By Blake Jackson
Governor Josh Shapiro and Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding joined farmers and agricultural leaders at Kulp Dairy Farm in Blair County to emphasize how streamlined permitting is making a real difference for Pennsylvania agriculture.
By modernizing processes and cutting red tape, the Shapiro Administration is giving farmers the predictability they need to expand their businesses and support local economies.
“From day one, my Administration has been laser-focused on cutting red tape and speeding up government so Pennsylvanians can get answers more quickly and move forward with their plans whether that’s a dairy farm expanding, a barber opening a new shop, or a teacher starting in the classroom,” Governor Shapiro said.
“By modernizing the permitting process, we’re helping family farms like the Kulps grow and thrive, while making sure our ag sector continues to feed our families and power our Commonwealth’s economy.”
Kulp Dairy Farm, a third-generation business founded in 1973, is preparing for a major expansion that includes new barns, a milking parlor, and waste management facilities.
The improvements will allow the farm to add nearly 1,000 cows, increase milk production for Land O’Lakes, and create local jobs.
Earlier this year, the farm raised concerns about delays in securing a stormwater permit. Thanks to coordination between the Governor’s Office of Transformation and Opportunity and the Department of Environmental Protection, the permit was issued more than four months early. DEP completed its review in just 83 business days, compared to the typical 117.
“Governor Shapiro’s leadership in streamlining permitting particularly environmental permits gives Pennsylvania farmers the certainty they need to move forward with confidence,” Secretary Redding said.
“Over the last 26 years, through hard work and the blessing of many great employees, our business has grown to 2,900 milking cows across three locations with 47 full-time employees,” said Kyle Kulp, owner of Kulp Dairy Farm.
Agriculture contributes $132 billion annually and supports more than 600,000 jobs in Pennsylvania. Governor Shapiro’s efforts to modernize government and invest in innovation aim to ensure the industry’s continued growth and sustainability.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-artiemedvedev
Categories: Pennsylvania, Business, Government & Policy