02/25/2020
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today announced $1 million in grants awarded to three innovative research projects to help detect and better understand Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in order to stop its spread among Pennsylvania deer.
02/21/2020
Beef producers have an opportunity to buy some of the best genetics in the Northeast during a cattle sale at Pennsylvania’s Livestock Evaluation Center in Pennsylvania Furnace, Centre County on Friday, March 27, at noon.
02/20/2020
Today Pennsylvania’s Agricultural Land Preservation Board safeguarded 2,848 additional acres on 39 farms in 19 counties through the state’s nation-leading farmland preservation program. Since 1988, state, federal, and local governments have ensured that 5,675 Pennsylvania farms, covering 579,940 acres, in 59 counties will continue to be farms in the future.
02/19/2020
Today, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced that Pennsylvania milk processors could seize an opportunity to rebrand whole milk, thanks to flexibility in federal milk labeling requirements. At the request of the industry, the Bureau of Food Safety issued a guidance memo clarifying Food and Drug Administration requirements and highlighting the opportunity to label Whole Milk as 3.25 percent fat.
02/12/2020
oday, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding recognized Love Your Dog Month in Pennsylvania, reminding dog owners that a dog license is key to the safety and security of their dogs, their families and their communities. Sec. Redding was joined by Rachael Eshleman and her dog Riley, who were victims of a dog attack in 2018, and others whose work and lives intersect daily with the department’s work to enforce Pennsylvania’s dog law.
02/07/2020
Today, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Chris Herr, executive vice president of PennAg Industries, visited Longenecker’s Hatchery to learn how their $15,000 grant, one of eight approved for more than $340,000, will improve on-farm biosecurity practices and lead to improved safety for Pennsylvania poultry and swine.
02/06/2020
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Senator Elder Vogel, Chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, led a roundtable discussion with agriculture industry members and mental health professionals to discuss reducing stigma surrounding mental health issues in agriculture, the importance of access to resources in rural areas, and building farmer-to-farmer support.
01/29/2020
Mifflin County Fair Queen Grace VanSciver, Belleville was crowned the 2020 Pennsylvania Fair Queen on Saturday, January 25, at the annual joint convention of the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs and Pennsylvania State Showmen’s Association.
01/11/2020
The 104th Pennsylvania Farm Show wrapped up today after hosting more than 500,000 visitors over eight days.
01/11/2020
In the final hours of the 104th Pennsylvania Farm Show, co-ed teams of collegiate and professional lumberjacks gave a Woodsman demonstration on Saturday with events simulating practices used by actual loggers. Participating teams were the Pennsylvania Professional Lumberjack Organization, the Penn State University Woodsmen Team, and the Penn State Mont Alto Woodsmen Team.
01/10/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced the winners of the Spotted Lantern Fly calendar contest today at the 104th annual Pennsylvania Farm Show. The PDA holds this contest annually as an effort to continue to raise awareness about the threat of the Spotted Lanternfly.
01/06/2020
At the 2020 Pennsylvania Farm Show today, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Education Secretary Pedro Rivera celebrated agricultural education during the state FFA’s Mid-Winter Convention with more than 5,000 FFA members and guests.
01/03/2020
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today announced that the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s 2020 hemp program will begin accepting applications from both commercial growers and processors in the commonwealth tomorrow, January 4, 2020. This marks the second year for Pennsylvania’s commercial-scale growing program which builds on the department’s pilot research program that had a two-year run.
01/02/2020
Lt. Governor John Fetterman and Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding today unveiled the 2020 Pennsylvania Farm Show butter sculpture, carved from a half-ton of butter depicting three of Pennsylvania’s beloved professional sports mascots: Philadelphia Flyers’ Gritty, Philadelphia Eagles’ Swoop, and Pittsburgh Steelers’ Steely McBeam celebrating with a spread of Pennsylvania dairy products. The sculpture, a long-time Farm Show staple, encourages Pennsylvanians to be a fan of Pennsylvania dairy and give a cheer to the more than 6,200 dairy farmers in the commonwealth.
01/02/2020
Lt. Governor John Fetterman and Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding hosted a tasting event to preview new items on the menu in the 2020 Farm Show Food Court. The Food Court opens to the public on Friday, January 3 from noon to 9:00 PM. Admission and parking for the day are free.
12/23/2019
If you’re making a list and checking it twice, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today reminded Pennsylvania dog owners that a 2020 dog license makes the perfect stocking stuffer for your canine companions.
12/19/2019
Today, Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding and Pennsylvania State Veterinarian Dr. David R. Wolfgang joined Santa Claus and his nine reindeer at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane to announce that they have received a clean bill of health and are cleared for take-off on December 24.
12/18/2019
Today Secretary Russell Redding announced that Pennsylvania’s more than 5,600 preserved farm owners would now be eligible to apply for a new realty transfer tax exemption through Governor Wolf’s Pennsylvania Farm Bill.
12/16/2019
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is accepting concept proposals for projects that will increase visibility and competitiveness of the state’s horticultural specialty crops including fruit, vegetable, nursery, flower, and nut products. The deadline to apply is January 24, 2020.
12/12/2019
Today Pennsylvania’s Agricultural Land Preservation Board safeguarded 2,450 additional acres on 29 farms in 16 counties through the state’s nation-leading farmland preservation program. The state board, in partnership with county boards, ended the year by preserving 209 farms (17,505 acres)– the highest number of farms in a decade.
12/10/2019
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Maj. Gen. Tony Carrelli, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general, today announced that the Departments of Agriculture and Military and Veterans Affairs will join forces to recognize veterans and military service members, and their families on Thursday, January 9, at the 2020 Pennsylvania Farm Show.
12/09/2019
Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding today joined with more than 30 members of Pennsylvania’s organic industry to update them on the department’s progress towards developing the PA Preferred® Organic program and gather feedback from producers, processors, and retailers on how the department can meet the industry’s needs and Governor Wolf’s goal of leading the nation in organic production.
12/04/2019
Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Maj. Gen. Anthony Carrelli, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, today helped kick off the 2019 Trees for Troops weekend with an event in York County, encouraging Pennsylvanians to donate Christmas trees to active-duty military and their families.
12/02/2019
Antique farm equipment enthusiasts are invited to exhibit their vintage iron during the 104th Pennsylvania Farm Show’s Antique Tractor and Engine Show. Entries will be accepted through January 1, 2020.
11/26/2019
Governor Tom Wolf today announced the approval of $500,000 in Small Meat Processor Grant to fund 15 projects to improve the supply of locally produced meat in the commonwealth.
11/22/2019
Today the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement warned Pennsylvania dog owners looking to purchase new or renewal licenses of a fraudulent website selling dog licenses online.
11/21/2019
At Broad Street Market today, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and his wife, Nina, bought everything on their Thanksgiving dinner grocery list from local, PA Preferred® vendors. It was a demonstration of how with intentional choices, it’s easy to buy local and support Pennsylvania farmers around the holidays and year-round.
11/18/2019
Today, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Chris Herr, executive vice president of PennAg Industries, visited a Heritage Poultry Management organic egg farm in Lebanon County to discuss how their new partnership through the PA Farm Bill’s Center for Poultry and Livestock Excellence will assist swine, poultry, and small ruminant producers with everything from expanding processing capacity to biosecurity planning.
11/13/2019
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today invited Pennsylvania farmers to attend the Wholesaling to Institutions Training Series, a workshop designed to help small- to mid-sized farm operations learn how to sell to institutional markets.
11/13/2019
With the 2019 hunting season underway in Pennsylvania, the Department of Agriculture released recommended best management practices to help protect hunters and their families against Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).