Agricultural groups voice concerns at Pennsylvania Farm Show

Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter), chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, met with leaders from five of the state’s agriculture advocacy organizations at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Wednesday.

Causer spoke with Hannah Smith-Brubaker, executive director of the PA Association for Sustainable Agriculture; Wayne Campbell, president of the PA State Grange; Rick Ebert, president of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau; Christian Herr, executive vice president of Penn Ag Industries; and Heidi Secord of the PA Farmers Union.

“Over the last few years, we have successfully adopted several policies to address challenges facing the farming community, but there is no question we have more work to do,” Causer said. “We have been working on bills addressing several of the issues raised today, such as rural broadband, agritourism liability, and additional investments in our dairy industry. We appreciate the ongoing advocacy and support of these efforts as we work to get them to the governor’s desk and enacted into law.”

Issues raised by the advocates include the ability to diversify into agritourism, the need for rural broadband access, the importance of farmland preservation, the importance of helping small family farms access expanding markets, and maintaining animal health.

Causer pledged to address these and other issues this year.