Gov. Rendell this week announced Pennsylvania's latest recommendations to Congress for the Farm Bill, a key piece of federal legislation that will guide agriculture conservation and nutrition programs for the next five years.

In a letter to Pennsylvania's Congressional delegation, Gov. Rendell said the state's top Farm Bill priority is support for its initiative to expand the renewable energy industry. Cellulosic ethanol and agricultural renewable energy production can produce 60,000 new jobs in the state, while reducing our dependence on foreign energy sources and negative environmental impacts.

"Agriculture is the leading economic enterprise in Pennsylvania, contributing $45 billion annually to the state's economy," said Gov. Rendell. "The Farm Bill offers the chance to address Pennsylvania's specific needs, and will not only benefit our farmers but all citizens of the Commonwealth."

Among the recommendations were:

· Increasing funding for environmental stewardship programs for farms, focusing on regional conservation challenges in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and advancing further funding and administrative support for the environmental quality incentives program and farmers across the state. Pennsylvania's nation-leading farmland preservation program would also benefit with changes that will allow greater program flexibility; and

· Providing funding support for forestry issues and pest management programs, such as combating invasive species, providing tax credits to help slow the loss of critical forested watershed, and introducing the community forest and open space conservation program, which provides cost-sharing support for acquiring community forests and open space.

This week, state Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff shared Gov. Rendell's recommendations on the Farm Bill when he met with other agricultural leaders at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture 2008 Midyear Conference and with Pennsylvania's Congressional delegation.

A copy of Gov. Rendell’s letter is available online.

2/15/2008