HARRISBURG, Pa. — Speaking to more than 500 state and local officials at the Pennsylvania Farm Show today, Gov. Tom Wolf made one point clear: agriculture is an incredibly vital industry to the state’s economy that policymakers and industry must work collaboratively to strengthen and grow.
The governor made his remarks at the eight-day show’s annual Public Officials Day luncheon.
“Over the course of Pennsylvania’s history, agriculture has evolved considerably in the face of changing demands, changing land use patterns, population growth and evolving technologies,” said Gov. Wolf. “I know firsthand the transformative power of agriculture. As public officials, I’m sure you see that power on display in your own communities across the state. It’s because of that potential that my administration has worked so hard to invest in and grow this industry.”
Since taking office, the Wolf administration has invested more than $50 million in grants, loans and tax credits to help farmers start or expand their operations, help producers upgrade their equipment, install conservation practices, and preserve their farms.
Additionally, working with the General Assembly on a bipartisan basis, the Governor has enacted double-digit-percentage increases in funding for the Department of Agriculture, farmland preservation, and Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences. His administration has also implemented historic legislation that has created new markets for farmers, secured new funding for conservation practices, and lowered the tax burdens for agricultural operations.
During the luncheon, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture unveiled a new economic impact analysis that shows agriculture has a $135.7 billion annual economic impact for the commonwealth and supports nearly 580,000 jobs paying approximately $27 billion in wages. The report also makes strategic recommendations intended to help guide Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry as it navigates and responds to changing demands in the marketplace and policy uncertainty in Washington.
“While I firmly believe in the strength of Pennsylvania agriculture, I don’t want us to suffer the economic consequences of complacency because we weren’t looking to the horizon,” said Gov. Wolf. “At the same time, I don’t want state government to be a barrier to growth. Whether it be streamlining our regulatory processes, making new investments in infrastructure, or creating a more competitive business climate, I want Pennsylvania to be a place where everybody and every business can succeed, so we as a state will do what is necessary to accomplish that.”
The report was produced jointly by Econsult Solutions and Temple University’s Fox School of Business in partnership with the department and Team Pennsylvania.
“Agriculture is at a critical intersection as an industry,” said state Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “The interplay of changing consumer preferences, increasing competition, and policy uncertainty require us to be exceptional storytellers. We must articulate our value to — and our role in — the commonwealth. This economic impact analysis gives us an additional tool to tell that story.
“At the same time, we must be mindful of how the landscape is changing. We must look ahead and prepare for how to manage the complexities of the world around us. This report seeks to do that, as well,” said Redding.
The report makes a series of recommendations under six categories: capitalize on branding and marketing opportunities; expand agricultural infrastructure, such as processing and manufacturing capacities; continue improving the state’s regulatory processes and business climate; broaden workforce development and education opportunities; make additional investments in infrastructure systems, such as transportation and broadband; and diversify product lines to strengthen markets and improve resiliency.
The Pennsylvania Farm Show is the nation’s largest indoor agricultural event, featuring 12,000 competitive exhibits, more than 5,200 of which are animal competitions, plus 300 commercial exhibitors. The show runs Jan. 6–13. Admission is free and parking is $15 in Farm Show lots. The Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center is easily accessible from Interstates 81 and 83.
For more information on the Wolf administration’s work to strengthen Pennsylvania agriculture, visit agriculture.pa.gov.
— PA Internet News Service
