By Blake Jackson
Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Penn State Extension are strengthening their partnership with Pennsylvania agriculture by connecting research, technology, farmers, and government to develop practical solutions.
At an Ag Progress Days Town Hall, Troy Ott, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences, joined Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding to discuss challenges facing the industry and the importance of collaboration. The event also marked 50 years of Ag Progress Days at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs.
Redding emphasized that the annual event is more than an agricultural exhibition.
“It's a classroom, it’s a testing ground, it’s a meeting place,” Redding said. “It’s where the partnerships are built, and certainly are strengthened, and every year, I leave Ag Progress Days smarter.”
Ott described the event as evidence of decades of investment in agricultural research and education. He said Penn State’s land-grant mission allows the university to maintain connections with farmers across Pennsylvania and bring their concerns back to researchers.
The partnership has produced important results, including efforts to eradicate plum pox virus, which threatened the state’s stone-fruit industry after its discovery in Adams County in 1999. Redding credited cooperation among growers, researchers, and government agencies for making eradication possible.
New state funding also is supporting Penn State’s biosecurity efforts, helping researchers prepare for threats such as spotted lanternflies and avian influenza.
Ott stressed that innovation should deliver measurable value rather than simply introduce new technology.
“The question is not simply what is new,” Ott said. “We can talk about what is new all day long. The question is, what works here?”
Penn State Extension’s AI-powered Tilva tool demonstrates this approach by providing research-based agricultural information and connecting users with Extension specialists. Since launching in January 2026, the tool has been used more than 40,000 times.
The newly announced Keystone AgTech Alliance will further connect agriculture, government, economic development, and technology organizations.
The initiative aims to accelerate agricultural technology adoption and strengthen Pennsylvania’s position as a leader in agricultural innovation.
Photo Credit: michael-houtz
Categories: Pennsylvania, Business, Education