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Workforce Help for Farms and Agribusinesses
AgWorks will provide 100 registered small- to medium-sized Pennsylvania farms and agribusinesses with no-cost training and consultation in the following areas to ensure business sustainability:
- Hiring and Retention
- Business Operations
- Compensation and Benefits
- Legal Counseling *
- Health and Safety
- PA CareerLink® services to help farms and Agribusinesses
Additional resources may be available to those who register and consult with their Workforce Consultant.
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Penn State Extension Unveils New AI Assistant
Start a conversation with Tilva™, Penn State Extension’s innovative AI assistant!
Tilva, powered by PlantVillage AI, combines the expertise of Penn State researchers and educators with the power of artificial intelligence to deliver vetted, science-based information. Find information on home food preservation, backyard poultry, gardening, nutrition, and more.
Ask questions such as:
- Do I have to add lemon juice to canned tomatoes?
- My water tastes like metal. How do I get rid of that?
- I’d like to raise my own chickens. How do I get started?
Tilva can help you:
- Find trusted extension expertise
- Access resources 24/7
- ID pests and plants from photos
- Gain insights based on real-time local weather and soil data
- Link to additional learning opportunities from extension
Tilva will even take questions and offer answers in Spanish!
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Free Agribusiness Consulting
The Pennsylvania SBDC Agriculture Center of Excellence offers no-cost, confidential business assistance to PA farmers, food processors, farmers’ markets, restaurants, retail and wholesale food entities, food trucks, agritourism, and ag-related support services.
SBDC consultants with expertise in agribusiness can provide guidance on:
- Market and competitive research
- Business planning for growth and diversification
- Business and generational transition planning
- Assistance in financial projections and assumptions
- Demographic reports
- Grant research and review
- Industry professional networking and referrals
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Farm Transition & Long-Term Care Resources Workshop
Join the Berks County Dept. of Agriculture and PA Farm Link for an in-person Farm Succession Workshop on March 26th at the Ag Center in Leesport, PA – focused on helping farm families plan for the future with clarity and confidence. This full-day workshop brings together experienced professionals to guide participants through key aspects of farm succession, including financial preparedness, farm family communication, long-term care considerations, and essential legal planning. Designed for farmers, landowners, and agricultural professionals, this workshop offers practical tools, real-world insights, and time for questions to support successful farm transitions. Lunch and Planning Workbooks included. $10 Registration (refunded at the workshop)
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Ag Literacy Week
The Berks County Department of Agriculture and B.A.R.N. will celebrate Ag Literacy Week March 16th – 20th. Volunteers will be reading Cows Can Moo! Can You? to Berks County elementary students in grades K-2 to teach them about agriculture and where their food comes from.
Does your child’s school participate? Interested teachers can sign up here.
If you or anyone you know would like to be a volunteer reader, contact Rachel Painter at the Department of Agriculture at 610- 378-1844 x2546 or rpainter@berkspa.gov
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National Ag Day
Join the Berks County Department of Agriculture at Kutztown University on March 17, 2026, for our annual National Ag Day event. This year we will be bringing Pennsylvania German culture and history with a presentation on barn stars “Schtanne”. Participants will participate in a hands-on activity, a light lunch, and all the history of Berks County Barn Stars that you can handle. Patrick Donmoyer, author and director of the PA German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown will take you on a tour of Northern Berks Farmland while providing an in-depth presentation about the artistic process, history, and cultural significance of Barn Stars. We are partnering with Kutztown University, as well as America 250 PA/Berks, and Berks 275 to bring you this free event. You will not want to miss this, space is limited. Contact the Dept of Ag at 610-378-1844 as soon as possible to secure your spot.
| | Find your next event, from credit courses to weekend family fun, on the Berks Ag Event Calendar. This calendar is a community effort to benefit farmers and non-farmers alike! Browse events by photo tiles, list, or calendar view. Search by titles, topics, audience or other criteria. Click the event title for more details on each event. | | |
Questions? Contact
Berks County Department of Agriculture
at 610-378-1844 or DeptofAg@berkspa.gov
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