State College, PA – Today, Governor Josh Shapiro and Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding visited Pennsylvania State University’s Dairy Research and Teaching Complex for a ceremonial bill signing to highlight investments in agricultural innovation secured in the 2024-25 budget — including the first-of-its-kind in the nation $10 million Agricultural Innovation Grant Program to help support new solutions and technologies to build the future of American agriculture right here in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry plays a crucial role in the Commonwealth’s economy — more than 53,000 farms across the Commonwealth support over 600,000 jobs and contribute $132 billion to our state's economy. That’s why Governor Shapiro’s Economic Development Strategy places agriculture at the forefront, and his 2024-25 budget proposal allocates additional funding to support the growth of new businesses and reinforce Pennsylvania’s national reputation as a leader in agriculture.
“In my Administration, we know economic growth and opportunity flow right through our farmlands – and that is why we have put agriculture front and center in our economic development strategy and in the bipartisan budget I signed this summer,” said Governor Shapiro. “We’re proud to announce the $10 million secured for the Agricultural Innovation Grant Program as we continue working to ensure Pennsylvania leads the nation in agriculture, as the first state to create a dedicated program like this. We’re talking game-changing projects — alternative fuel tractors, methane digesters powering entire farms, and cutting-edge robotic milkers being developed right here at Penn State. This first-in-the-nation initiative is going to help fund game-changing projects – and thanks to our bipartisan work, the future of farming is happening right here in Pennsylvania."
The Agricultural Innovation Grant Program will be administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) to offer grants to farmers and other agriculture businesses to implement new agricultural technologies, conservation, and renewable energy innovations – expanding their potential to generate profits, enrich soil and water resources, and produce energy on the farm. The program is a key element of Governor Shapiro’s commitment to helping Pennsylvania businesses solve real-world challenges and creating opportunities to grow.
“Penn State’s world-class agriculture research farms, engineering facilities, and veterinary labs are where innovation is born,” said Secretary Redding. “We invest millions in developing these innovations. This new investment helps put them in to practice in the real world, where they will make a difference for Pennsylvanians and for the environment we share, our families, and our economy.”
The 2024-25 budget continues Pennsylvania’s national legacy as an agriculture leader:
- $31 million to help poultry farmers impacted by the hi-path avian influenza (HPAI) crisis pay for testing and get reimbursed for losses to their flocks
- $10 million in agricultural innovation to help support new solutions and technologies, including energy and conservation endeavors, and to continue to build the future of American agriculture right here in Pennsylvania
- Invests in a new state laboratory in western Pennsylvania that will provide much needed testing capacity, helping with rapid diagnosis and mitigation of future HPAI outbreaks across the state
Grants will reimburse expenses for project planning, on-site project implementation, and larger grants for projects that have a regional impact. Examples will include technology that improves efficiency on the farm or in processing, generates energy while reducing nutrient waste leaving the farm, or supports crops that effectively store carbon or replace non-renewable resources. Projects may address practical challenges including data collection, biosecurity, and odor remediation.
“Agriculture is Pennsylvania’s number one industry and supports hundreds of thousands of workers and their families across the Commonwealth. As the pace of agricultural research, discovery, and innovation continues to accelerate, it is important that we help PA farmers and businesses take full advantage in order to help make them more efficient, profitable, and sustainable while also benefitting the environment and climate,” said Representative Paul Takac. “This new Ag Innovation Grant Program provides funding assistance to PA farmers to adopt and implement new technologies and best practices to increase both economic resiliency and environmental sustainability. These grants will help create partnerships and opportunities to work toward a better and more prosperous future. On a personal level, this is my first legislation to be signed into law and I am both proud and grateful that it is something that will have a significant positive impact on farmers, families, and communities across our Commonwealth.”
“I'm particularly grateful for the leadership of Governor Shapiro, Secretary Redding, and Representative Takac and his colleagues who championed this program to support agricultural innovation that will ensure competitiveness, resiliency, environmental stewardship, and vitality for farms and agribusinesses in the Commonwealth,” said Dr. Troy Ott, Dean of Penn State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences. “This program will provide grants for implementation of innovations that increase production efficiency, encourage sustainable practices, utilize renewable energy, and sequester carbon.”
“Farmers are the backbone of this nation, but farming is incredibly difficult. Advances in technology, including robotics and artificial intelligence can help make farming easier, more productive and profitable, and more sustainable. AgTech is a field that advances very quickly, and our College of Ag Sciences has been at the forefront of this field,” said Dr. Christina Grozinger, Publius Vergilius Maro Professor of Entomology and Director of The Center for Pollinator Research at Penn State University.
Detailed grant guidelines and application procedures will be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and at agriculture.pa.gov on September 28, 2024. Applications will open on September 30, 2024, at esa.dced.state.pa.us until November 26, 2024.
Learn more about investments in a strong future for Pennsylvania agriculture at shapirobudget.pa.gov.
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