UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Farmers, environmentalists and others affected by the 2002 Farm Bill can get expert advice and current information at Penn State's Ag Progress Days, Aug. 20-22.

Representatives from Penn State and USDA will offer a Farm Bill update from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 20 and Wednesday, Aug. 21, and from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday at the Ag Alumni Pavilion on Main St. between West 11th and West 12th St. The goal, says Jack Watson, Penn State Cooperative Extension state program leader for agriculture and natural resources, is to provide information and answer questions in an informal setting.

"You can find out how the new federal Farm Bill will affect you," he says. "You also can stop by anytime and pick up Farm Bill fact sheets and other information."

The Tuesday morning and Wednesday afternoon sessions will feature question-and-answer sessions with faculty specialists from Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. In addition to the faculty, the Wednesday morning session will include representatives of four U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies, including the USDA Cooperative State Research, Extension, and Education Service, Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Rural Development.

Sponsored by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, Ag Progress Days is held at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, nine miles southwest of State College on Pa. Route 45. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 20; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug. 21; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 22. Admission and parking are free. For more information, call (800) PSU-1010 toll-free through August 22 or visit the Ag Progress Days Web site at http://apd.cas.psu.edu.

###

EDITORS: Contact Jack Watson at 814-863-6114 or JackWatson@psu.edu.

Contact: Gary Abdullah gxa2@psu.edu 814-863-2708 814-865-1068 fax #230