For the week of February 17, 2025
https://extension.psu.edu/franklin
UPCOMING WEBINARS AND EVENTS: Penn State Extension is pleased to continue providing quality education via various webinars and recordings. If you have difficulty registering online for these live webinars, please contact Penn State Extension’s customer service team at
1-877-345-0691. Most of these webinars will be recorded and available for viewing later, as well. Continue to search our website: extension.psu.edu for the latest offerings.
Happening Now – Friday, March 21, 2025 – Franklin County 4-H Berry Plant Sale – Franklin County 4-H is holding a berry plant sale, offering five varieties of strawberries, one variety of red raspberries, and one variety of black raspberries. All orders are due by March 21, and pickup will be on April 17 from 12 – 4:30 PM. Proceeds support 4-H programming, which served over 4,000 youth in Franklin County last year. All berries are sold as bare root plants in bundles, 25 plants per bundle for strawberries, and 5 plants per bundle of raspberries. Pricing is 25 – 35% off retail price. For more information and to order, visit https://shorturl.at/DZWiM or contact the Franklin County Extension Office at 717-263-9226.
Franklin County Conservation District Holds 2025 Tree Seedling Sale – The FCCD annual Tree Seedling Sale is now in progress. Various species of hardwoods and evergreens are available in bundles of 25 with a limited supply of fruit trees also available. Order forms (PDFs) are available on the FCCD website (www.franklinccd.org), on the FCCD Facebook page, or by calling FCCD at 717-264-5499. Payment is due when orders are placed. Customers may pay with credit card, cash or check or use the online portal. Orders will be processed and ready for pick-up on Thursday, April 24 at the Ag Heritage Building, 185 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg. Deadline for orders is Wednesday, March 19, 2025. Proceeds benefit the Franklin County Conservation District. Questions may be directed to Rhoda Crider at 717-264-5499 or rcrider@franklinccd.org.
Thursday, February 20, 2025, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM – Ecological Gardening Principles – Discover how to transform your garden into a sustainable haven by embracing ecological gardening principles. This engaging class explores the importance of gardening differently, with discussions on rain gardens, riparian buffers, meadows, plant communities, and plant choices. Learn how thoughtful landscape design can support local wildlife, improve water and air quality, and reduce long-term costs. Be inspired to reimagine your outdoor space as a thriving ecosystem that benefits both nature and your community. This in-person workshop is being held at the Adams County Agricultural and Natural Resource Center, 670 Old Harrisburg Rd, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. The cost is $10. Register online at https://extension.psu.edu/ecological-gardening-principles or call 1-877-345-0691.
Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 10:00 AM or 7:00 PM – Agronomic Pesticide Update – The Penn State Extension Agronomic Pesticide Update offers a traditional Core (2 credits) and Category (2 credits) recertification session for private, commercial, and public pesticide applicators. Attendees can earn a total of 4 recertification credits through this 2+2 program, ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations. The registration fee is $10, and the session will be held at the Penn State Extension Office – Franklin County Ag Heritage Building, located at 185 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, PA. For additional information and to register online, please visit https://extension.psu.edu/agronomic-pesticide-update or call
1-877-345-0691.
Thursday, March 20, 2025, 9:30 AM – Pasture Production – Join us for the Pasture Production Workshop, where you can discover strategies to overcome common challenges and consistently produce high-quality forages. This engaging session is designed for livestock producers who use grazing systems and will provide practical insights and expert guidance to improve pasture performance year after year. Don’t miss this chance to gain valuable knowledge for enhancing forage quality and maximizing your grazing potential. The registration fee is $25. The workshop will take place at the Penn State Extension Office – Franklin County Ag Heritage Building, located at 185 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, PA. For more information and to register online, please visit
https://extension.psu.edu/pasture-production or call 1-877-345-0691.
HPAI and Where to Get Help
To report sick or dead domestic poultry, please immediately call the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s 24-hour veterinarian at (717) 772-2852, option 1. They will provide guidance on testing and other requirements. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) also has a toll-free hotline that can be reached at 1-866-536-7593.
To report sick or dead wild birds, especially waterfowl, birds of prey, and vultures, please contact the Pennsylvania Game Commission by calling 1-833-742-9453, emailing pgc-wildlifehealth@pa.gov, or using their online wildlife health survey tool at https://www.pgcapps.pa.gov/WHS/app/home.
