Sen. Waugh Addresses Press Conference

Senators Waugh (R-York) and Wenger (R-Lancaster) this week unveiled the second phase of a comprehensive legislative agenda aimed at promoting agriculture in Pennsylvania and provided a status report on the laws already enacted from the first year of the program.

The Senators were joined by Sen. Madigan (R-Bradford), Sen. O’Pake (D-Berks), Democratic Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Sen. Kitchen (D-Philadelphia) and representatives of more than 20 farm and environmental groups, including the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Pennsylvania Environmental Council and the PA Association of Conservation Districts.

“In the first year of our Farmers First Initiative, we made major strides in protecting valuable farmland, promoting the state’s number one industry and ensuring that farming remains strong in Pennsylvania,” Sen. Wenger said. “We held public hearings to seek input from those in the farming community and used that information to craft good legislation and move it through the process.”

Sen. Waugh said the second phase of the Farmers First Agenda will include a number of ongoing initiatives, such as the “Healthy Farms and Healthy Schools Program,” contained in Senate Bill 1209. The program would promote both good health and farm profitability by encouraging nutritional and agricultural education in schools.

Sen. Kitchen (D-Philadelphia), the bill’s cosponsor, said “This program will bring together one of Pennsylvania’s most important economic sectors – the agricultural industry – with our public school system.”

“The Farmers First Agenda provides a terrific vehicle for Pennsylvania leaders to address the needs of our farmers at the local level,” said Matthew Ehrhart, Pennsylvania Director Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “Additionally, CBF commends the Pennsylvania legislature for recently convening hearings on the Federal Farm Bill. We urge the legislature to continue to convey Pennsylvania needs to our Federal delegation.”

The senators also unveiled a number of new bills and proposals that they plan to introduce, including:

· The creation of “The Centers for Agriculture Excellence and Education” to serve as a central clearing house of programs and information for current and new farmers;

· Combined funding for conservation districts through a fund administered by the State Conservation Commission;

· Legislation to ensure the continuation of vocational agriculture and FFA programs operated by school districts and area vocational-technical schools; and

· Funding to implement alternatives that would provide for water releases during low-flow periods without having to impose consumptive use fees on farmers.

Senators Waugh and Wenger serve as chairman and vice chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

6/16/2006