The PA Agricultural Land Preservation Easement Purchase Program of Susquehanna County, which is administered by the Susquehanna County Conservation District, has purchased the development rights on the J. Scott and Betty Jane Hall Farm located in Dimock Township. A perpetual easement placed on this property helps preserve the rural nature of the township and contributes to maintaining a critical agriculture mass in the area. The Hall farm is the 28th farm purchased in Susquehanna County, bringing the total acres preserved to 5,800.

Pictured (l-r) above: back - Michael Gathany, Susquehanna Co. Solicitor; MaryAnn Warren, County Commissioner representative to the Ag Preservation Board; Jim Kessler, member Ag Preservation Board; Jim Garner, Conservation District Manager; Ted Place, Chairman Ag Preservation Board; seated - Betty Jane and James Scott Hall.

The Hall farm is an owner/operator beef operation consisting of 89 acres. Conservation practices currently in use are prescribed grazing, pasture management, forage harvest management, stream bank fencing, forage and biomass planting and roof runoff management. The Hall’s have also installed water control structures and stream bank protection.

An agricultural conservation easement is a legal restriction on land development that limits the use of land to agricultural purposes. The application period runs from November 15 through January 15 each year. Applications are ranked according to soil quality, development potential, farmland potential and clustering potential. The highest ranking farm is considered for purchase first. The farm is then appraised to determine the easement value.

For more information contact Marlene Bailey at 570-278-1011 Ext: 101.

The Susquehanna Branch of the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA), in its efforts to share information about whitetail deer, bring you another concern about ticks. Bob Wagner, Secretary of the Susquehanna QDMA, stated that “the year 2011 has been an unusual weather year, and it has stayed warmer than usual this fall without any prolonged freezing weather. This type of weather can lead to increased survival of ticks which may put some deer in a poor health. If you come upon a buck with a lot of ticks or with some unusual antlers take a good look at the antlers to see if you can discern any health issues that may have been caused by the ticks.”

The following information about ticks and antlers is from Joe Hamilton, the founder of QDMA. Mr. Hamilton was recently asked if ticks had been known to affect antler development. Several trail-camera photos prompted him to give this question more thought.

The relative number of parasites on a deer is referred to as a “burden” by scientists. In at least one scientific study, high “burdens” of ticks were associated with fawn mortality, so no doubt there is a relationship between parasite burdens and deer health. While we don’t know for sure if ticks can directly affect antler development, a high tick burden could result from or cause poor health, which certainly affects antler development.

When two animals from the same habitat exhibit different external parasite burdens, you can bet that one is healthy and the other is not. Parasite burdens in free-roaming deer are rarely a concern for deer managers.

Harrisburg - PennDOT reminds motorists to drive with extra caution this fall and be on the lookout for seasonal travel hazards such as wet leaves, frosty mornings and increased sun glare.

In addition to creating slippery conditions, wet leaves can often cover traffic lines and other pavement markings. Motorists should slow down, particularly in residential areas as well as on narrow or winding roads.

Frost can also lead to slippery conditions, especially on bridges and overpasses that freeze more quickly than roadways. Motorists also need to be alert of shaded areas that could be frozen. In addition to driving with extra care, motorists need to be absolutely certain that their vehicles’ windows are clear of frost before driving.

Pennsylvania law states that no person shall drive a vehicle with ice or snow on the front, rear or side windows if it obstructs or impairs the driver’s view of the road. Also, if snow or ice is dislodged or falls from a moving vehicle and strikes another vehicle or pedestrian causing death or serious injury, the operator of the vehicle from which the snow or ice came is subject to a fine of $200 to $1,000 for each offense.

Intense sun glare can affect drivers’ vision during morning and afternoon rush hours. Motorists should keep their windshield clean, both inside and out to help reduce glare. Drivers should also be certain that the vehicle’s sun visor is free of clutter and be certain to keep a pair of good sunglasses within easy reach.

PennDOT also offers motorists these additional tips for fall driving:

When driving in severe weather or in areas with wet leaves, increase your following distance. If you are being tailgated, let the other driver pass.

With twilight approaching earlier in the evenings, make sure that your vehicle’s headlights, tail lights and turn signals are all working properly. Turn your headlights on as soon as the light begins to fade.

Be sure that your vehicle’s heating system and wipers are functioning properly and remember that under Pennsylvania law, if your wipers are on, your headlights must be on, too.

Be sure that your tires have sufficient tread depth to deal with the potential for early-season snows.

Drivers are also reminded that they are required to “Steer Clear” any time an emergency vehicle has its lights flashing and where road crews or emergency personnel have lighted flares or posted signs. Pennsylvania law states that motorists must move to a lane not adjacent to the scene of an emergency response, police stop or a tow truck picking up an abandoned vehicle. If drivers cannot move over because of traffic or other conditions, they must reduce their speed.

Harrisburg - Hunters can make a difference this holiday season by donating deer meat to Pennsylvania food banks, soup kitchens and pantries through the Hunters Sharing the Harvest Program.

Agriculture Secretary George Greig joined legislators, processors and hunters to kick off the program’s 20th year during an event at Diller’s Custom Deer Processing in Enola, Cumberland County. Through the program, hunters donate deer for processing into ground venison for distribution to those in need throughout the commonwealth.

“Nearly 1.4 million Pennsylvanians are at risk for hunger in one of the most productive agricultural states in the northeast,” said Greig. “By donating their venison to this program, our hunters can help combat hunger in the commonwealth.”

Hunters can take their deer to one of more than 100 participating meat processors throughout the state and donate any amount of their venison to the program - from several pounds to the whole animal.

Hunters Sharing the Harvest provides food banks, soup kitchens and social service feeding programs with more than 750,000 meals. Last year, hunters donated nearly 100,000 pounds of venison to more than 4,000 emergency food assistance agencies in 53 participating counties through the state’s 21 regional food banks.

“Each year, the Hunters Sharing the Harvest Program brings thousands of pounds of highly desired venison to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank,” said Kendall Hanna, executive director of the regional food bank. “The families we serve look forward to venison being available each year, and since 2001 we have distributed more than 103,000 pounds of the nutritious, high-protein product for their tables.”

Pennsylvanians can also donate money to the Buck for the Pot campaign, which supports Hunters Sharing the Harvest.

To learn more about the program or to obtain a list of participating meat processors, visit www.sharedeer.org, or call toll-free 866-474-2141.

(StatePoint) Is your home safe from burglars and thieves? Or are you courting them with obvious security lapses and poor planning when you’re away?

More than 2 million homes were burglarized in the United States last year alone. Moreover, more than 60 percent of all residential burglaries took place during the day, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The average burglary results in a loss of more than $2000 of property, not to mention the loss of peace of mind and security when you’re home.

But a few simple precautions can keep your home safe while you’re away:

Lock your doors and windows. Burglars usually don’t have the fancy tools seen on television - pliers, screwdrivers and crowbars typically do the trick. Having strong locks on front doors, and keeping ground-level windows locked when you’re not home, are two easy ways to deter the average burglar.

Make sure your home is well lit. Better yet, use motion-sensing lights that come on when movement is detected. They’ll keep you from having to fumble your way to a dark door. Lights, indoors and out, should also be on a timer when you’re away.

Install wireless security cameras. Motion-sensing cameras with an Internet connection allow you to monitor your home while you’re away via any internet browser. For example, Panasonic’s BL-C210 wireless IP network cameras send an alert to your phone or computer with a photograph when body heat, audio, or motion is detected. It also allows users to view real-time video from anywhere in the world using a personalized secure web address provided for free. For more information visit panasonic.com/netcam.

Evaluate your home’s surroundings. Don’t inadvertently make it easy for burglars to hide. Keep landscaping neatly trimmed to eliminate hiding places around the house. And careless placement of tools in the backyard, such as ladder, can be used by the burglar to break-in. So be sure to always store tools properly and in secure locations.

Keep up appearances. Make sure to stop all newspaper deliveries and have the post office hold your mail when you are away. Also, keep your grass watered and cut, along with other landscaping if you are gone for an extended period.

These simple tips and precautions should allow you to rest easier while away - and keep your home safe as well.

Nancy Williams of Clifford, the PA State Coordinator for the Benign Essential Blepharospasm Research Foundation in Beaumont, Texas, recently held the 11th annual blepharospasm support group meeting at the Clarion Hotel in Scranton. The term blepharospasm means “involuntary forcible closure of the eyelids.” The condition is not malignant nor fatal, and to date there is no known cause or known cure. For more information on the Benign Essential Blepharospasm Research Foundation, call Nancy at 570-222-4328. Pictured above, participants of the recent support group meeting.

The Susquehanna County Forest Land Owners Association (SCFLOA), the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Christmas Tree Association believe that it is more environmentally sound to use real evergreen trees as your traditional Christmas tree. There are several reasons to consider using a natural evergreen tree this holiday season. For instance, they are often locally grown which provides local jobs, and they are a renewable resource.

Pennsylvania leads the nation in the number of active Christmas tree farms. Susquehanna County has between 15 and 20 active Christmas tree farms which range in size from 1 acre to the largest being several hundred acres. These traditional Christmas tree farms grow a renewable, sustainable resource that is biodegradable and recyclable. As the trees grow they provide oxygen, take up carbon dioxide, help control soil erosion and provide valuable wildlife habitat.

The trees can continue to be of use after the holiday season by being made into compost, being chipped, used for conservation purposes such as filling in gullies, the making of brush pile wildlife habitat or sunk into ponds and lakes to provide better fish habitat.

Taking the family to a local Christmas tree farm is a fun tradition. SCFLOA members Teri and Bob Wagner reflect back on their 30+ years of having people come to their Christmas tree operations. Teri noted, “during the years that we operated our small tree farms we especially enjoyed our repeat customers and the kids that came along to harvest their ‘perfect’ trees. The children’s enthusiasm made you smile as they dashed about finding the trees, cutting the trees and helping to drag the trees out to their parents’, grandparents’ or relatives’ vehicles. The kids faces would really light up when we showed them that their tree had a bird nest in it. If there had been a fresh snow we showed them the animal tracks - rabbit, deer and the winter birds. I believe that we had as big a smile on our faces as they did on theirs.”

Bob also notes that while they no longer operate their Christmas tree operation as a business the remaining trees are homes for wildlife and a few trees are harvested by family members. The Wagners continue to plant trees, both evergreens and nut and fruit producing trees, each year.

SCFLOA encourages you to manage your woodland and to plant trees. Each year Christmas tree farms plant between 800 and 1200 evergreen trees per acre.

Contact SCFLOA Treasurer Stuart Slocum at 756-2497 or at slocumsw95@yahoo.com for more information on becoming a member of SCFLOA.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Are you being bugged by bugs? Are mice or rats chewing on your last nerve? Maybe you could use some good advice about how to deal with them.

A new publication from Penn State Extension, "Common Urban Pests: Identification, Prevention and Control," encourages homeowners to use integrated pest management, or IPM, techniques to control pest-related problems.

"Over the last few years, we have seen different species starting to enter homes more often, and people may not be handling the situations safely or effectively," said Steve Jacobs, senior extension associate and urban entomologist.

"They may not read the label on a pesticide, or they might use it improperly," he said. "Or, the pesticide they have chosen or have on hand may not be designed to kill the pest that's causing their problems."

The fact sheet, developed by experts in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, includes photographs and information about 20 different insects and rodents and offers tips to manage pests in a safer and more effective manner.

For multifamily units, roaches, mice and increasingly bed bugs are the “most pesty,” explained Jacobs. The health issue most commonly connected to pests and pesticide use in urban settings is asthma. Pesticides and pest dander and droppings could irritate the lungs of some individuals.

Children are most vulnerable, and asthma has become the most common chronic childhood disease. "Protecting yourself from the diseases pests may carry is really about being proactive and working to prevent coming in contact with the pest in the first place," he said.

Jacobs noted the first step in IPM practices is to properly identify the pest and figure out how and why they are coming inside. "You then need to fix those issues," he said. "Eliminate access to food, water and shelter by keeping food in sealed containers, fixing dripping pipes and faucets, and sealing cracks and crevices.

"If a pesticide is warranted, it should be the least hazardous product that will accomplish the job. Minimize exposure to the chemical, and target only the pest causing the problem," he said.

Diatomaceous earth and boric acid are less hazardous than broad-spectrum pesticides. Both can be injected into cracks, crevices and wall voids. However, they should be used with caution as they can cause irritation to humans. Keep them out of reach of children and pets.

By keeping floor drains covered, repairing screens and caulking cracks, you can keep many bugs out of your house, including roaches.

The publication is aimed at showing homeowners that prevention tactics often take care of most pest problems. It focuses on pests found in urban settings but also is relevant to suburban and rural locations that may have the same types of pests. However, the fact sheet does not contain information on larger pests such as deer, birds, groundhogs and so forth, which may be prevalent in suburban or rural surroundings but not as common in urban settings.

Most pest-control companies use IPM tactics to manage pests, according to Jacobs.

"IPM services should include inspection, monitoring, recommendations for preventing pest problems and treating problems with traps, baits or the least toxic but effective materials," he said. "The technician should communicate with you about the problem and provide service reports of the actions taken and the products used."

IPM methods may appear to take longer and cost more up front than conventional pest management, but they are the better option, Jacobs stressed.

"Continuing IPM practices leads to more effective, longer-lasting control and a decrease in cost for pest management," he said. "By using these methods, you're keeping yourself, your family and your pets safe from unnecessary exposure to insecticides."

Single copies of the "Common Urban Pests: Identification, Prevention and Control," can be obtained free of charge by Pennsylvania residents through county Penn State Extension offices, or by contacting the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Distribution Center at (814) 865-6713 or by e-mail at AgPubsDist@psu.edu.

Tunkhannock PA - The Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau has chosen the winners of its 2011 photo contest.

The contest kicked-off in January of this year and ended September 30. It was open to anyone - local residents and visitors alike - who wanted to send a photo of a special memory, scene, or time spent in the Endless Mountains. First, second and third place winners received monetary prizes in each of the five categories and may have their work published in future visitors bureau promotional campaigns.

Winners in the “Best Memory of the Endless Mountains” category are first place Chelsie Dallman, Cherry Hill, NJ; second place Barbara Yavorosky, Hop Bottom; and third place Deborah Reeder, Narberth.

The “Winter Fun” category winners are first place Sherry Dulaney, Towanda; second place Teri Cosentino, Brookside, NY; and third place Keith N. Strohl, Lehighton.

Winners in the “Animals/Birds in the Wild” category are first and second places Bill Maile, Forest City; and third place David A Simons, Rome.

The “Fall Foliage” category winners are first and second places Jeff Mitchell, Tunkhannock; and third place Barbara Yavorosky, Hop Bottom.

Winners in the “Fairs & Festivals” category are first place Beverly H. James, Dallas; second place Keith N. Strohl, Lehighton; and third place Peter J. Stevens, Philadelphia.

A grand prize winner was chosen out of the first place winners. That award went to Chelsie Dallman, whose winning photo was of a relaxing campfire scene.

The Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau is the state and locally recognized tourism promotion agency for Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Wyoming counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

The 2012 photo contest will be extra special, as the bureau will be celebrating its 50th anniversary and will base the contest around this milestone. The contest will open for photo submission on January 1, 2012. Anyone can send a photo as usual. Details and an online submittal form will be on the bureau’s website, www.endlessmountains.org.

For more information, contact the visitors bureau at 570-836-5431 or 800-769-8999.

Riding Every Stride

Riding Every Stride has been very busy this month. We helped at the Harford Fire Hall's monthly breakfast on November 6. We all had a great time and worked really hard. The fire hall said that was the biggest turn out they have had in a long time.

The kids have also been working hard on their hoagie sale; this is to raise monies to go to the Horse Expo in Harrisburg to be held the end of February. We sold a total of 220 hoagies. We made them at Julie Walker's house and had a great day to deliver them this year.

We will be hosting Brian McCalister from Purnia on Dec 4. He will be showing the kids how they should be feeding their horses and what they can do to improve their horses overall. We are looking forward to this meeting at 1:30 on Dec 4. Anyone interested in joining us, please let us know. Call (570) 983-6553.

Our Christmas party will be Dec. 18 at 1 p.m. Hope all of the kids can make it this year. Keep working on those books!