Governor Signs Pennsylvania Farm Bill(s)

HARRISBURG - Governor Tom Wolf recently signed a number of bills into law which affect the agricultural community. Wolf dubbed this set of bills the Pennsylvania Farm Bill. In addition to these bills passing, funding for them was included in the new July 1, 2019 state budget.

Some of these new bills may be of interest to PLNA member nurseries. If you have any questions, or need more information, please contact Gregg Robertson at PLNA, 717.238.2033.

Act 28 (Senate Bill 338) increases allowable width for farm equipment to be driven on state highways (except interstates) to 18 feet, up from the current 16 feet.

Act 33 (House Bill 370) provides flexibility for farms protected from development under farmland preservation to build additional residences for family and workers.

Act 34 (House Bill 1514) provides for the Farm to School program to educate prekindergartners through fifth graders and their families about the importance of choosing healthy, locally produced foods and increase awareness of Pennsylvania agriculture..

Act 35 (House Bill 1516) provides for a restricted account within the Department of Agriculture to provide emergency money for training, equipment and other resources necessary for rapid responses to transmissible diseases, plant pests, plant diseases, controlled and noxious weeds, foodborne illnesses and natural and other disasters affecting agriculture which pose an immediate danger to public or animal health, food safety or economic well-being in the state. An example would be spotted lanternfly.

 Act 36 (House Bill 1520) Encourages military veterans who are farmers to use the Pennsylvania Preferred^© marketing program and provides grants to small meat processors to implement federal food safety regulations.

Act 37 (House Bill 1526) re-establishes the Agriculture Linked Investment Program, which provides low-interest loans to farmers to implement conservation best management practices.

 Act 38 (House Bill 1590) establishes the Dairy Investment Program to provide financial assistance in the form of grants for projects located within the state that support the dairy industry.

Act 39 (Senate Bill 634) establishes the Conservation Excellence Grant Program within the Conservation Commission to provide technical and financial assistance for the implementation of best management practice projects on agricultural operations in high-priority locations within this Commonwealth through grants, loans and tax credits, or a combination of all three.

Act 40 (Senate Bill 661) establishes the Agricultural Business Development Center, the Agricultural Business Development Center Advisory Committee and the agricultural business development center fund; provides for the Commonwealth Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and establishes the Commonwealth Specialty Crop Block Grant Fund; provides for agriculture and youth development; establishes the Urban Agricultural Infrastructure Grant Program;.

Act 65 (Senate Bill 478) provides a personal income tax credit for landowners who sell or lease land or equipment to beginning farmers.

Act 66 (Senate Bill 585) establishes the PA Dairy Future Commission.