FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 13, 2006
Contact:  Erin K. Kelly
(717) 846-2828
ekelly@pasen.gov
Back

View entire press conference (Windows Media File)

Senators Unveil Second Phase of Successful Farmers First Agenda 

Building on their successful "Farmers First Agenda," Senator Mike Waugh (R-York) and Senator Noah Wenger (R-Lancaster) today unveiled the second phase of a comprehensive legislative agenda aimed at promoting agriculture in Pennsylvania.

The senators, who serve as chairman and vice chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, also provided a status report of several of the laws already enacted in the first year of their "Farmers First Agenda."  These include new measures to preserve farmland, help farmers be more competitive and protect the Commonwealth's equine industry from lawsuits.

"In the first year of our Farmers First Initiative, we made major strides in protecting valuable farmland, promoting the state's number one industry and ensuring that farming remains strong in Pennsylvania," Wenger said. "We held public hearings to seek input from those in the farming community and used that information to craft good legislation and move it through the process."

Waugh said the second phase of the Farmers First Agenda will include a number of ongoing initiatives, such as the "Healthy Farms and Healthy Schools Program," contained in Senate Bill 1209.  The program would promote both good health and farm profitability by encouraging nutritional and agricultural education in schools.

Senator Shirley Kitchen (D-Philadelphia), the bill's cosponsor, said the measure will help to combat the growing problem of childhood obesity and educate at-risk children about the need to eat healthy foods.

"This program will bring together one of Pennsylvania's most important economic sectors – the agricultural industry – with our public school system," Kitchen said.

The senators also unveiled a number of new bills and proposals that they plan to introduce, including:

• The creation of "The Centers for Agriculture Excellence and Education" to serve as a central clearing house of programs and information for current and new farmers.
• Combined funding for conservation districts through a fund administered by the State Conservation Commission.
• Legislation to ensure the continuation of vocational agriculture and FFA programs operated by school districts and area vocational-technical schools.
• Funding to implement alternatives that would provide for water releases during low-flow periods without having to impose consumptive use fees on farmers.

Waugh and Wenger said the new initiatives they are introducing will build on these laws and help to ensure that the farming industry remains strong in Pennsylvania.

Program Summary (PDF)

CONTACT:

KRISTIN EBERSOLE – SENATOR WAUGH
(717) 787-3817

JAKE SMELTZ – SENATOR WENGER
(717) 787-4420

CAROL MARAVIC – SENATE COMMUNICATIONS
(717) 787-6725