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Fertilizer is costing Pennsylvania’s farmers more. A lot more. And even if farmers can afford the price increases, it’s not always clear that they’ll get the fertilizer they need, when they need it.
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U.S. farmers have reported seeing fertilizer prices rise as much as 300% over the last several months, according to a report from the American Farm Bureau Federation published in December.
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The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture unveiled a telephone helpline for people in agricultural communities who face mental health crises. Officials say it's a key resource in an industry that suffers from some of the highest suicide rates in the country.
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More than 99% of farm producers in Pennsylvania are white, but groups in Pittsburgh are seeking to diversify the sector. Their work could help to avert an impending shortage of agricultural workers.
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Many local organic farmers had their best season ever in 2020. But with this year’s inflation at its highest since 1990, farms are facing uncertainty in 2022 as they grapple with rising costs of farming inputs like fertilizer, seed, propane and greenhouse plastic.
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Pennsylvania farmers are getting older, and state officials say there aren’t enough people to take over what is often grueling work that doesn’t make much money. But changing the nature of the job could help to raise a new generation of agricultural workers.
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As more farmers in Pennsylvania near retirement, the state is bracing for a shortage of agricultural workers. But for people who want to start their own farms, there’s no guarantee they’ll find land. It's a top barrier for newcomers in the industry.
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A pre-apprenticeship program for local teens will wrap up its first harvest at Braddock Farms Friday. The initiative seeks to introduce more people to careers in agriculture.
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With more than half of people who run Pennsylvania’s farms aged 55 or older, agricultural communities in the state face an uncertain future. The industry wants to protect farmland and is bracing for a labor shortage.
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On today's program: Local farmers might be benefitting from the demand for home-delivered fresh produce; the state liquor control board is struggling to…