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Waugh & Wenger Unveil Major Agricultural Initiative
Aimed at
Preserving the Pennsylvania Farmer
HARRISBURG -- Senator
Mike Waugh (R-York) and Senator Noah Wenger (R-Lancaster) today announced a
comprehensive legislative package aimed at promoting agriculture in
Pennsylvania.
The senators, who serve as
chairman and vice chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Committee, said their “Preserving the Pennsylvania Farmer” initiative includes a
number of measures designed to preserve farmland, prevent sprawl, help farmers
be more competitive and ensure that agriculture remains Pennsylvania’s top
industry.
Wenger and Waugh said they
plan to push for a number of initiatives to help farmers be productive and
successful and to keep the agricultural industry strong in Pennsylvania. They
include (click link for summary in PDF file):
Senator Waugh noted that
Pennsylvania has been successful in preserving farmland, but the farming
industry is facing many challenges. He said the average farmer is over 53 years
old, and many family farms are struggling to make a profit.
“We’ve become efficient and
effective at preserving the land; but it is time to preserve the Pennsylvania
farmer and a way of life that is so important to this state,” Waugh said. “This
comprehensive package of proposals is intended to enable our producers to remain
profitable and to stay in business.”
Senator Wenger added that
Pennsylvania needs to do more to encourage farmers to remain in agriculture and
to keep family farmers strong and competitive. He said that agriculture in
Pennsylvania is an “economic engine” and the proposals announced today would
provide additional fuel to keep agriculture production and agriculture related
businesses moving forward.
“Agriculture is so important
to Pennsylvania’s economy and to its heritage. We have to look at new ways to
improve economic opportunities for the men and women who work the land for a
living and keep the tradition of farming alive.”
He noted that Pennsylvania
is a significant generator of food, agricultural and forest products, exporting
more than $1.5 billion annually. In total, production agriculture and
agribusiness contribute nearly $45 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy.
Waugh added that his
committee will seek public input on the initiatives proposed, as well as other
measures to help enable farmers to make better business decisions.
“Today is just the beginning
for our campaign to help preserve the strong tradition of farming in
Pennsylvania,” Waugh said. “We want to pull together all legitimate interested
parties -- the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Administration,
interest groups and individuals to collaboratively flesh out the proposals we
have presented and listen to other, beneficial ideas. Working together, we can
help to preserve the Pennsylvania farmer and keep agriculture strong in the
Commonwealth.”
Chart
 
Waugh
Wenger
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Sen. Noah Wenger, left, and Sen. Mike Waugh, right, hold a
news conference in Ephrata, Lancaster County on June 1 to announce a new package
of legislation intended to help Pennsylvania's farmers.
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