Gov. Tom Wolf and Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding unveiled last week the PA Farm Bill, which addresses the challenges the state’s agriculture industry faces by allocating $24 million in additional funding to 17 initiatives.
“Pennsylvania’s story can’t be told without agriculture, and the PA Farm Bill will help inspire all of the chapters yet to come,” Redding said. “By further supporting the agriculture industry and investing in business operations, infrastructure, education and the workforce, we are setting the course for a future filled with increased opportunities and prosperity.”
Some of the bill’s proposals include growing the organic industry by creating state-specific guidelines for marketing products to a global marketplace, allowing quick responses to agricultural disasters, allowing farmers to incorporate high-quality conservation practices in their operations, and increasing awareness of and exposure to agriculture.
Senate Republicans support the bill, but
“As we take a closer look at the governor’s budget and his new plans for supporting farmers, our priority will be working with all parties to determine how we can incorporate some or all of these ideas in a fiscally responsible way,” Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R- Benner Township), Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R- Jefferson) and Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Chairman Elder Vogel (R- New Sewickley Township) said in a joint statement. “We look forward to a careful review of all of these ideas leading up to our budget hearing with the Department of Agriculture on March 6 and a joint hearing with the Senate and House Agriculture committees on March 20,” the statement said.