Farm Bureau supports passage of bill package

The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) recently applauded Gov. Tom Wolf and the state General Assembly for supporting the bipartisan “Pennsylvania Farm Bill” legislative package.

The package included bills designed to protect farmers and agriculture. Measures included will help young farmers gain access to farmland by providing a tax credit to landowners and change the state vehicle code to allow farm equipment of up to 18 feet in width to travel on roadways. Other included legislation will enable the creation of a dairy commission to study current trends in the dairy industry, increase funding to address agriculture threats, and provide additional conservation funding through grants and low-interest loans.

“The legislative package addresses some priority issues that (the) Farm Bureau has been advocating for over the past few years,” PFB President Rick Ebert said. “It offers new approaches to overcoming hurdles and creates opportunities for farmers and the agriculture industry to prosper.”

Wolf is expected to sign the package into law.

PFB also supports changes to the Resource Enhancement and Protection program and the state agriculture budget that includes increases in funding for several programs.

This includes $4.5 million for the Agricultural Business and Workforce Investment program, $2 million for the Animal Health and Diagnostic Commission and $1 million for the Livestock and Consumer Health Protection program.