11/17/2022
oday, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and First Lady of Agriculture Nina Redding shopped local at York Central Market House for a PA Preferred® family Thanksgiving celebration.
11/16/2022
Recognizing Pennsylvania's national leadership in direct farm sales, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today invited businesses that market their agriculture products directly to consumers to enter a new competition at the 2023 PA Farm Show. Businesses can enter their websites, marketing brochures, and social media in the new PA Farm Show Agriculture Marketing Contest to earn cash, recognition at the Pennsylvania State Fair™, and the right to call themselves state champions.
11/14/2022
The Governor's Invasive Species Council is conducting the first statewide survey to measure costs of the damage inflicted by invasive species in Pennsylvania, and the costs tied to preventing and controlling them. The 15-20 minute survey, distributed earlier in November through the council's 21 member organizations, will be open until November 18.
11/09/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding kicked off an Ag Workforce Tour today, visiting Pequea Valley High School in Kinzers, PA, and farms in Chester and Lancaster counties. The tour celebrates the agriculture jobs that will be available post-graduation and Pennsylvania's programs preparing them for these in-demand, rewarding careers.
11/02/2022
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced 2021-22 agricultural compliance data in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Visits to 2,670 farms documented superefficient nutrient use on 108,000 acres and 1,524 new structural best management practices (BMPs) to improve the health of streams and rivers in Pennsylvania’s largest watershed.
11/01/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding joined potato growers, potato chip manufacturers and potato lovers on the historic Bender Potato Farm in Orrstown, Franklin County to celebrate the centennial of the Pennsylvania Cooperative Potato Growers and their tasty, nutritious contributions to our state economy.
10/31/2022
Today Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and conservation partners visited a no-till, rotational grazing farm in Lancaster County to highlight Governor Tom Wolf's $22.5 million investment in conservation and sustainability through his Pennsylvania Farm Bill. Partners demonstrated farm management methods that are resulting in more efficient operations; cleaner waterways; and nourished, productive land, and discussed the financial support and initiatives Pennsylvania is investing in to support their success.
10/31/2022
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is accepting project proposals for $1 million in federal funding to increase the visibility and competitiveness of the state's horticultural specialty crops including fruit, vegetable, nursery, flower, and nut products. Proposals, due December 22, 2022, are for the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant program, which is administered by the state.
10/28/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding invites proposals for $460,000 in Pennsylvania Specialty Crop Block Grants, created under the PA Farm Bill in 2019 and funded a fourth time in 2022-23. Eligible projects stimulate market growth and advance the competitive position of crops designated as high priority for their potential to feed Pennsylvania's economy and boost environmental sustainability.
10/27/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding reminded Pennsylvania farmers today to apply by November 18, 2022 for tax credits for measures they have taken to improve soil and water quality. Up to $13 million in tax credits are available through Pennsylvania's innovative conservation financing program, Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP).
10/26/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding reminded dog owners today that while they're styling their dogs this Halloween, no canine costume is complete without a PA dog license on the collar. Earlier this year, a Forbes Advisor survey ranked Pennsylvania dog owners fourth in the nation for spoiling their dogs, with 64% saying they have bought their pups outfits and accessories.
10/25/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today invited singers statewide to enter "Oh, Say, Can You Sing?", a star-spangled sing-off to win a chance to inspire 2023 Pennsylvania Farm Show visitors with their voices. Each morning of the Farm Show will feature a talented Pennsylvanian, or group of Pennsylvanians, singing the national anthem live. A winner will sing each morning, and a top vote-getter will sing at the 2023 Farm Show Opening Ceremony on Saturday, January 7.
10/25/2022
Consumers should immediately discard raw whole milk or chocolate milk sold in Dauphin County and other southcentral Pennsylvania retail stores under the BeiHollow label between October 12 and 21. BeiHollow pasteurized cheese melt and cup cheese sold between September 20 and October 21 should also be discarded due to possible contamination. Tests following a report of potential listeria contamination confirmed the presence of listeria monocytogenes bacteria.
10/21/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today invited Pennsylvanians to celebrate the state’s $132.5 billion agriculture industry at the 107th PA Farm Show’s PA Preferred® Reception, where they’ll enjoy the finest in Pennsylvania-grown and produced food, drinks, and desserts.
10/19/2022
Today, the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission reported on the 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.
10/18/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding was joined by Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski to visit PA Preferred® member Maylath Farm and Orchard in Sugarloaf to invite Pennsylvanians to explore the commonwealth’s farmers markets and farm destinations this fall and winter. The Luzerne County family farm is celebrating more than 15 years in the agritourism industry.
10/13/2022
Today, Pennsylvania protected 2,046 acres on 24 farms in 10 counties from future development, investing nearly $7.5 million in state, county, local and nonprofit dollars to ensure that prime farmland is not lost to development. Pennsylvania has now protected 6,118 farms and 616,713 acres in 58 counties from future commercial, industrial or residential development.
10/10/2022
Pennsylvania’s Agriculture Deputy Secretary Fred Strathmeyer Jr. joined White House Executive Usher Robert Downing and National Christmas Tree Association officials today at Paul and Pam Shealer’s Evergreen Acres Tree Farm to select the tree that will grace the Biden White House for the 2022 holidays. The Shealers’ Schulkill County farm won the 2020 PA Farm Show Christmas Tree Competition and went on become 2022 Grand Champion at the National Christmas Tree Association’s National Tree and Wreath Contest.
10/08/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding welcomed a talented field of national competitors as competition resumed at The Keystone International Livestock Exposition (KILE) on Thursday, October, 6. In an official opening ceremony, The Pennsylvania Livestock Association (PLA) inducted Eugene Wingert of St. Thomas, Franklin County and Wingert Farms Show Cattle into the Pennsylvania Livestock Hall of Fame honoring his decades of service and advocacy for the agriculture industry in Pennsylvania. Wingert's portrait will hang in the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center among other honorees since 1972.
10/06/2022
Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today announced $303,000 in matching funds to 17 nonprofits to grow domestic sales and exports of Pennsylvania agricultural products. Grants will reimburse nonprofit associations representing members statewide, up to 50% of the cost of promotional and consumer education projects promoting beef, hardwoods, maple syrup, mushrooms, vegetables, wine, and projects promoting regional tourism and growing the consumer base for PA products.
10/04/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today toured three Dirt, Gravel, and Low Volume Roads (DGLVR) projects that are part of the Wolf Administration’s $280 million investment in improving Pennsylvania’s rural roads while simultaneously reducing their environmental impacts.
09/30/2022
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding visited Flinchbaugh's Orchard and Farm Market in York County today to announce the theme for the 107th Pennsylvania Farm Show: Rooted in Progress. The event will run from Saturday, January 7 through Saturday, January 14, 2023 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg.
09/30/2022
The Keystone International Livestock Exposition returns to the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg today, bringing youth and adult competitors showing thousands of the finest cattle, goats, sheep and horses from across the US and Canada. The East Coast's largest cattle show features a diverse array of contests, offering youth opportunities to demonstrate their skills ranging from breed knowledge, to animal care, handling, strength and agility; to wool quality and clothing construction using wool.
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.