Gov. Shapiro recognizes Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry is key to the Commonwealth’s economic development and has prioritized investments in agriculture.
- The Administration created the first statewide economic development strategy in nearly two decades with agriculture at the forefront.
- Secured $10 million in state funding for the first-of-its-kind Agriculture Innovation Program, driving investments in cutting-edge solutions and technologies that will shape the future of agriculture.
- Invested $1 million to create a new, one of the first-of-its kind Organic Center for Excellence to empower and support organic farmers and businesses and signed legislation creating a PA Preferred Organic brand for locally grown organic agricultural products.
- Secured $13.8 million in the PA Farm Bill, which will make critical investments in rebuilding the workforce, processing infrastructure, and marketing opportunities for the industry.
If we keep a vibrant dairy economy, farming economy in the state of Pennsylvania, we assure that we can provide locally grown food and supply it in a timely manner to the entire Northeast.
- David Poole, PA Dairy Farmer
The Shapiro Administration protected Pennsylvania farmers’ livelihood and historic farms.
- Worked with Pennsylvania farmers to mitigate the impact of the avian flu outbreaks and allocated $2.5 million from the Department of Agriculture to farmers impacted by the virus. In August 2023, the Administration announced Pennsylvania reached the critical milestone of HPAI-free status, marking a return to normal international trade conditions for the Commonwealth’s $7.1 billion poultry industry for the first time since April 2022.
- Secured over $65 million to support Pennsylvania poultry farmers impacted by the avian influenza crisis to pay for testing and get reimbursed for losses to their flocks in his first two budgets.
- Followed through on his budget proposal to fund a new state laboratory in Western Pennsylvania to provide testing capacity, help with rapid diagnosis and mitigation of future avian influenza outbreaks.
- Invested over $26 million in state funds via the Department of Agriculture to protect over 27,000 acres on 333 farms from future development and to preserve for agriculture production.