Ag. Secretary Russell Redding discusses industry successes, challenges
BUTLER TWP — Agriculture is a huge, vitally important industry in Pennsylvania worthy of the millions of dollars the state invests, but it faces challenges, state Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding said Friday, Sept. 9.
Redding spoke about the state of the industry at a breakfast hosted by state Rep. Marci Mustello, R-11th, at the American Legion Post 778 in Lyndora.
Pennsylvania has a diverse portfolio of agriculture production of crops, livestock, poultry and forestry products, he said.
“That diversity really is our strength,” Redding said. “It also takes a significant investment.”
He said the industry has a $132 billion annual impact on the state economy, accounts for 18% of the state gross product and sustains 590,000 jobs.
Through the Pennsylvania Farm Bill, the state has invested $76 million in the industry over the last four years, he said.
“Investment is really critical to sustain this business in Butler County and the rest of Pennsylvania,” Redding said.
He said Pennsylvania has more farmers under the age of 35 than any other state, and has the second largest amount of preserved farmland among U.S. states.
However, the industry faces challenges such as highly pathogenic avian influenza and a shortage of federally inspected meat processors.
The state remains in high alert, Redding said, after avian influenza was detected on a chicken farm in Lancaster County in April. State agencies believe wild birds such as geese and ducks spread the disease to domestic poultry.
Biosecurity is critical for poultry farms as well as 4-H youth to protect their birds from the flu and prevent its spread, he said.
About 4.3 million birds died or were euthanized on 17 poultry farms due to the disease, and $31 million has been allocated in the state budget to reimburse farmers for their losses. Those farms are located in Lancaster and Berks counties.
Additionally, Redding said there is a shortage of retail meat processing businesses and people working as meat cutters.
Custom processors that don’t run retail businesses can operate without an inspection from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, he pointed out, and most are not interested in going through the inspection in order to open retail shops.
Even those who are interested would find it difficult to find employees, he said, but state grant money is available for meat processor training.
