05/18/2022
Today, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding was joined by local school students, 4H representatives and members of the Dairy Princess Program for Farm City Day at Vale Wood Farms in Loretto, Cambria County to highlight agriculture education, agritourism and recognize the future of agriculture workforce.
05/18/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today announced an extended deadline for research proposals on issues critical to sustaining and growing Pennsylvania's $132.5 billion agriculture industry. The deadline to submit proposals is now Friday, June 3, 2022.
05/13/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding was joined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and Penn State Extension at Strites’ Orchard in Dauphin County today to highlight new data recognizing Pennsylvania as a national leader in direct-to-consumer sales.
05/11/2022
Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced more than $2.45 million in federal grants awarded to 23 projects that will grow markets and increase the quality, safety and sustainability of the state's vegetable, fruit, nut and nursery specialty crops. Funding went toward projects in Berks, Centre, Chester, Dauphin, Indiana, Lawrence, Perry, and Philadelphia counties, all of which benefit growers statewide.
05/04/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding was joined today by FFA students, Rohrbach’s Farm Market staff and leadership from Soil Bound LLC to tour Rohrbach’s market and orchards which sit on 59 acres of preserved farmland, part of Pennsylvania’s $9.7 million investment in farmland preservation. The farm exemplifies how the commonwealth’s public investments feed dollars into our economy and create jobs and tourism and education opportunities while conserving land and resources for a successful future.
04/28/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding highlighted a $1.75 million state investment in ByHeart, Inc. today, supporting Pennsylvania’s dairy industry and creating 50 new, local jobs. ByHeart, Pennsylvania’s first FDA-approved infant formula manufacturing facility, is expanding infant nutrition options for parents and improving the market for Pennsylvania dairy.
04/26/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding opened the 2022 Pennsylvania Hemp Summit today, welcoming nearly 100 hemp growers and entrepreneurs to the conference and trade show. There, he highlighted nearly $1 million in Wolf Administration investments strengthening the commonwealth’s hemp industry.
04/22/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today provided an update on the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) affecting some of Pennsylvania's poultry farms and what consumers should know about the evolving situation. Redding assured Pennsylvanians that chicken and other poultry products remain safe to eat.
04/22/2022
In celebration of Earth Day, Agriculture Deputy Secretary for Plant Industry and Consumer Protection Fred Strathmeyer, Jr. joined Longwood Gardens leadership, Seed Your Future representatives and local school students for Farm City Day at Longwood Gardens to highlight agriculture education and recognize the future of agriculture workforce.
04/16/2022
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture confirmed the state's first positive case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in domestic poultry, in a flock of commercial layer chickens on a Lancaster County poultry farm. A state and federal interagency task force is prepared and initiating a response plan.
04/14/2022
To further protect Pennsylvania’s $7.1 billion poultry industry from the threat of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today announced a temporary quarantine order banning the exhibition of poultry and eggs at county and local fairs in Pennsylvania. The ban takes effect Saturday, April 16 and will last for 60 days or until the department rescinds the order.
04/14/2022
Today, Pennsylvania protected 3,528 acres on 40 farms in 19 counties from future development, investing more than $9.7 million in state, and county dollars in preserving prime farmland for tomorrow. The investment also leverages $735,170 that will go toward preserving farms on waitlists in six counties. Today’s approvals bring Pennsylvania’s total to 6,044 farms and 611,620 acres of farmland that will be forever protected from commercial, industrial or residential development.
04/13/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding was joined today by conservation partners at Welsh Vista Farms in Salisbury Township, Lancaster County to highlight Wolf Administration investments facilitating on-farm and community conservation management. The Conservation Excellence Grant (CEG) program has invested more than $4 million in 68 conservation projects since 2019, strengthening community-based conservation efforts across six counties in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
04/08/2022
Secretary Russell Redding today called for research proposals on issues critical to sustaining and growing Pennsylvania's $132.5 billion agriculture industry.
04/07/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding was joined today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Penn State Extension and agriculture industry leaders to highlight opportunities Pennsylvania residents and businesses have to effectively treat and manage spotted lanternfly.
03/28/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding was joined by Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Dean Richard Roush to highlight nearly $1 million of Wolf Administration investments strengthening the competitiveness of Pennsylvania specialty crops. There, they joined researchers whose projects are benefitting pollinator health and promoting the competitiveness of Pennsylvania honey.
03/25/2022
As the invasive spotted lanternfly's spring hatch approaches, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced today that the department has added 11 counties to Pennsylvania's quarantine zone. Adams, Armstrong, Bedford, Centre, Fulton, Indiana, Lycoming, Mercer, Snyder, Union, and Washington counties bring the total to 45 Pennsylvania counties quarantined.
03/24/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today met with agriculture and healthcare industry leaders for a roundtable discussion on the new AgriStress Helpline and other state services and resources available to Pennsylvania farm families seeking mental health support.
03/15/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding visited Howard Elementary School in Centre County today to celebrate Ag Literacy Week. There, he encouraged students to think about where their food comes from and to explore careers in agriculture as he read Katie Olthoff’s My Family’s Soybean Farm and Phyllis Root’s Anywhere Farm to kindergarten, first- and second-grade students.
03/10/2022
Today, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Department of Community and Economic Development Acting Deputy Secretary Mandy Book stopped at Chester County's To-Jo Mushrooms, Inc., on the Food Fuels Pennsylvania tour. The company's West Grove processing facility demonstrates how Pennsylvania's $746 million mushroom industry powers jobs and innovation and fuels our state economy.
03/01/2022
Today, the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission launched an Integrity Hotline for reporting suspected illegal or unethical behavior at Pennsylvania’s six racetracks. Tips can be reported anonymously at any time by leaving a detailed message at (717) 787-1942.
02/25/2022
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has extended the deadline for grant proposals to increase the visibility and competitiveness of the state’s horticultural specialty crops including fruit, vegetable, nursery, flower, and nut products. Proposals for approximately $1 million in funding through the federal Specialty Crop Block Grant program, are now due March 18, 2022.
02/23/2022
griculture Secretary Russell Redding and Department of Education Career and Technical Education Director Lee Burket were joined today by Pennsylvania FFA members and industry stakeholders at Central Columbia High School. There, they highlighted the Wolf Administration's investments to promote hands-on agricultural learning opportunities that promote pathways to careers in agriculture.
02/23/2022
Beef producers will have the opportunity to buy some of the best genetics in the northeast at Pennsylvania's Livestock Evaluation Center in Pennsylvania Furnace, Centre County, Friday, March 25, at noon. The 49th Performance-Tested Bull Sale will be held live, with an option to bid online.
02/18/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding reminded Pennsylvania dog owners today that a dog license is not only a responsibility, but a tangible way to love your dog and bring them home quickly if they are lost. The reminder came in recognition of February as "Love Your Dog, License Your Dog" Month in Pennsylvania.
02/18/2022
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal Health and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed findings of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in birds within the United States. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture reminds Pennsylvanians to stay vigilant and review biosecurity practices.
02/16/2022
Deputy Secretary Cheryl Cook was joined by Feeding Pennsylvania at Garden of Health Inc. Food Bank today to highlight the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System’s (PASS) success in strengthening food security and Pennsylvania’s economy. Under the Wolf Administration, PASS has distributed more than 22 million pounds of surplus food from farmers to Pennsylvanians in need, while simultaneously generating more than $39 million in economic output.
02/16/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding was joined today by agriculture and environmental students, stakeholders and representatives from the National Society of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANNRS) at Lankenau Environmental Science High School for a discussion on the future of agriculture.
02/11/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today announced the launch of an AgriStress HelpLine for Pennsylvania farmers. The hotline is a free service available to Pennsylvania farmers and farm families seeking mental health support.
02/11/2022
This week, the US Department of Agriculture funded $1.26 million in work that will protect Pennsylvania's agricultural imports, exports and domestic products from pests and disease threats. Federal funding will complement and amplify $3.5 million in increased funding for rapid response to agricultural emergencies proposed in Governor Tom Wolf's 2022-'23 Budget.