04/02/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced today that in an effort to conserve personal protective equipment (PPE) for human healthcare workers, the Pennsylvania Dog Law that requires shelters and rescues to spay/neuter dogs and cats prior to adoption would be waived for pets adopted during active COVID-19 mitigation efforts in Pennsylvania.
04/02/2020
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Department of Agriculture Food Safety Director Jeff Warner today assured Pennsylvanians that there is no evidence that human or animal food or food packaging is associated with transmission of COVID-19. Redding also reviewed the department’s recommendations to retail food and agriculture operations for continuity of business, inhibiting transmission, and maintaining a healthy workforce to ensure continuous access to food during COVID-19.
03/26/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture today issued guidance for the commonwealth’s essential grocery stores to ensure continuation of services to Pennsylvanians while maintaining a healthy workforce.
03/24/2020
The Wolf Administration today reminded Pennsylvanians of food assistance resources available and what actions it is taking to ensure access to food does not stop in spite of the COVID-19 mitigation efforts.
03/20/2020
In recognition of the critical role boarding kennels, doggie daycares, shelters, sanctuaries, and rescues play in ensuring essential workers and at-risk individuals have a safe place to house dogs and the need for continued care for Pennsylvania’s strays, the Department of Agriculture today issued guidance for protecting staff and volunteers of such facilities. Advice was also offered to pet owners to protect themselves and their furry friends during COVID-19 mitigation.
03/17/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture today announced that the 47th Annual Pennsylvania Performance Tested Bull Sale scheduled for Friday, March 27, 2020 at the Livestock Evaluation Center will be held online only through Cowbuyer.com in effort to minimize risks of spreading COVID-19. The Pennsylvania Cattleman’s Association Trade Show and PA Simmental Spring into Excellence Sale, also scheduled for March 27, have been cancelled. The PA Angus Finest Female Sale will be held online on a later date yet to be determined.
03/17/2020
oday, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding issued guidance for accessing emergency food assistance for Pennsylvanians at risk of hunger due to measures to slow the spread of COVID-19.
03/17/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture today issued guidance for the agriculture industry on essential businesses and how those businesses can mitigate against COVID-19 while maintaining essential operations to ensure access to food. Governor Tom Wolf yesterday provided an update to businesses related to Pennsylvania’s statewide mitigation efforts and noted that food processing, agriculture, feed mills, and grocery stores are essential services.
03/13/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced today that effective Friday, March 13, 2020, all public events scheduled for March at the PA Farm Show Complex & Expo Center would be canceled in response to COVID-19. Private meetings with 250 or more in attendance will also be prohibited.
03/13/2020
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced today that while Pennsylvania universities are moving to remote learning environments amid the COVID-19 outbreak, including Penn State University and University of Pennsylvania where two of Pennsylvania’s three animal diagnostic laboratories are located, the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System remains open for normal services, pending any changes in COVID-19 spread.
03/13/2020
The State Horse Racing Commission announced today that effective March 11, 2020, 11 individuals have had their occupational licenses suspended in connection with indictments by a federal grand jury and charges by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for various federal and state crimes.
03/11/2020
At Pocono Organics today, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced that Pennsylvania farmers could apply for grants up to $7,500 through the PA
03/05/2020
Today, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller led a roundtable discussion of PASS, the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System, which provides farmers funding to get food that would otherwise go to waste to vulnerable families who need it most. Governor Wolf requested a $1 million funding increase for the program in his 2020-’21 budget proposal.<br>
03/03/2020
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today announced that twelve counties have been added to Pennsylvania’s Spotted Lanternfly quarantine zone ahead of the 2020 spring hatch. With this addition, the quarantine for this invasive pest is now at 26 counties.
02/27/2020
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today visited Greenwood High School for an in-depth look at their FFA and ag education programming. At this National FFA Week Celebration, he discussed the investments made by the Wolf Administration to expand agriculture education opportunities through the Pennsylvania Farm Bill.
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.