Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law Monday a package of bills designed to support Pennsylvania farmers and grow the Commonwealth’s agriculture industry.
“Agriculture is such an important part of our economy and our everyday lives,” Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter), chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, said. “The bills we have worked on together over the past several months will help protect animal health and our food supply, combat threats to both crops and livestock, assist farmers with implementing best management practices, support the dairy industry and prepare the next generation of farmers to lead the industry.”
The bills that were signed Monday include Causer’s House Bill 1516, which creates the Pennsylvania Rapid Response Disaster Readiness Account to enable quick response to agricultural disasters.
“We already have an effective monitoring system in place to keep an eye out for these threats,” Causer said. “My bill helps ensure that when we see a problem, we can provide a rapid and well-coordinated response.”
The bills also include House Bill 1514, which establishes the PA Farm-to-School Program to provide grants to educate pre-kindergartners through fifth-graders; Senate Bill 634 creates the Conservation Excellence Program; Senate Bill 661, which provides state-level Specialty Crop Block Grants, establishes the Pennsylvania Agricultural Business Development Center, reestablishes the former Agriculture and Rural Youth Development Program and creates an Urban Agricultural Infrastructure Grant Program; House Bill 1520, which establishes a grant program to reimburse federal meat inspection costs for small or new processors and encourages veterans to participate in the PA Preferred and Homegrown by Heroes program; House Bill 1526, which reestablishes a low-interest loan program to assist with implementation of agricultural and conservation best management practices; House Bill 370, which clarifies subdivision requirements within the Agriculture Area Security Law; House Bill 1590, which creates the Dairy Investment Program.
Senate Bill 338, which increases the allowable width for farm equipment on roads in the Commonwealth, was signed into law June 28.
The state budget adopted by the General Assembly last week includes a $19.5 million increase in funding for agriculture-related programs. The funding supports the initiatives in the bills signed into law Monday, and the budget also includes two new line items that provide $2 million for the Animal Health and Diagnostic Commission and $1 million to livestock and consumer health protection.