The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau says the new state budget makes cuts for the state Department of Agriculture within the margin of reduced funding for other agencies, but slashes support in certain areas vital to agriculture, the food industry and consumers.

“Farmers have consistently said we will take our fair share of cuts in agriculture programs to help Pennsylvania deal with its economic problems. While the approximately 11 percent funding cut for the Department of Agriculture is similar to budget reductions for many other agencies, Farm Bureau is concerned that support was slashed for some programs, including crop insurance assistance, agriculture research, FFA youth organization activities and agricultural promotion and marketing,” said PFB President Carl T. Shaffer.

Pennsylvania Farm Bureau pointed to the huge reduction in annual tax credits that will be available for the Resource Enhancement and Protection Act of Pennsylvania (REAP) program, which has been slashed by 50 percent to $5 million in FY 2010 and targeted for additional cuts in FY 2011.

“Pennsylvania’s reversal in support for the new REAP program is frustrating to farmers who have matched past REAP grants with millions of their own dollars for environmental improvement projects. At a time when more and more environmental expectations are being placed on agriculture, we see it as an inconsistency in public policy, especially as farmers are struggling with other costs,” added Shaffer.

PFB said a 40 percent ($43,000) reduction for the FFA organization sends the wrong message to young people. “When tens of millions of dollars are being spent on other programs to steer Pennsylvania’s youth away from trouble and towards success, it’s surprising that a few thousand dollars cannot be found to sustain reasonable support for the FFA, which has a proud record of inspiring youth leadership and nurturing the next generation of farmers and professionals in our food and agribusiness industries,” Shaffer emphasized.

“We know that Harrisburg had to make some very difficult choices. Yet Pennsylvania’s largest industry has asked for little and received even less not just this year, but also during the past two,” Shaffer concluded.