Harrisburg, PA – Today, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced a $2.187 million investment in 27 research grants to help Pennsylvania agriculture grow and keep pace with changes in technology, climate, diseases, and the marketplace.
“Research is the first critical step to developing the innovations Pennsylvania agriculture needs to stay on the cutting edge of the industry,” said Secretary Redding. “These research grants are part of a comprehensive package of investments the Shapiro Administration is making to keep Pennsylvania agriculture growing, and a national leader in years to come.”
“In my Administration, we know economic growth and opportunity flow right through our farmlands – and that is why we put agriculture front and center in the bipartisan budget I signed this summer,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “We’re proud to announce this $2.2 million investment in research and innovation as we continue working to ensure Pennsylvania leads the nation in agriculture. This initiative – along with our first-in-the-nation ag innovation fund – is going to help fund game-changing projects, and thanks to our bipartisan work, the future of farming is happening right here in Pennsylvania."
In addition to the 27 research grants, last month Governor Shapiro launched a $10 million Agricultural Innovation Grant Program, an investment secured in the 2024-25 budget to help support new solutions and technologies to build the future of American agriculture right here in Pennsylvania. The program is open for applications through November 15. The program will put innovations developed through agriculture research into practice on Pennsylvania farms. Find more information here.
Recipients and amounts of research grants announced today are:
Center for Dairy Excellence, Dauphin County
- Survey of dairy farmer demographics, business growth, environmental sustainability, consultant use, biosecurity, risk management, workforce concerns, and other challenges and opportunities – partnership with PSU College of Ag Sciences – $22,248
Cheyney University, Philadelphia County
- Assessment of food fish aquaculture in Pennsylvania – $46,824
MYCOguard, Chester County
- Researching peat alternatives – $100,000
Pasa Sustainable Agriculture, Berks County
· Growing climate resilient farms through soil health benchmarking – $82,375
Rodale Institute, Berks County
- Preparing a skilled agriculture workforce and fostering understanding of sustainable, regenerative farming methods – $500,000
Team Pennsylvania Foundation, Harrisburg
- Accelerating economic growth for Pennsylvania agriculture: 2024 Economic Impact Report – $63,868
The Pennsylvania State University, Centre County
- Ag Resource Centers – $300,000
- Center for Agricultural Law – $100,000
- Evaluating ammonium thiosulfate and lime sulphur as apple bloom thinners: efficacy and pollinator impact – $71,339
- Conversion of spent mushroom substrate and low-value trees to sprayable bioplastics for agriculture – $100,000
- Monitoring bee populations in Pennsylvania to improve information on wild pollinator populations and pollination services – $82,426
- Understanding the potential of predatory mites to control mushroom flies – $77,559
- Robotic solutions for sustainable weed management in perennial cropping systems – $72,275
- PSU Scranton – Enhancing picking efficiency and optimizing mushroom bruising levels in robotic mushroom picking – $100,000
- Enhancing pathogen detection systems to promote bovine udder health – $27,535
- Exploring precision technology to find sick calves – $56,042
- Progesterone supplementation: a strategy to enhance fetal and placental growth in sheep – $34,846
- Association of respiratory disease on liver abscess development in cattle – $55,198
- Ornithine supplementation in early pregnancy: a strategy to enhance conceptus development in swine – $67,926
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia County
- Molecular survey on avian metapneumovirus subgroups A, B, and C in domestic and wild bird populations – $18,750
- Pig vocalizations as an indicator of animal health and welfare – $23,000
- Development of a biobank of samples to explore the transmission dynamics of antimicrobial resistance – $20,056
- Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ceftiofur in sow serum and synovial fluid – $6,311
- Novel microbial intervention strategy to prevent ketosis in dairy cows – $48,300
University of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
- Assessing tick-borne pathogens in an invasive tick species to improve animal health and welfare – $29,342
Governor Josh Shapiro’s bipartisan 2024-25 budget invests in Pennsylvania’s national legacy as a leader in agriculture. The Governor’s new Economic Development Strategy recognizes agriculture, along with manufacturing as key to Pennsylvania’s future economic success.
You can read Pennsylvania’s first economic development strategy in 20 years here. Get more information on how the Governor’s budget will create economic opportunity for all Pennsylvanians here.
Contact: Shannon Powers – 717.603.2056, shpowers@pa.gov
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