pa-agriculture

Fetterman, Braun introduce organic agriculture research bill to protect funding

BY: - September 12, 2023

The bipartisan bill, known as the Streamlining Organic Research Act, would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to study the feasibility of certifying more research land as organic, and by protecting mandatory funding for the Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), which supplies grants to universities and other organizations for organics research.

Pa. cleared to resume normal poultry trade following HI-PATH outbreak

BY: - August 30, 2023

After more than a year of combating an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, afflicting poultry farms across the commonwealth, state officials said Wednesday that Pennsylvania has received the “all clear” to resume normal international poultry trade. 

Vilsack pitches ‘forward-thinking’ approach to agriculture in visit to Harrisburg

BY: - August 18, 2023

With the existing federal farm bill set to expire on Sept. 30 and negotiations between lawmakers still ongoing, Vilsack said the department has yet to see draft legislation for a new farm bill from either chamber. 

Pennsylvania’s Painterland Sisters are farming with the future in mind

BY: - August 15, 2023

The urge to sustain the family business and bring stability to the operation led the sisters to ask: “How do we keep it sustainable and stable for our family?” That question led the sisters to launch an organic yogurt company in March 2022, marking the transition to the family’s fourth generation of farmers. 

Looking to harness ‘great potential,’ Pa. banks on the future of organic agriculture

BY: - July 26, 2023

Building on the Pennsylvania Farm Bill, which allocates $1.6 million annually to support organic farming, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed another $1 million investment in organics in the 2023-24 fiscal year budget, calling organics the “future of Pennsylvania agriculture.”

Reducing nutrient pollution from the Susquehanna River, viewed here from the Pinnacle Overlook in Pennsylvania, is critical for restoring water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. (Bay Journal photo by Karl Blankenship)

Pa. House panel talks challenges of cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay, local waterways

BY: - June 26, 2023

With more than 27,000 miles of impaired waterways in the commonwealth, and a looming 2025 Chesapeake Bay pollution-reduction deadline, a proposed bill to eliminate a state prohibition on stream-side fencing was discussed as one possible solution to furthering Pennsylvania’s waterway clean up efforts. 

‘From the farm to the table’: June is Dairy Month in Pa. | Five for the Weekend

BY: - June 17, 2023

The commonwealth's dairy industry supports more than 53,000 jobs, and contributes more than $14 billion to the economy, according to the Shapiro administration.

Dog Law Modernization bill unanimously passes Senate Agriculture Committee

BY: - June 6, 2023

After years of advocating for legislative reform for Pennsylvania’s dog licensing system, the state Department of Agriculture said it is ready to see dog law modernization efforts finally pass the Legislature. 

Ag. Sec Russell Redding confirmed by state Senate

BY: - May 10, 2023

Redding, whose nomination moved through the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee on Tuesday with a “favorable nomination,” previously led the state Department of Agriculture under the Wolf and Rendell administrations. 

Ag leaders lobby for better risk management programs at U.S. House farm bill hearing

BY: - April 27, 2023

The farm bill’s commodity insurance programs include the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs, which protect farmers from poor growing seasons and low prices, respectively.

Lawmakers, seeing demand for organic produce, seek to make Pa. Preferred program permanent

BY: - March 15, 2023

The department will defend its proposed budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year at a Senate Appropriations hearing on March 28.

Pa. lawmaker to introduce bill to incentivize farmers to adopt agroforestry practices

BY: - February 17, 2023

State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Philadelphia, said he plans to reintroduce a bill that would offer incentives to farmers who incorporate agroforestry, a land use management system that incorporates trees and shrubs growing on or near crops to lessen the environmental impact of mass agriculture. into their farming practices.