visions of beautiful bouquets around your home, their sweet fragrances permeating every room.

Your appetite is whetted for meals prepared with homegro...

With government air regulations coming to agriculture, it’s clear that many large-scale livestock operations — managed as they are now — could exceed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits for ammonia discharges.

However, one thing that speakers made clear during the course of the Mid-A...

PLAN A From the time you receive it, make sure your poinsettia gets plenty of direct sunlight during daytime hours. Water once every five or six days. St. Patrick’s Day — Cut back the bracts (mistakenly called “flowers”). Memorial Day — Repot the plant into a larger container with rich, loa......

Feeding is one of the most important areas of herd management because it affects so many things, the most obvious of which is milk production. It also affects a cow's health, her immune status and her conception rates. And, feed-related costs represent 50% or more of the total cost of producing milk...

How efficiently feeds are utilized is affected by how they are processed and how they are fed.

1. Larger-particle feeds in the ration are beneficial when cows are consuming - -

- A lot of finely chopped feeds. - A lot of high moisture feeds. - Young, fine-stemmed, lush forages....

1. Good quality forages are important for a number of reasons.

- They provide the fiber that is essential for keeping the rumen functioning well. Forages are a major source of energy in the ration -- a fact which we sometimes forget.

- You simply can not sustain high levels of efficie...

Prepare dry cows and heifers for their next lactation. Prevent problems associated with calving time and with early lactation. Prevent appetite problems and metabolic problems.

Needs of cattle vary with age, stage of lactation and stage of pregnancy, as shown in the table. Thus, it is ......

And their owners, preschoolers ages 2 to 5 from Calvary Preschool in Lancaster, found out that people with bandages and doctors’ kits aren’t scary. Last week, two dozen clinical-care assistant program students from Lancaster County Career & Technology Center’s Willow Street campus visited the pre......

We develop rations on paper, we deliver a ration to the cows, we have average intake data for the herd, but what really counts is what the individual cows actually consume. Intakes can vary considerably from cow to cow within a group -- and from what is on the paper. 1. Rations fed in conventiona......

Voluntary removal of cattle can boost farm profits several ways.

1. Cows can be merchandised at higher prices for dairy purposes and thus improve farm income.

2. The herd can be upgraded by selectively removing less profitable cows. Some of these may not be good enough for your herd, b...

Some possible safety hazards are listed below.

1. Killer gasses.

- Silo gasses.

It can cause serious lung damage, and death. Once exposed, people generally are more sensitive to future exposures.

Be alert to the presence of yellowish brown, acrid smelling gasses that accu...

(ARA) - Aaaah, autumn. If you're like most homeowners, fall means an opportunity to spruce up your yard and cut down on the work you'll need to do when the weather turns warm again.

It doesn't matter if you're a seasoned landscape professional or somebody who just wants their yard to look...

During this period of maximum rainfall, plants absorb nutrients more effectively. Summer and winter are not optimum times to fertilize. Hot temperatures cause the soil to become dry and compacted; in cold weather, plants are dormant, and the soil is not workable.

In the forest, trees draw nut...

They are 40-something professionals — an information technologist, nutrition educator, agricultural preservationist and heart specialist — and in June, they put their bodies on the line. Brian Keller, Rich Doenges and Judy Hansen signed up for the first 12-week triathlon-training class at the Lan......

It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned landscape professional or somebody who just wants their yard to look as good as it can with as little work as possible, everyone can benefit from backyard fall cleanup, says Michael Miller, president of Minnesota-based backyard tool manufacturer Hound Dog Produ...

At Falmouth, the curious climb over a moonscape of exposed “pothole” rocks. Anglers sometimes push and scrape their boats down the concrete runways to reach the water at public boat launches. And dams fire up generators to inject oxygen into water passing through them to help fish and aquatic ......

The writhing mass regrouped behind the paddlers and resumed frenzied feeding on bread and pellets of fish food dropped from above by dozens of visitors.

"You'll hear people say, 'I haven't been here in 40 years,'" said Fred McConnell, a 10-year operator of nearby concession sta......

The multibillion-dollar proposal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is likely to affect some 368 large sewage plants located in Pennsylvania and other states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The cost of upgrades that would be required to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus coming from sewage ......

While stressing that “farmers cannot shoulder this burden alone,” the report on manure’s impact by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation criticizes Pennsylvania and other bay states, as well as the federal government, for not honoring commitments to adequately stem manure runoff into streams. The runoff end...

Ever is here. Eight of the last 11 months have had above-average rainfall in the Garden Spot, according to the Millersville University Weather Station. And in July, overcast, cooler days have often clouded out sunny, hot days. Resulting are green yards and a good year for landscapers and fa......

Nearly a third of Lancaster County’s streams are degraded by manure and sediment washing off our farms and by excess storm water and fertilizer running from developments, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Lancaster’s water quality suffers primarily becaus......

Sightings of the bugs have been growing more frequent since last week. Some residents say they're fascinated by the cicada's reappearance, others describe the bugs in terms usually reserved for low-budget horror flicks.

"They're little beasties with red, bulgy eyes," said Laura Ha......

When a huge track-hoe demolished it Thursday, local conservationists expressed hope that the dam's destruction would help lead to the formation of the county's first Plain sect-driven watershed group.

"I would like to see a lot of farmers along the creek work togeth......

Red maples are great to look at in the fall -- leaves can turn vibrant yellow, red, orange or purple.

So what if we look more like Vermont, you say?

Turkeys, ruffed grouse, deer, squirrels, mice and assorted other wildlife can't live off of maples like they do the acorns from oaks....

Left unanswered is how local and Pennsylvania farms, sewage plants and housing developments will better capture runoff and purify treated sewage.

And who will pay for it.

The cost of stepped-up "nutrient'' cleanup in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware, New Yo...

That is the amount of an already-approved state grant that would go toward the cost of a $3 million sewage project.

The project, involving cutting-edge technology, will cut the level of the city sewage system's nitrogen pollution discharged into local waters and the Chesapeake Bay.
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