LEMOYNE, Pa. — The Pennsylvania State Grange released a list of major legislative priorities it plans to pursue in the 2021-22 legislative session.
“In the recently concluded General Assembly, the Grange scored well on furthering our number one goal, universal access of high-speed Broadband. Unfortunately, we were not successful in reaching our other major goal, liability protection for farmers engaging in agritourism,” said Pennsylvania State Grange President Wayne Campbell. “All in all, 2020 was productive for PA Agriculture, particularly with the release of two major reports with long-term implications.”
These two reports were the findings of PA Dairy Future Commission which charted a course of profitability for PA’s Dairy Farmers. The Grange was represented by member Dina Zug. Second, the Joint State Government Commission issued the Broadband Report which analyzed policy options for how to achieve universal Broadband. The Pennsylvania State Grange was the only Agricultural group appointed to the Joint State Government Commission Advisory Committee which prepared the Report.
Priority One is Seeking Universal Access to High-Speed Broadband.
The Grange wants to build on an excellent beginning in 2020 by focusing in the New Year on legislation like: making it easier for rural communities to become their own Internet Service Providers; standardizing municipal requirements for installing small cell facilities (5G) on utility poles; and relaxing some Public Utilities Commission (PUC) restrictions so as to facilitate rural telephone company efforts to expand Broadband.
Priority Two is Enacting Liability Protection for Farmers Engaged in Agritourism.
Late in November, agritourism liability legislation was folded into a larger-scope liability bill. It passed the General Assembly but was vetoed by Governor Wolf. This session, the Grange will attempt to keep our issue from being entangled in other non-agritourism liability issues and will again push as hard as anything for its enactment.
Priority Three is Promoting PA’s Dairy Industry.
Several Grange-supported bills did not make it past the finish line in 2020. Re-emerging in 2021 will be bills to result in better tracking and transparency in over-order premiums, establish Keystone Dairy Opportunity Zones to focus investment in regional dairy processing facilities, provide funding for State Budget programs supporting Dairy, and pushing to see that whole milk is offered in school meal programs.
Priority Four is increasing funding for Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences and the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and protecting the budget of the PA Department of Agriculture.
Priority Five is Supporting Conservation.
Farmers are stewards of the land and play a vital role in protecting it. As before, Grange will support funding for conservation resources in the State Budget and will fight to keep dedicated conservation funds from being raided in the budget process. The Grange will also be actively opposing unfair stormwater management fees which adversely impact farmers and will support legislative attempts to delay full imposition of MS4 and/or void farmer fees if they are already engaged in stormwater management.
Priority Six is to address Hunger by continuing promotion of PA Department of Agriculture efforts to provide farm products to food banks via the PA Agriculture Surplus System (PASS).
Priority Seven is Protecting PA’s Right to Handle Its Own Affairs.
The Delaware River Basin Commission has engaged in “mission creep”. This means that it is already working toward and plans to take actions which directly ignores established Pennsylvania law. The Grange will support legislation to explicitly forbid the Commission’s attempt to establish its authority over onlot septic systems, natural gas development and potentially Right to Farm issues. In addition, the Grange will continue to support the legislature’s legitimate role in approving PA involvement in regional multi-state agreements and commissions.
Priority Eight is Sustainability.
The Pennsylvania State Grange supports sustainability as a key to protection of our agricultural resources. This can range from efforts to support native plants, pollinator habitat, land design, planting and fertilizing Best Practices, and promoting farmland preservation, Growing Greener, and succession planning.
Priority Nine is to reduce consumer confusion over the mis-use of the word ‘Meat’ by defining the word’s use in commercial transactions.
Priority Ten per President Wayne Campbell – which actually should be Priority One “means supporting the new Civility Caucus established by Democratic Rep. Stephen Kinsey (Phila.) and Republican Rep. Greg Rothman (Cumberland County) and work towards creating a legislative climate which is respectful and civil even when opinions and ideologies differ. Since its inception, the Grange has always been a non-partisan organization. We are proud that we address the issues no matter which party introduces the legislation. Our motto, ‘In essentials, unity, in non-essentials, liberty, in all things, charity.’ We look forward to 2021 and constructive discussions as we address the issues affecting all Pennsylvanians.”
–Pennsylvania State Grange