Farmers Making Their Plans for Spring from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"Last year, Pennsylvania farmers said they wound up having a pretty good year and most are sticking to what worked. Carolyn Beinlich, one of the owners of Triple B Farms in Forward, where they grow both fruits and vegetables, said last year was dry early in the season, but they got through with irrigation, even having to fill one of their irrigation ponds with municipal water. She said the farm was less profitable because they kept their prices steady from 2011, but costs rose because they had to pay for the water to irrigate the crops."

Livestock Falling Ill in Fracking Regions, Raising Concerns About Food (Elizabeth Royte) from Public Source
"In the midst of the domestic energy boom, livestock on farms near oil-and-gas drilling operations nationwide have been quietly falling sick and dying. While scientists have yet to isolate cause and effect, many suspect chemicals used in drilling and hydrofracking (or “fracking”) operations are poisoning animals through the air, water, or soil." http://publicsource.org/investigations/livestock-falling-ill-fracking-regions-raising-concerns-about-food

Vacant Lots on the North Side in Pittsburgh Turning into Gardens from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"Rows of blueberry plants fill a city-owned Perry South lot that was once the weedy end zone of many a police chase on Pittsburgh's Charles Street. It is now part of a city lease agreement with the Pittsburgh Project, and the bushes will bear fruit for the neighborhood."

River Industry: Anti-Drought Efforts Hurt Commerce from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"River industry officials say drought-fighting measures taken by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers threaten to further disrupt barge traffic on the Mississippi River or even close the river to commerce, jeopardizing about $7 billion in shipments of grain, coal and other commodities."

Buying Local Creates Economic Prosperity from the (Connelsville) Daily Courier [of Fayette County]
"Martha Noble, senior policy associate for the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, said buying local food creates economic prosperity in a region. Noble was the keynote speaker at the 2012 Buy Local Summit sponsored by Fay-Penn Economic Development Council and held Saturday at the Fayette County Fairgrounds."

PA Crop Conditions and Quality of Life from the radio program, Essential Pittsburgh
"Record heat and drought has hurt many American farms, especially in the Midwest. Pennsylvania has seen its share of abnormal weather conditions as well. We’ll take a look at how local farms have faired this season and talk to Daniel Capstick, Deputy Director of the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service Pennsylvania Field Office "

Drought Watch Issued in Pittsburgh Region from the Pittsburgh Business Times
"The Department of Environmental Protection on Thursday afternoon issued a drought watch for Allegheny County and 14 other counties in western Pennsylvania."