Matt Ehrhart, Senator Casey

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Pennsylvania Executive Director Matthew Ehrhart this week delivered hundreds of signed postcards to U.S. Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. to urge his strong support for increased Farm Bill funding for Pennsylvania farmers.

The postcards were signed by citizens at the Kipona Festival on the Harrisburg riverfront over Labor Day weekend. In addition, more than 400 CBF members have called Senator Casey’s office to urge him to stand fast to help the region’s farm families implement proven technologies that will protect agriculture and improve the health of our waterways.

Senator Casey is on the Senate Agriculture Committee, which will be considering the Farm Bill in the next few weeks.

“Pennsylvania farm families face skyrocketing costs and decreasing profits,” said Ehrhart. “Nonetheless, they’ve proven repeatedly that they want to do the right thing to improve water quality. They need and deserve proven tools to get the job done.”

“I am thrilled that so many of my constituents took the time to let me know how important the Chesapeake Bay is to them and their communities,” said Senator Casey. “I am going to work to make sure that the 2007 Farm Bill includes significant investment in conservation programs like water quality enhancement and farmland protection. I will continue to make this position clear to my colleagues on the Agriculture Committee as the debate moves forward.”

Right now is a prime opportunity to deliver those tools. The Federal Farm Bill, which is considered only every five years, could provide much-needed investments in conservation measures that would substantially reduce polluted runoff, infuse funds into local economies, and keep farmers farming. With crucial added resources made available through the 2007 Federal Farm Bill, Pennsylvania’s agricultural producers will have not only the incentive but also the means to do more to improve water quality in local rivers, streams, as well as the Chesapeake Bay.

Thriving, well-managed farms are vital to both the long-term health of the local waterways, and to Pennsylvania’s economy. In the past, the Commonwealth’s farmers haven’t received their fair share of funding from the Farm Bill. The 2007 Farm Bill passed by the House of Representatives earlier this summer would provide an additional $100 million each year in conservation funding to the region’s farmers.

“CBF thanks Senator Casey for his leadership, and encourages him to keep fighting for clean water and the region’s farmers,” Ehrhart said.

9/22/2007