On Monday, Governor Josh Shapiro visited Cedar Meadow Farm in Lancaster County to discuss the proposed state agriculture innovation program with Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding and farm owner Steve Groff.
The $10.3 million program is designed to support and attract new businesses in the agriculture industry and help Pennsylvania farmers continue to lead in sustainable and innovative agriculture practices.
“I’ve visited so many multigenerational farms across Pennsylvania, like Cedar Meadow Farm, to see innovative examples of what our farmers have built firsthand. Farming is part of our heritage here in Pennsylvania — but it’s also part of our present and our future as a Commonwealth,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “That’s why my Economic Development Strategy leans heavily on agriculture as one of the key pillars of opportunity and is why my budget includes $10 million in additional funding for our Ag Innovation initiative. Our farmers form the backbone of our economy here in Pennsylvania — they put food on our tables and in our stores and restaurants every day — we need to have their backs, and my Administration does.”
The Agriculture Innovation and Conservation program would provide grants to farmers and other businesses to help them implement new technologies and practices that are designed to improve soil health, reduce runoff and erosion, and increase energy efficiency.
Cedar Meadow Farm is a regenerative agriculture farm that produces hemp and mixed vegetables. In recent years, the farm has achieved significant soil health improvements and plans to continue using cover crops and no-till planting practices to improve soil health and reduce runoff.
Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding is a leading advocate for sustainable and innovative agriculture practices. He believes that the proposed $10.3 million program will help support farmers and businesses in Pennsylvania that are looking to adopt new technologies and practices.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) will deliver grants to farmers and other businesses interested in participating in the program. Since the beginning of the Shapiro administration, the PDA has already distributed more than $500,000 to farmers and businesses and plans to continue investing in the future of agriculture through the Ag Innovation initiative.
The proposed $10.3 million program is designed to support Pennsylvania farmers and attract new businesses into the agriculture industry. The program is expected to generate significant investments in sustainable and innovative agriculture practices and help to build a stronger economy for the state.
Source: PA Dept of Agriculture