Pennsylvania Governor Invests $47M in Agriculture

Pennsylvania's agriculture industry is a major economic driver, contributing $132 billion annually to the state's economy and supporting more than 580,000 jobs. Governor Josh Shapiro is committed to supporting Pennsylvania's farmers and agricultural workers, and the 2023-24 budget invests more than $47 million to drive Pennsylvania agriculture forward.

The budget includes $31 million to help poultry farmers impacted by the avian flu crisis pay for testing and get reimbursed. It also includes $13.8 million to fully fund the Pennsylvania Farm Bill for the fifth year, and $2 million to invest in the Fresh Food Financing Initiative that will contribute to better health outcomes by improving access to PA-grown, processed, and produced foods. Additionally, the budget includes $1 million to create a new Organic Center of Excellence, which will grow the state's ability to support this sector of the industry.

Pennsylvania Farm Bureau President Chris Hoffman praised Governor Shapiro for his unwavering support of Pennsylvania's agriculture industry. "The 2023 budget showcases that he is engaged and focused on agriculture having the resources it needs to keep moving forward," Hoffman said. "Investing in the PA Farm Bill and the agricultural workforce, along with food processing and marketing are critical for Pennsylvania farmers."

Executive Director of Pasa Sustainable Agriculture and Juniata County farmer Hannah Smith-Brubaker also praised the budget's investments in Pennsylvania agriculture. "Pennsylvania has such a rich diversity in our agricultural landscape, including urban and rural producers, diversified vegetable farms, and pastured livestock operations," Smith-Brubaker said. "While many federal agricultural policies prioritize commodity crops produced at a large scale, with 80% of Pennsylvania farms categorized as small-scale producers, our state understands that, like agriculture itself, farm policy cannot be one size fits all."

The 2023-24 budget is a major investment in Pennsylvania's agriculture industry, and it will help to ensure that Pennsylvania remains a leader in agriculture.

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