Senators Mike Waugh (R-York) and Noah Wenger (R-Lancaster) this week announced a comprehensive legislative package aimed at promoting agriculture in Pennsylvania.

The senators, who serve as chairman and vice chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, said their “Preserving the Pennsylvania Farmer” initiative includes a number of measures designed to preserve farmland, prevent sprawl, help farmers be more competitive and ensure that agriculture remains Pennsylvania’s top industry.

Wenger and Waugh said they plan to push for a number of initiatives to help farmers be productive and successful and to keep the agricultural industry strong in Pennsylvania. They include (click link for summary in PDF file):

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, which has been an advocate for major increases in funding for Pennsylvania farmers, applauded the initiative

"This initiative lays out a series of aggressive elements to help ensure that Pennsylvania farms remain both economically viable and environmentally responsible," said Matt Ehrhart, CBF's Pennsylvania Executive Director.

"We simply cannot preserve family farmers and reduce pollution in our rivers and the Bay without new and additional monies for agricultural conservation practices," added Ehrhart.

CBF particularly praised the Alternative Uses for Manure component of the new proposal. "While manure is an important and valuable source of nutrients essential to healthy ecosystems and crop production, excess manure on the landscape is threatening the quality of our local and downstream waters," noted Ehrhart.

Senator Waugh noted that Pennsylvania has been successful in preserving farmland, but the farming industry is facing many challenges. He said the average farmer is over 53 years old, and many family farms are struggling to make a profit.

Senator Wenger added that Pennsylvania needs to do more to encourage farmers to remain in agriculture and to keep family farmers strong and competitive. He said that agriculture in Pennsylvania is an “economic engine” and the proposals announced today would provide additional fuel to keep agriculture production and agriculture related businesses moving forward.

Waugh said his committee will seek public input on the initiatives proposed, as well as other measures to help enable farmers to make better business decisions.

“Today is just the beginning for our campaign to help preserve the strong tradition of farming in Pennsylvania,” Waugh said. “We want to pull together all legitimate interested parties -- the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Administration, interest groups and individuals to collaboratively flesh out the proposals we have presented and listen to other, beneficial ideas. Working together, we can help to preserve the Pennsylvania farmer and keep agriculture strong in the Commonwealth.”

CBF noted that in addition to finding alternative uses for excess manure, funding for additional programs such as improved livestock feed efficiency, renovation of barnyards bordering creeks and streams, and cover crops and rotational grazing are essential to providing relief to farmers as they strive to meet the state's water quality goals.

NewsClip: Lawmakers Want to Save More Farms

6/3/2005