11/16/2018
The 103rd Pennsylvania Farm Show will honor agriculture’s rich heritage and promising future with this year’s theme, Inspiring Pennsylvania’s Story. The theme, which will be represented throughout of the weeklong event, will include related events like a daily story time for children, interviews with real Pennsylvanians working in agriculture, and opportunities for attendees to engage and tell their own stories.
11/16/2018
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today announced the winners of “Oh, Say, Can You Sing?”, a star-spangled sing-off on Facebook that puts talented Pennsylvanians center stage during the 103rd Pennsylvania Farm Show. Each morning of the Farm Show will feature a talented Pennsylvanian singing the national anthem live, chosen by the Farm Show’s Facebook fans.
11/15/2018
Record sale prices at last week’s Standardbred horse sale reflect the strength and promising future of the harness racing industry in Pennsylvania and beyond, said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding.
11/13/2018
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture today announced that it is now accepting concept proposals for projects that increase the visibility and competitiveness of the state’s fruit and vegetable, nursery, horticultural, and nut products. The deadline to apply is through December 28, 2018.
11/13/2018
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and State Veterinarian Dr. David Wolfgang today reminded poultry owners to take effective biosecurity measures through December to prevent the spread of avian influenza during fall wild bird migration.
11/07/2018
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture today announced that 36 captive deer from a quarantined breeding farm and hunting preserve in Fulton County have tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Two additional deer from a quarantined Bedford County hunting preserve also tested positive. Both farms will remain under quarantine for five years from the date the positive tests were confirmed.
11/05/2018
November 16 is Deadline to Apply for Funds to Support Organic Agriculture
10/24/2018
Hershey, PA - Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today joined Hershey Company President and CEO Michele Buck, Walmart Chief Merchandising Officer Steve Bratspies, and other industry and public officials to celebrate the thriving food manufacturing industry in Pennsylvania. The group toured the West Hershey plant that supplies Hershey’s chocolate made with milk from Pennsylvania dairy farms to Walmart stores nationwide.
10/19/2018
Harrisburg, PA – Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today invited aspiring performers to enter “Oh, Say, Can You Sing?”, a star-spangled sing-off on Facebook that would put talented Pennsylvanians center stage during the 103rd Pennsylvania Farm Show. Each morning of the Farm Show will feature a talented Pennsylvanian singing the national anthem live, and the contest, which runs until November 5, 2018, will determine who wins the honor of singing each morning.
10/17/2018
PA Preferred® members and partner organizations can showcase their Pennsylvania grown products at the annual PA Preferred Reception that will kick off the 103rd Pennsylvania Farm Show on Friday, January 4, 2019. The reception, which plays host to the commonwealth’s agriculture industry and state government leaders, boasts a menu that features foods and beverages grown and produced in Pennsylvania.
10/16/2018
Harrisburg, PA - Today, the Pennsylvania Departments of Agriculture (PDA) and Education (PDE) announced that they have selected Dr. Robert Clark to serve as commission coordinator of the recently created Commission for Agricultural Education Excellence, a commission charged with assisting in the development of a statewide plan for agricultural education.
10/12/2018
On behalf of Governor Tom Wolf, state Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced yesterday that Pennsylvania’s Agricultural Land Preservation Board safeguarded 2,609 more acres on 40 farms in 17 counties for agricultural production now and in the future.
10/12/2018
Harrisburg, PA - Consumers who purchased raw whole milk from Pot ‘O Gold Dairy Specialties in Bear Lake, Warren County from September 10 to present should immediately discard the milk. Milk was sold in glass half gallon containers with the Pot O’ Gold label at 16 stores in Crawford, Erie, McKean, Venango, and Warren counties. The milk is linked to confirmed illnesses of salmonella.
10/10/2018
Elizabethtown, PA - Today, during Agriculture and Food Careers Week in Pennsylvania, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding recognized Messick’s Farm Equipment in Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, one of the nation’s largest sources of agriculture equipment parts, and a critical element of the region’s growing agriculture production infrastructure. Redding joined the Northeast Equipment Dealers Association to announce a new program which will help sustain industry growth by allowing the state’s equipment dealers to provide a career pathway from high school agriculture mechanics programs to apprenticeships with dealers.
10/09/2018
York Springs, PA - Bermudian Springs FFA students today showed off their knowledge and skills at an FFA Showcase in York Springs. Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today joined the students as part of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s (PDA) Planting the Seed Tour, which aims to engage and educate the next generation about the many education and career opportunities available in Pennsylvania agriculture.
10/05/2018
Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center will host the 2020 National Junior Angus Show, where youth from across the United States will showcase their animals and skills through exhibition and contests.
10/03/2018
Harrisburg, PA - On the heels of New York announcing last week that it will ramp up actions to protect itself from the Spotted Lanternfly, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is encouraging businesses operating within the commonwealth’s 13-county quarantine zone to train employees on how to identify and eradicate the invasive pest so as to not spread it inadvertently.
09/25/2018
Brooke Emery of Alexandria, Huntingdon County, will represent the state’s dairy industry at events across the state for the next year as its 62nd Pennsylvania Dairy Princess. For the next year, the new state royalty team will represent Pennsylvania’s dairy industry and its 6,650 dairy farm families. Dairy is the state’s top agriculture industry sector, contributing nearly $14.7 billion to the economy and supporting more than 52,000 jobs across the state.
09/19/2018
Brownsville, PA - Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s (PDA) Planting the Seed Tour visited the Greater Washington County Food Bank to learn how its farm is using agriculture technology to eliminate hunger in southwestern Pennsylvania. “The Farm,” as it is commonly known, uses the latest evidence-based farming practices to spur agricultural and economic development, empowers and educates the community, and employs innovative ways to serve those at risk for hunger.
09/12/2018
Harrisburg, PA - The bright future of agriculture will be on display as the 55th All-American Dairy Show comes to the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex September 15-20, bringing 1,200 national competitors in 22 individual contests exhibiting 2,200 of the finest dairy cattle in the industry. The show will also feature 42 secondary student and collegiate teams from across the country competing in a cattle-judging invitational that demonstrates their knowledge of breed characteristics and their oral presentation skills.
09/07/2018
Chambersburg, PA - Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s (PDA) Planting the Seed Tour highlighted the ways one seven-acre farm on a college campus is educating, inspiring, and giving back to its local community.
09/04/2018
Harrisburg, PA - In an effort to continue to raise awareness about the threat of the Spotted Lanternfly, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) today announced its 2018 youth calendar contest for students across the state in grades 1 through 8.
08/29/2018
Harrisburg, PA – Ten million dollars in tax credits are available to help farmers implement best management practices (BMPs) to prevent water pollution or purchasing conservation equipment through 2018-19 Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program tax credits.
08/28/2018
Harrisburg, PA – The Wolf Administration today urged schools to take advantage of a federal regulation change that expands access to more fluid milk choices for students. During an event in the Capitol Media Center, the departments of Agriculture, Health, and Education explained how schools may now offer more fluid milk options during breakfast and lunch services without needing to obtain a waiver.
08/24/2018
Harrisburg, PA – Research institutions, businesses, farmers and other organizations seeking funding support for innovative research that will advance the diversity, productivity and profitability of agriculture in Pennsylvania may apply for grants through the Department of Agriculture’s research program. Applications will open on Aug. 25 when the full solicitation is published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. <br><br>
08/15/2018
Pennsylvania Furnace, PA - On behalf of Governor Tom Wolf, today Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding unveiled a plan designed to guide Pennsylvania’s dairy industry toward growth and development amid a challenging market that also offers tremendous opportunities for producers and processors. The Secretary released the Pennsylvania Dairy Development Plan during a breakfast of dairy industry leaders at the annual Ag Progress Days exhibition.
08/14/2018
Pennsylvania Furnace, PA - Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) joined Penn State University at the College of Agricultural Science’s Ag Progress Days to host a public townhall on the Spotted Lanternfly – an invasive insect that has the potential to impact a number of industries worth tens of billions of dollars to the state.