pa-agriculture
Pa. ranks 2nd among states for direct-to-consumer sales | Five for the Weekend
The USDA found that 6,200 Pennsylvania farms produce and sell food locally through direct marketing, which generated $600 million in revenue in 2020.
House Dems to hold hearing on Pa.’s hemp industry | Five for the Weekend
In 2021, the Pa. Agriculture Department reported that it issued 426 hemp growing permits.
We need to end our reliance on synthetic fertilizer. This is how | Opinion
Returning to agricultural self-reliance won’t happen overnight. But now is the time for farmers to embrace change.
Pa. invests in pollinator research | Five for the Weekend
The grants, the department said in a statement, are a way to support pollinator research and the state's $132.5 billion agriculture industry.
11 more counties added to Spotted Lanternfly quarantine
The addition of Adams, Armstrong, Bedford, Centre, Fulton, Indiana, Lycoming, Mercer, Snyder, Union, and Washington counties brings 45 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties into the Spotted Lanternfly quarantine.
Pa. business receives more than $103K from USDA Rural Energy program | Five for the Weekend
The grant, is part of a $633 million investment by the USDA to "reduce the impacts of climate change on rural communities," according to a statement from the department.
How the $3.5T budget bill before Congress helps Pa., other states on agriculture
The bill sets aside $66B for fighting climate change, encouraging research. It passed committee on party lines
2021-22 Budget Breakdown: Conservation, Natural Resources, Environmental Protection and Ag | The Numbers Racket
Continuing our breakdown of the 2021-22 budget approved in June, this week we dive into the numbers for the departments of Conservation and Natural Resources, Environmental Protection and Agriculture.
Farmworker overtime would end racist pay gap, lawmakers and activists say
Only six states—California, Hawaii, Maryland, New York, Minnesota and now Washington—offer any overtime coverage for farmworkers.
How big is Pa.’s agriculture industry? $132.5B big, new state report finds | Thursday Morning Coffee
The industry supports more than 590,000 jobs, and it pays nearly $33 billion in wages every year, according to the report.
School safety, county block grants and Head Start: How Pa. is spending that $2.6B in CARES Act Money | The Numbers Racket
Here’s how the first half shakes out by state agency and department:
Squeezed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Pa. farmers look to state, feds for help. But some are falling through the cracks
While some programs have been able to provide a decent amount of money to small dairy operations, some small, specialty producers in the state say they’re finding themselves left out.