Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding was in Butler yesterday in support of legislation that would help dairy farmers see federal funding for innovation and margin coverage.
Redding and other legislators visited the Thiele Dairy Farm in Jefferson Township Thursday morning.
“Family businesses like Thiele Dairy Farm need to manage their risks today, and innovate to grow their businesses tomorrow,” Secretary Redding said. “Constant changes in the environment, technology, and the marketplace demand new solutions to daily challenges on the farm.
Redding spoke in favor of a pair of bills that would offer farmers more funding for technology and margin coverage.
“The Agriculture Innovation and Conservation program will put new ideas and technology into practice to increase farm profits, and make soil, water and food healthier. The Dairy Margin Coverage Financial Assistance Program will help cushion the blows that come with working in an uncertain, risky business. Both investments help farmers get stuff done.”
State Representative Emily Kinkead of Allegheny County is the primary sponsor of the bill that would see $5.6 million go towards ensuring dairy farmers receive the best possible premium federal coverage programs.
“What this does is spend a little bit of state money that helps bring the costs of those premiums down for people that are not participating at the highest level so they can have a little bit of a windfall to deal with the ebbs and flows of the dairy market,” Kinkead said.
Senator Elder Vogel Jr. sits as the Chair on the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and he praised governor Josh Shapiro for his commitment to agriculture in Pennsylvania.
“Gov. Shapiro came in and he’s very supportive of agricultural things and innovation,” Vogel said. “It’s a lot of money and it’s doing a lot of things for agriculture, which is important because agriculture is the number one industry in the state. So, to have the governor on board and recognize the importance of it, that’s huge.”
Both bills have not been signed into law but there is bipartisan support in both the house and senate.
