Classroom News: Current Events and Critical Thinking Questions for Ag Classes
Phil Gruber, News Editor, pgruber@lancasterfarming.com
Sept. 7, 2021
New England Seeks Options as Organic Dairies Face Loss of Market
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What factors contributed to Horizon Organic’s plan to cancel contracts with 89 dairies in New
England?
How are the states responding?
Maine has launched an effort to help even though just 14 farms in the state are affected by
Horizon’s cutback. What does Maine’s action say about the state’s view of agriculture? Is
Maine’s effort a good use of government resources?
Pennsylvania Eyes New York's Model for Fighting Invasive Species
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What does PRISM stand for, and what does a PRISM do?
Do you see PRISMs as a good way to deal with invasive species? Why or why not?
Name an invasive species. What is one thing you can do to combat it?
$1M Grant Aims to Transform Dairy Landscape
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What benefits could farmers get from participating in the grazing-based dairy program? What
risks might they face?
Why do you think Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties were selected for this
program?
Math Questions
Chester County produced 317 million pounds of mushrooms in the 2020-2021 marketing year.
Pennsylvania as a whole produced 475 million pounds. Chester County produces what
percentage of the state’s mushroom crop?
Pennsylvania sold $481 million in mushrooms compared by $548 million the previous year.
What was the percent change in sales?
More News
PETA Not Satisfied With Plainville Farms' Response to Videos Alleging Turkey Abuse
Plainville, based in New Oxford, Pennsylvania, said it is bringing in third-party auditors for
unannounced inspections, increasing employee training, and even distributing body cameras.
Search Continues for Owner of Wallaby Captured in Lebanon County
The Pennsylvania Game Commission has no permit on file for anyone in the area to possess a
wallaby. The marsupial generated no reports of crop damage as it roamed the rural area.
Opinion: Growing Humility — How Farmers and Consumers Can Understand Each Other
News editor Phil Gruber says there’s no reason to be indignant when consumers don’t know
the complexities of agriculture.