Building a Vision for Rural Pennsylvania holds session in Ephrata

Ephrata forum covers wide variety of concerns

EPHRATA – The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee continued its Building a Vision for Rural Pennsylvania series today with a listening session in Ephrata, Committee Chairman Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster) said.

Brubaker hosted the public session for his Committee colleagues at Four Seasons Produce, which is one of the largest independent produce wholesalers in the country. Almost 100 people representing many perspectives on agriculture and rural issues attended the session.

Other local elected officials attended the session as well, including Committee Vice Chairman Mike Waugh (R-York) and Representative Tom Creighton (R-Manheim). A representative from Representative Gordon Denlinger's office (R-Ephrata) was also present.

"This morning, we heard a lot of valuable testimony," Brubaker said. "I am very pleased that we have had the opportunity to discuss so many issues with those who have firsthand knowledge and experience, and who have the background to tell us how future decisions will impact them."

Sherylin Kamara with Threshold Foundation talked about the need to develop additional links between cities and what is happening in agriculture, a point which was also addressed in the Philadelphia session.

"There needs to be understanding about why prices are what they are," Kamara said. "In the cities, vegetables can be a luxury, and when we can't afford them, there are more health problems."

Several of those who spoke during the session mentioned the impact of ACRE, which was signed into law as Act 38 of 2005. ACRE creates a process for farmers to seek review of local ordinances believed to be illegal and restrictive of normal agriculture or farming operations.

Sam Sherk from the PennAg Industries Association said that it is his understanding that the Commonwealth Court has determined it will not hear some cases brought to it by the Attorney General under ACRE because the ordinances farmers feel are illegal have not actually been enforced against the farmer. "Asking our producers to do something illegal to get the protections of ACRE is asking too much of the good and conscientious folks that make up our agricultural community," Sherk said.

Boyd Wolff, Chairman of the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board, talked about the crisis facing dairy farmers, who currently receive about $12.95 per hundredweight even though their cost of production is about $16 per hundredweight.

"Dairy farmers are struggling and they are having a tough time making ends meet," said Wolff.

Others indicated that agriculture is being regulated out of business because of the increasing number of environmental regulations with which they must comply. While farmers want to do the right thing, the red tape required is a problem, they said.

Gary Willier, agriculture services manager of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and associate director of the Manure Council, also shared concerns about red tape surrounding the production of biomass into energy. "If the people involved in farming are required to go through too much red tape, they may look from the back end of the animal to the front end," he noted. "It is easier to use corn, which creates competition for livestock farmers, than manure and other biomass that can otherwise end up as waste material."

Bernie Morrissey, representing Morrissey Insurance in Ephrata, shared his concerns about funding cuts to the crop insurance program. "With the cuts in the crop insurance line item in the Governor's budget proposal, as well as the increase in the cost of feed, seed, fuel and other inputs coupled with low milk prices, farmers are looking at crop insurance as an expendable cost," Morrissey said. "Crop insurance is beneficial for both the farmer and the consumer, and if farmers are forced out of business, we're all in trouble."

"Health insurance is a huge issue as well," said John Shenk, a local strawberry farmer. "I spend approximately 20 percent of my net income on health insurance, and my family is healthy. Taxes are another issue."

Representatives of various organizations such as the National Beagle Club, the National Sportsmen's Alliance, and the Fox Hunters of Chester County talked about the changes to the Dog Law regulations that have been proposed by the state Department of Agriculture, specifically their potential impact.

Other organizations attending today's session included the Pennsylvania Departments of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Hunger Action, the Pennsylvania State Grange, Monsanto, Wenger's Feed Mill, local governments, alternative energy companies, economic development groups, and private citizens.

In addition, the Committee panel heard from the president of Cloister FFA at Ephrata High School, Caleb Strausser. Other members of the Cloister chapter were in attendance as well.

"Each person who spoke with us today offered information that will help us build an agenda that truly meets the needs of agriculture and rural populations," Brubaker said. "Judging by the variety of people who testified, it is clear that agriculture affects everyone on some level."

The next listening session in the Building a Vision for Rural Pennsylvania series will be held on April 3, 2007, in the southwestern Pennsylvania region. More details will be available in the near future on Senator Brubaker's web site, www.senatorbrubaker.com.

Contact:

Kristin Ebersole, Executive Director
Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee
717-787-4420