News For March 2002

• Using Ag Biomass For Energy -- No Such Thing As Free Lunch
  Thursday March 21, 2002

  UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Using agricultural byproducts as an energy source these days is making more economic sense, according to a fuels expert in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. But "biomass" is not free, he points out.

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• Create A Drought-Resistant Landscape And Conserve Water
  Thursday March 21, 2002

  UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Many plants need ample moisture throughout the growing season. Even if the current drought lets up this summer, creating a landscape that is more resilient in dry weather can cut back on maintenance time and help conserve water.

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• Horticulture Healing Focus Of Penn State Seminar In Gettysburg
  Thursday March 21, 2002

  UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Gardens offer therapeutic benefits for children and adults, experts say, especially those who are physically challenged, suffering from chronic diseases and mental or emotional illnesses.

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• Weird Winter Likely To Limit Maple Sugar Production
  Thursday March 21, 2002

  UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- There's no point in trying to sugar coat it, warns an expert in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences -- the unusually warm winter is likely to result in lower amounts of maple sap produced by trees in Pennsylvania.

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• Penn State Expert Says Seed Package Information Valuable
  Thursday March 21, 2002

  UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The gardening season is just around the corner. The forsythia is beginning to bud and spring bulb stems and foliage are beginning to emerge from the ground. It's time to start deciding what to plant in the garden this year.

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• Clinic To Help Rural Residents Ensure Safe Drinking Water
  Monday March 11, 2002

  UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- If you are one of the estimated 3 million Pennsylvanians who rely on a private well, spring or cistern, chances are the tap water you drink contains some form of contamination, say Penn State water resource specialists.

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• Penn State Geneticist Involved In Effort To Sequence Tree Genome
  Monday March 11, 2002

  UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- A molecular geneticist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences was instrumental in the creation of a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-funded, ground-breaking effort to sequence the genome of the poplar tree.

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• The Changing Face Of Grandparenthood
  Monday March 11, 2002

  UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Last year marked a milestone in American history that many people missed. The first of the 76 million Americans born between the years 1946 and 1964 -- the well-known "baby boomer" generation -- have reached the age of 55. This landmark occurrence signals some interesting changes in the enterprise of grandparenting.

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• Pennsylvania Well Owners Can Keep Eye On Water Levels Online
  Monday March 11, 2002

  UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- With the worsening drought causing wells to go dry across the state, a water resources extension specialist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences recommends that well owners use the Internet to keep tabs on groundwater levels.

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• Pennsylvania Farmers Must Meet March Deadline For Crop Insurance
  Wednesday March 06, 2002

  UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Farmers preparing for spring planting in drought-stressed areas of Pennsylvania should pay attention to the rapidly approaching deadline of a crop insurance program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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• Invasive Plants Threaten Pennsylvania Habitat
  Wednesday March 06, 2002

  UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The most pervasive environmental threat of the 21st century may be cloaked in the guise of ordinary and often attractive plants, says a horticultural scientist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

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