A new Manure Matching Tool developed by Penn State Extension can connect you with producers who have manure to sell, or if you have manure that needs to be unloaded. The tool was developed through a grant by Sustainable Chesapeake, a nonprofit that bills itself as a bridge between farmers and the environmental community.

The tool helps users create custom advertisements with details about manure type, manure amount, manure nutrient content, availability and contact information.

Users must create a free account to manage searchers and advertisements. You can then find or market manure by searching advertisements by location, and voluntarily report successful manure transfers. Jennifer Weld, assistant research professor at Penn State and director of PaOneStop, says users can create multiple locations where you have or need manure.

The tool is available statewide, she says, and there are no regulatory prerequisites or questions regarding the status of a farmer’s regulatory obligations. Weld says the tool was officially rolled out last year in the middle of the COVID-19 shutdown, but its use has been minimal.

You can access the tool at manurematch.psu.edu. Questions should be directed to Weld at 877-722-4724.

What’s new at farm show?

The 2022 Pennsylvania Farm Show is back in person and runs Jan. 8-15 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, except Jan. 9, when it runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Jan. 15, when it runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The food court in the Expo Hall will be open from noon to 9 p.m. Jan. 7.

Some new things this year include the new Canine Spectacular in the Equine Arena on Jan. 13; the “Nuts for You” virtual experience on the second-floor concourse of the New Holland Arena; the down-on-the-ranch, nondenominational Cowboy Church on Jan. 9 in the New Holland Arena; and the all-new “So You Wanna’ Be a Farmer” section in the Main Hall.

SEE THE COWS: The popular Calving Corner will be back at the 2022 Pennsylvania Farm Show, along with new exhibits and events. The show was held virtually last year in January.

For a complete schedule of this year’s Pennsylvania Farm Show visit farmshow.pa.gov.

Friday, Jan. 7

8:15 a.m.: Supreme champion bred gilt, Small Arena

7 p.m.: Pennsylvania High School Rodeo Slack, New Holland Arena

Saturday, Jan. 8

9 a.m.: Pennsylvania High School Rodeo Association Championship, New Holland Arena

10 a.m.: Opening ceremonies with Gov. Tom Wolf and Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, Small Arena

1 p.m.: Pennsylvania State Police Drill Team demonstration, New Holland Arena

5 p.m.: Pennsylvania High School Rodeo Association Championship, New Holland Arena

6 p.m.: Truck and tractor pull demonstration, Equine Arena

Sunday, Jan. 9

10:30 a.m.: Pennsylvania State Police Drill Team demonstration, New Holland Arena

4 p.m.: Grand champion junior market swine, followed by showmanship, Small Arena

Monday, Jan. 10

1 p.m.: Grand champion junior market goat followed by showmanship, Small Arena

2 p.m.: Pennsylvania State FFA Mid-Winter Convention, New Holland Arena

3 p.m.: Beef cattle supreme champion, Equine Arena

5 p.m.: Supreme champion market showmanship contest, Small Arena

6:45 p.m.: Square dance parade, New Holland Arena

7 p.m.: Square dance competition, New Holland Arena

Tuesday, Jan. 11

9:30 a.m.: Sale of champions, junior market, Small Arena

10:30 a.m.: Junior market animal sale — lambs, rabbits, goats, swine, cattle — Small Arena

4 p.m.: Circuit finals rodeo, New Holland Arena                   

5:30 p.m.: Cornhole competition, New Holland Arena      

Wednesday, Jan. 12

3 p.m.: Sheep to shawl contest, Small Arena

4 p.m.: Antique tractor pull, Equine Arena               

5:30 p.m.: Bid calling contest, Pa. Preferred Banquet Hall

6:30 p.m.: Sheep to shawl auction, Small Arena  

Thursday, Jan. 13

6 p.m.: Junior meat breeding goat supreme champion, Northwest Hall

7 p.m.: First Frontier PRCA Circuit Finals Rodeo, New Holland Arena   

Friday, Jan. 14

10 a.m.: Century Farm Awards, Lancaster Farming Stage

Noon: Leopold Awards, Lancaster Farming Stage

2 p.m.: Supreme champion dairy, Equine Arena

2:30 p.m.: Celebrity cow milking contest, Equine Arena

7 p.m.: First Frontier PRCA Circuit Finals Rodeo, New Holland Arena  

Saturday, Jan. 15

1 p.m.: Master showmanship competition, Northwest Hall

1 p.m.: Tractor restoration awards ceremony, Lancaster Farming Stage

4 p.m.: First Frontier PRCA Circuit Finals Rodeo, New Holland Arena

On-farm aid for Vermont dairies

University of Vermont Extension and the UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture recently launched a new program to provide free on-farm technical assistance for Vermont farm business owners and managers interested in improving their bottom line through changes in management practices.

The program's technical service providers will work one-on-one with farmers to answer questions and provide technical assistance in a number of areas including milk quality, grazing and pasture management, dairy nutrition, animal housing and facilities, animal husbandry and personnel management.

In addition, they may source grant funding for fences, waterlines and barnyard improvements, and help farms enroll in state and federal programs, such as those that provide payments for rotational grazing and excluding livestock from waterways.

Tony Kitsos heads up the team, which includes two recently hired dairy herd management educators, Whitney Hull and Kelsie Meehan. Kitsos and Hull are available to work with medium- and large-scale dairies, while Meehan will help small-scale, small ruminant, organic, grass-based, or transitional cow, goat and sheep dairies.

To learn more or to request assistance, visit go.uvm.edu/dhm-assistance, or contact Kitsos at 802-524-6501, ext. 440, or [email protected].