09/26/2022
Today, Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, Acting Secretary of Education Eric Hagarty and Commission for Agriculture Education Excellence Executive Director Stephon Fitzpatrick joined student leaders and educators to celebrate the Wolf Administration's progress in modernizing agriculture education to create relevant, hands-on learning experiences that prepare students for careers that will be in-demand and waiting for them when they graduate.
09/16/2022
The All-American Dairy Show returns to Harrisburg this weekend for its 58th year. The event, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg, features four days of competitions highlighting the best of seven dairy cattle breeds in the Premier National Youth Show and Open Shows, youth development programs and industry networking designed to grow and sustain a thriving dairy industry in the future.
09/13/2022
Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today invited schools and childhood education centers to apply for $500,000 in PA Farm Bill Farm-to-School Grants. Up to $15,000 per school is available for projects aimed at improving access to healthy, local foods and increasing hands-on learning experiences for children in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
09/01/2022
The Departments of Agriculture and Human Services were joined today by Minority Chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Senator Judy Schwank and charitable food organizations at the Capitol Hunger Garden to raise awareness of programs addressing food insecurity in Pennsylvania during Hunger Action Month.
08/25/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding joined the PA Vegetable Growers Association today at Harvest Valley Farms, a fourth-generation vegetable farm and PA Preferred® on-farm market, to highlight investments strengthening fruit and vegetable production and to encourage Pennsylvanians to shop locally this harvest season.
08/25/2022
Today, Pennsylvania protected 784 acres on 18 farms in nine counties from future development, investing more than $3.166 million in state, county and local dollars to ensure that prime farmland is not lost to development. Pennsylvania has now protected 6,094 farms and 614,668 acres in 58 counties from future commercial, industrial or residential development.
08/24/2022
Today Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding opened applications for the second round of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) recovery support for poultry farmers and integrators who suffered losses in HPAI Control Zones (the 10-kilometer perimeter around an infected, quarantined farm).
08/23/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding joined Lykens Valley Grain today for its unveiling. Formerly known as the Upper Dauphin Grain Center, Sterman Masser Inc. recently purchased the facility to preserve jobs, grow market opportunities, and strengthen Pennsylvania’s food processing capacity for future generations.
08/22/2022
Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today called for proposals for $500,000 in PA Farm Bill Agriculture & Youth Grants. Redding invited applicants whose projects are aimed at preparing youth to succeed in Pennsylvania's $132.5 billion agriculture industry.
08/19/2022
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture was joined today by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and agriculture partners to celebrate the honey bee's critical role in food production, food security, and biodiversity in Pennsylvania for Honey Bee Day (Aug. 20) at the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art.
08/19/2022
The Department of Agriculture’s Farmland Preservation Program has won a competitive partnership grant of $7.85 million from the USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) to support climate-smart conservation on Pennsylvania farms, Agriculture Russell Redding said today.
08/12/2022
The Department of Agriculture today reminds all poultry owners – backyard flocks and commercial producers – to keep their guard up to protect their birds from highly pathogenic avian influenza. After a lull of several weeks in detections, Pennsylvania has a new confirmed case of avian flu, the state's first in a non-commercial, backyard flock. A duck and chickens from a flock in Upper Mount Bethel Township in Northampton County were confirmed to be infected after a dead turkey vulture was found on the property. Wild birds are known to be the source of the infection elsewhere.
08/11/2022
Today during Penn State's Ag Progress days, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding honored Charlotte E. Sunday, whose Lenhartsville, Berks County farm reached the Bicentennial Farm milestone, having been in her family since 1822. Redding also honored 17 families whose farms earned Century Farm status for being in the same family for 100 years.
08/09/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding hosted a panel discussion today highlighting Pennsylvania’s abundant resources for farmers looking to pass the torch to a new generation and for young people seeking to enter the field. Held during Penn State University’s annual Ag Progress Days, the panel featured partners in businesses, non-profits, and the legislature along with farmers who have taken advantage of PA Farm Bill-funded assistance to succeed in agriculture.
08/08/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today called for proposals for $900,000 in research grants through the Center for Poultry & Livestock Excellence created under the PA Farm Bill.
08/04/2022
Governor Tom Wolf and Agriculture Secretary Redding today were surrounded by recipients of a diversity of PA Farm Bill grant program funding to highlight the Wolf Administration’s unwavering support for Pennsylvania’s $132.5 billion agriculture industry. The PA Farm Bill celebration was held at the 150-year old Hess Farm in State College.
08/01/2022
Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today called for applications for $500,000 in PA Farm Bill Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grants. Funding is aimed at boosting the capacity of urban agriculture organizations to fill gaps in their communities’ access to fresh food.
07/29/2022
Secretary Russell Redding today announced the availability of $13 million in tax credits to Pennsylvania farmers for measures to improve soil and water quality. Tax credits through Pennsylvania's innovative conservation financing program, Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP), can be combined with other state funding, including the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, the Chesapeake Bay Program or Conservation Excellence Grants.
07/27/2022
Today Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding was joined by Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and industry partners to announce a new $25 million recovery and reimbursement program for poultry farmers and integrators impacted by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
07/25/2022
Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today called for applications for $500,000 in PA Farm Bill-funded grants aimed at increasing locally produced meat and poultry in the state. Very Small Meat and Poultry Processor Reimbursement Grants help small businesses start up or expand to meet USDA food safety requirements.<br>
07/19/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding traveled from Erie to Pittsburgh, Harrisburg to Philadelphia, and from Easton to Wilkes-Barre this week in honor of Pennsylvania’s 5th Annual Urban Agriculture Week, visiting 19 urban agriculture organizations directly addressing food insecurity, improving quality of life, and sparking economic development and entrepreneurship.
07/19/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding traveled from Erie to Pittsburgh, Harrisburg to Philadelphia, and from Easton to Wilkes-Barre last week (July 11-15) in honor of Pennsylvania’s 5th annual Urban Agriculture Week, visiting about 20 urban agriculture organizations directly addressing food insecurity, improving quality of life, and sparking economic development.
07/15/2022
Today, the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission reported on progress of its Equine Safety and Welfare Plan, a list of tangible steps to increase protections for horses racing at Pennsylvania’s six tracks. The measures, which the commission began implementing March 1, 2022, included an Integrity Hotline for reporting suspected illegal or unethical behavior.
07/13/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today commended Governor Tom Wolf and the General Assembly for approving a state budget that supports and invests in Pennsylvania agriculture and families across the commonwealth.
07/11/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding kicked off the 5th annual Pennsylvania Urban Agriculture Week in Erie, Butler, and Lawrence counties today, where he toured five urban gardens tackling food insecurity by improving access to fresh, healthy foods in their communities.
07/06/2022
In Washington County today, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding was joined by Penn State Extension Area Master Gardener Coordinator Valerie Sesler, Washington County Conservation District Manager Matthew Golden, and other state and local leaders to discuss the threat that the spotted lanternfly poses and share information and resources to help Pennsylvanians limit the spread of the detrimental, invasive insect.
07/05/2022
Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today called for proposals for projects designed to expand sales of Pennsylvania agricultural products. The department will award up to $303,000 in matching funds to PA nonprofits to reimburse up to 50% of costs for promotional and educational projects intended to increase consumer awareness and sales or grow export markets.
06/30/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding was joined by state Representative Jessica Benham of Allegheny County today to celebrate Pride Month at Harrisburg’s Broad Street Market, with LGBTQ+ owners of market stands, to spotlight Pennsylvania’s national leadership in direct sales to consumers and the diverse, welcoming business owners contributing to that success.
06/29/2022
The PA Department of Agriculture’s Livestock Evaluation Center invites consignments of breeding sheep and goats to be sold at an August 11 auction during Penn State Ag Progress Days in Pennsylvania Furnace, Centre County.
06/23/2022
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services was recognized for its important work during the last year with a national honor – the Association of Food and Drug Officials’ (AFDO) 2022 Elliot O. Grosvenor Food Safety Award.