It's spring. At least the calendar says it is. The seed catalogs are arriving on a daily basis and the agricultural community is looking ahead to the growing season. Each year, the cycle begins anew and producers optimistically look forward to a bountiful harvest.

Agricultural production is not a simple matter of planting a crop and waiting to harvest and market it. Along the way a number of support industries and businesses are involved. And don't forget the consumer. Many farm enterprises offer the opportunity to sell directly to the public.

How do they all get together? Penn State University offers an Internet-based mapping and direct marketing system that allows agricultural producers and support industries to describe their businesses.

AgMap helps farmers, consumers and businesses find local producers and suppliers of agricultural commodities and services. A searchable database, AgMap helps to increase direct marketing between producers and consumers and provides a communication network with the agricultural industry. Over 2,000 businesses are currently enrolled on the site.

The scope of businesses is diverse and includes listings for wood and forest products, lawn and garden supplies, landscape and nursery specialists with direct links to related Web sites and e-mails. The site also features current ag-related news headlines and discussion forums to allow users to "Ask the Expert."

Best of all, AgMap is a free service funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. All you need to get started is Internet access.

To view AgMap and list your business, go to agmap. psu. Simply follow the links to list your business or search for products in the Butler County area. As you look ahead to the coming growing season, why not take a few minutes to visit AgMap to see what Pennsylvania agriculture has to offer.

This material is submitted by Donna Zang, director, and the staff of the Penn State Extension office at the Sunnyview Home complex.