Wednesday, May 23, 2012
People in rural counties who work for themselves may add a boost to local economies, improving income and job growth, according to economists. The share of self-employed workers in nonmetro counties significantly predicted personal income and job growth, as well as declines in family poverty levels, said Stephan Goetz, professor of agricultural economics and regional economics, Penn State, and director of the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development.
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Friday, May 18, 2012
The Marcellus Shale natural gas play is having a significant impact on Pennsylvania's economy, and Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences is helping to position students to benefit from associated employment opportunities.
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Friday, May 18, 2012
Even though he often missed a few hours of volleyball practice a week due to academic class requirements -- an unusual exception not granted to most players -- Penn State outside hitter Joe Sunder was on top of his game both on and off the court.
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Thursday, May 17, 2012
Investment in agricultural research doesn't benefit just the 2 percent of the population involved in farming. It's a matter of national security, job creation, energy independence and human health. That's according to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who visited Penn State this week (May 16) to tour College of Agricultural Sciences research facilities and commemorate this year's 150th anniversaries of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Morrill Act of 1862, which created the land-grant university system. (more)
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited Penn State's University Park campus on May 16, accompanied by Cathie Woteki, the U.S. Department of Agriculture under secretary of research education. The visit included tours of research laboratories, a meeting with Penn State faculty and representatives from 4-H and FFA. The one-day visit commemorates the 150th anniversary of both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Land Grant University System. (more)
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Laura Leites, a research associate and instructor in forest biometrics in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, recently was named to the board of directors of the Resource Modeling Association.
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Tuesday, May 15, 2012
A researcher in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences has been honored for his contributions in developing an online tool to forecast the emergence of threats to soybean crops. (more)
Monday, May 14, 2012
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will visit Penn State on Wednesday, May 16, to deliver an address commemorating the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and highlighting the groundbreaking research and innovation that takes place at land-grant universities, such as Penn State. Vilsack's address will take place at 11 a.m. in Berg Auditorium (Room 100) in the Life Sciences Building on the University Park campus. The event is free and open to the public. (more)
Monday, May 14, 2012
A Penn State researcher has been chosen to receive a grant through the Grand Challenges Explorations program, an initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. David Hughes, assistant professor of entomology and biology, will pursue an innovative global health and development research project, titled "Taking Out the Bodyguards: A Novel Solution to Ag Disease." Hughes' project aims to reduce the incidence of plant diseases -- and consequently crop losses -- by reducing the population of ants that act as protectors for various crop pests. Grand Challenges Explorations (GCE) funds individuals worldwide to explore ideas that can break the mold in how we solve persistent global health and development challenges. (more)
Friday, May 11, 2012
Free public gardening workshops will be a featured attraction when the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Centre County hold their annual Garden Fair and Plant Sale, May 19. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Ag Progress Days grounds at Rock Springs, nine miles southwest of State College on state Route 45. (more)