PA Dept. of Agriculture Weekly Roundup
Find out what’s been happening at PDA!    Shapiro Administration Highlights Critical Budget Investments in Pennsylvania’s Hardwoods Industry The commonsense, bipartisan budget Governor Shapiro signed increased the funding for hardwood research and promotion by 50% Secretary Redding joined the Pennsylvania Hardwoods Development Council at WOODBED CORP to recognize the strength of Pennsylvania’s agriculture sector and highlight how the 2023-24 budget’s significant investment will further the growth and impact of the Hardwoods Development Council and forest products industry. With nearly 17 million acres of forestland, Pennsylvania has the most abundant hardwood forest in the United States and accounts for $21.8 billion in direct and $39.1 billion in indirect impacts on the state’s economy. More than 60,000 Pennsylvanians — ten percent of the state’s manufacturing workforce — are employed in the forest products industry. The commonsense, bipartisan budget Governor Shapiro signed increased the funding for hardwood research and promotion from $474,000 to $725,000. This is an increase of more than 50% from the previous year’s funding, which marks an important step in furthering the mission of the Hardwoods Development Council and its partners to support this impactful industry. RecapSee More   Pennsylvania Invests $8.6 Million To Ensure 35 Farms, 2,645 Acres In 18 Counties Will Remain Farms Forever The Shapiro Administration announced that Pennsylvania preserved 2,645 acres on 35 farms in 18 counties, forever protecting them from future residential or commercial development. The investment of $8.64 million in state, county, and local dollars preserves prime farmland, so that Pennsylvania farms can continue feeding our families and our economy in the future. Pennsylvania continues to lead the nation in preserved farmland. Since 1988, when voters overwhelmingly supported the creation of the Farmland Preservation Program, Pennsylvania has protected 6,266 farms and 628,967 acres in 58 counties from future development, investing nearly $1.68 billion in state, county, and local funds. The newly preserved farms are in Adams, Allegheny, Beaver, Berks, Chester, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Erie, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Lycoming, Montgomery, Northampton, Union, and York counties.Read More Bipartisan Budget Signed by Governor Shapiro Spurs Innovation, Expands Opportunity, Grows Future of Pennsylvania Agriculture The commonsense, bipartisan budget Governor Josh Shapiro signed invests in the future of Pennsylvania’s agriculture sector, making critical investments in the industry that feeds the state’s economy $132 billion annually, supports more than 580,000 jobs statewide, and puts food on tables around the world every day. The budget increases funding for the Department by nearly 6.4%, feeding agricultural emergency preparedness and response to help cushion businesses against the blows of animal disease and invasive species outbreaks; feeding agriculture business profits while increasing consumer confidence in products labelled as organic; and feeding opportunities for healthy, locally grown foods in rural and underserved communities where availability is scarce. Read More   Secretary Redding visited Lancaster County to join in celebration of Dutch Wonderland’s 60th Anniversary. Thank you to the robust ride safety team we have here in PA for making sure that everyone across the Commonwealth can enjoy their time on amusement rides!See More Secretary Redding met with the Warren County Farm Bureau to share with them how the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is working to strengthen PA farms through policy, networking, and advocacy.See More The Quarterly Ag Ed Commission Meeting was held in State College. During the meeting, updates were shared regarding the Workforce industry and plans for the future, Career and Technical Education (CTE), as well as a Commission Report.  State Conservation Commission Director, Doug Wolfgang, and Director of Conservation and Innovation, Michael Roth, attended the Salisbury Township Project Talk & Tour. While there, they learned about two farm hosts that shared about their experiences with this project.  Secretary Redding attended Penn State’s Farming for Success Field Day for a chance to talk and learn about the on-going research in agriculture that Penn State experts are completing, and to understand how their research will lead to innovations that will change the way we view and interact with our fields and crops.See More Secretary Redding and Deputy Secretary, Lisa Graybeal, visited the Elizabethtown Fair in celebration of their 50th Anniversary. While there, they also awarded Matthew Swartz with the Friend of the Fair Award Recipient for his dedication to the Fair.See More   Now Hiring! The Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex is hiring! On-site interviews will be available during a job fair. Candidates are encouraged to apply online before attending the job fair and should bring reference information along with two forms of ID. WHEN: Tuesday, August 29, 10 AM – 6 PMLearn MoreUSDA Provides Local Support for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers The first 10 years of a farming or ranching operation are tough. USDA recognizes you need dedicated support to help make sense of all the information coming your way. Now each state has a Beginning Farmer and Rancher team headed up by a state coordinator. The coordinator helps producers who have operated a farm or ranch for less than 10 years navigate USDA and partner resources.Learn More You Are Invited! The Pennsylvania Food Policy Council is partnering with the Pennsylvania Department of Aging to host a virtual listening session to discuss and gather input on PA’s Master Plan for Older Adults. WHAT: Virtual listening session to discuss and provide recommendations on senior nutrition and food security-related issues to the PA Department of Aging for its 10-year Master Plan for Older Adults WHEN: Thursday, September 7th from 10 AM – 12 PM.RegisterUSDA Seeks Companies to Provide Food Commodities to Meet the Departments Demand in its Nutrition Assistance Programs The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking suppliers of buttery spreads, canned vegetables, dehydrated potatoes, frozen chicken, frozen turkey, and pasta to help support the demand for wholesome, high-quality products for use in USDA’s nutrition assistance programs. Producers of any of these products that are not currently participating as vendors for USDA’s nutrition assistance programs are invited to contact the New Vendor Specialists in AMS’ Commodity Procurement Program (CPP) at newvendor@usda.gov for information about how to become an approved vendor to sell food to USDA.Learn More |