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Is It Cool to Be a Farmer?
 The
most significant change since Harris Interactive started its "Most
Prestigious Careers" survey in 1977 is that, with the exception of teachers
and clergy, the perceived prestige of the original 11 occupations has
actually decreased over the years. The change from 2006 shows
teachers' perceived prestige increased by only two percentage points, and
the bad news for bankers and athletes is that they are both down seven
points.
The profession that saw the biggest increase in prestige
from 2006 was that of farmers, who rose five points. No surprise, it's
cool to be a farmer!
Source: Michele Gauger, "The Grapevine," Passages:
Sustainable Food and Farming Systems, July/August 2008 (The
newsletter of PASA - the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable
Agriculture. Visit their website,
www.pasafarming.org
for more information about this organization.)
Forty-one percent of American adults surveyed in 2007
considered Farmer to be a high prestige career. (www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/articles/070802/2prestige.htm)
GROW Business Knowledge -
Agricultural Business Development
| Penn State Cooperative Extension is now able to enhance
and promote agricultural business and economic development in Warren
County. The Extension Office will be providing confidential,
free-of-charge business consulting services to both individuals and small
businesses in the field of agriculture. Agriculture plays an important part in Warren County’s
economy with the production of agriculture valued at over $20 million
dollars per year. When agriculture is developed, enhanced, and promoted,
Warren County’s overall economy benefits. The Extension office understands
the value of agriculture and is dedicated to supporting individuals and
agribusinesses grow and prosper in Warren County.
Download a copy of the GROW
Business Knowledge: Agricultural Business Development brochure. An
Adobe Acrobat PDF document, file size 661KB
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Dana Ekey working with Lee Curtis of
Elmview Dairy
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Who qualifies for assistance from the Extension
office?
Any individual or small business in the broad field of agriculture is
eligible for assistance. Preference is given to individuals and businesses
wishing to do business in Warren County.
How and when did this service become available?
The Warren County Future of Ag Task Force determined there was a need for
a professional business consultant to assist individuals and
agribusinesses. As a result, a new position in Penn State Cooperative
Extension was created to fulfill this need in Warren County. The position
was filled July 1, 2007.
What services can the Extension office provide?
· Assistance with writing a business plan
· Business expansion and development
· New product or service development
· Industry analysis
· Strategic planning
· Financial analysis
· Marketing planning and research
· Many other business services — Just ask!
Contact: Dana Ekey at Warren County Cooperative
Extension 609 Rouse Ave. Youngsville, PA 16371 Phone:
814-563-9388 Fax: 814-563-7288 Email:
dme155@psu.edu Website:
http://warren.extension.psu.edu
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WEB RESOURCES - JUST FOR FARMERS
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Dana Ekey hired as Agricultural
Business Development Educator
 July,
2007 Dana
Ekey has joined the Warren County Extension staff as an Agricultural
Business Development Educator. Dana is a native of Akeley and holds a BS
in Business Management and a MBA from the Sam and Irene Black School of
Business, Penn State Erie, Behrend College.
With the guidance of the Warren County Future of Ag Task
Force and County Commissioners, Dana will work with the area's
agricultural industry in the areas of economic and business development
and marketing. This support includes: working with individuals who wish to
start new businesses, expand existing business or develop new products or
services on a one-to-one basis; assist in writing business and strategic
plans; aid in financial and market analysis; work with individuals and
companies to help them achieve their business goals and objectives.
Dana can be reached by contacting the Warren County
Extension office at 814-563-9388.
Email:
dme155@psu.edu
Website:
http://warren.extension.psu.edu
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SUCCESS STORY: Warren
County Future of Ag Program
"Two years ago, the Warren County agricultural community found itself in
need of help. Farming businesses as well as the county’s economic base was
in a decline. The agricultural community and consumers were in need of a
healing process regarding an issue with use of local farmland. Government
officials, consumers, farmers, and agency personnel got together to
address these problems through the Future of Agriculture program. The main
goals of the effort were to help small family farms remain while retaining
their quality of life, county wide economic development, and consumer
appreciation of local agriculture and their concerns."
More..
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 A Penn State website offering free directory listings for
producers.
Includes a database of agricultural business listings, the
latest news and a way of connecting and sharing with other growers,
producers and business owners |
TAX QUESTIONS -
Answers Just for Farmers
Where Can I find the Sales Tax
regulation devoted to farming activities?
Answer:
The Sales Tax regulation devoted to farming activities is found in the PA
Code.
Download:
The 2004 Sales and Use Tax Brochure on Farming
Note: This link is to a PDF file. It
requires Adobe Acrobat ® to download and
open this file. If you prefer, you can order a hard copy by email.
Request the brochure from:
ra-forms@state.pa.us.
Links on the WarrenAg website
Web Links of Interest to Farmers
 | AgChoice Farm Credit
Provides financing and related services to rural
Pennsylvania. |
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Center for Farm Transitions
A new PA initiative, the "Center for Farm Transitions" will
provide information to help new farmers take over existing operations by
identifying niche market opportunities and business plans. |
| The Center for Rural
Pennsylavania
A legislative branch of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
It includes access to rural demographics, fact sheets, grant programs, and
grant projects. |
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Cooperative
Extension in Warren County
Learn about the educational programs the Penn State
Cooperative Extension provide for farmers, you, family living and
community development |
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The Role of Production Agriculture in the Warren County Economy |
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Living Science Web
Information on food, agriculture and natural resources
careers with the USDA. Each year they need new college graduates to
fill 50,000 jobs in the food, agricultural and natural resource system. |
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National Pork Board
Information for producers, consumers, news, and many other links |
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PAgrows
A service of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture,
this website specializes in helping farmer, food processors, farmers
market operators, and other agribusinesses put all of the pieces of the
lending puzzle together. Many links for borrowers, lenders, grants and
loans are available. |
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PA Preferred
The Pennsylvania Preferred™ program assists Pennsylvania farmers by
encouraging consumers to purchase Pennsylvania products. |
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PASA - Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture
Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA)
is a nonprofit organization working to improve the economic and social
prosperity of Pennsylvania food and agriculture. We work with the farmers
that grow our food, the consumers that eat the food, and those concerned
with the ecological well-being of our environment and natural resources. |
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Penn Soil
Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council
The mission of this organization is to provide the local
leadership necessary to develop and implement a plan that will improve the
economy, environmental and social well-being of the people through
accelerated planning and development of the natural resources in the
project area consisting of Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Lawrence,
Mercer, Venango and Warren Counties. |
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Pennsylvania Department
of Agriculture
Includes links to market reports, PDA initiatives, regional services, news
and upcoming agricultural events.
PDA Region 1 Contact Information |
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Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture at Marketplace for the Mind
Links to information about Ag organizations, PA Ag Statistics, and
agencies related to Ag in Pennsylvania. |
| Pennsylvania Farm Bureau
PFA provides farmers information on legislative issues, financial programs
and agriculture statistics. |
| Sustainable Agriculture
Research and Education
SARE provides grants and information to improve
profitability, stewardship, and quality of life. |
| Warren
County Fair - August 5-13, 2006 |
PENN STATE Websites
| AgMap - Promoting
Pennsylvania Agriculture.
Includes a database of agricultural business listings, the
latest news and a way of connecting and sharing with other growers,
producers and business owners. |
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Agromedicine at Penn State
Agromedicine is a partnership of health and agricultural
professionals, which promotes the health and safety of agricultural
producers, workers, their families and consumers of agricultural products.
Agromedicine addresses the health and safety concerns of agriculture,
including forestry and fisheries, through collaboration of colleges of
agricultural science and medicine and their partners. |
| Dairy and Animal
Science at das.psu.edu
Newsletters, publications, 4-H programs, animal science
programs, ag events and more. |
| Future of Warren County Agriculture (from
PSU Publications and Other Resources)
The following are direct links to the publications on the
PSU Publications website
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| Pesticide
Education Program
The Pesticide Education Program strives to educate all
pesticide applicators and users across the Commonwealth about pest
management alternatives, including the safe, proper, and legal use of
pesticides. The program promotes responsible decision-making, which will
protect pesticide users, public health, plant and animal health, and the
environment. |
| Publications -
College of Agricultural Sciences
Publications, newsletters, Pennsylvania Impact Sheets,
video tapes and more available from the Pennsylvania State University
College of Agricultural Sciences |
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