Constituents seek answers about animal lab at farmers breakfast
BUTLER TWP — Thursday morning’s farmers breakfast was supposed to update constituents on issues affecting farmers, but constituents were more concerned about why Butler County was passed over for a state animal diagnostic lab.
State Rep. Marci Mustello, R-11th; Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-8th; and guest speaker Russell Redding, state secretary of agriculture, hosted the breakfast at American Legion Post 778 to offer updates and answer questions. Constituents weren’t shy about their frustrations.
The fourth lab in the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System, and the first in Western Pennsylvania, was awarded to Penn State Beaver instead of Butler County’s Slippery Rock University. However, Neeli Bendapudi, Pennsylvania State University president, announced Feb. 25 the Beaver campus was among 12 being considered to close after the 2026-27 academic year.
Jordan Grady, Butler County Chamber of Commerce president, was the first to ask Redding what would happen to the animal lab if the Penn State Beaver campus closes.
Redding responded the lab is independent from the campus and he sees an opportunity to turn the campus into an agricultural hub in Western Pennsylvania.
“I was impressed, surprised, quite frankly, that Slippery Rock (University) was in there, but they did a phenomenal job,” Redding said.
Another constituent asked if the lab could be moved to SRU if there was a problem at the Beaver campus, but Redding said it cannot be changed. He said the lab will begin construction in late summer or early fall.
He noted Penn State Extension’s Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences program and capacity factored into the campus being chosen.
“We are looking at that lab as sort of an anchor to really look at agriculture and animal-ag, particularly in Western Pennsylvania,” Redding said.
County Commissioner Kim Geyer said the Butler County was a prime location for the lab because of its growing population, its proximity to major roadways, its active farm bureau and 4-H programs and SRU’s growing enrollment. She suggested the Beaver campus may have been chosen as a way to keep it open.
“It was pretty evident (constituents) made the secretary aware Butler County really wanted the lab,” Geyer said.
As a way to stimulate economic growth for farmers, Redding and Bernstine moderated a conversation on legalized recreational marijuana after a constituent asked about its economic potential bringing in tax revenue for farmers.
The constituent argued farmers should be allowed to grow the product and reap the benefits of the product’s heavy tax rate when it’s sold in state stores.
Bernstine, who is against legalizing recreational marijuana, said beginning recreational marijuana sales would create a significant influx in funds, but the associated legacy costs with hiring employees to sell it in state stores would not be feasible.
He said states like Colorado and California get around legacy costs by selling the product in stores not affiliated with the state.
“The truth is that we need to be more efficient with the tax dollars that are taken out of people’s pockets,” Bernstine said.
Redding highlighted the fact the percentage of the U.S. population that serves in the military and the number that work in agriculture production — about 2% — are the same. He said the agricultural issue he hears about most is the lack of workforce and finding employees willing and qualified to do farm labor.
Redding said immigration must be considered in the workforce conversation. He said he’s been in every meat-packing plant in the state and most information on their bulletin boards is in 17 to 19 languages.
Aside from workforce, Redding said Gov. Josh Shapiro and his administration have been aggressive in fighting avian influenza and plan to use the Beaver lab to detect and respond to outbreaks. He said the administration has also implemented quarantine restrictions to keep infected dairy herds out of Pennsylvania.
“So now you’ve got a virus that impacts both the first and second-most important industries here in agriculture,” Redding said.
He added the state’s water quality has also improved boasting less nitrogen and phosphorus than 10 years ago.
“We have the best report card on water quality in Pennsylvania (flowing) into the Chesapeake Bay in nearly 20 years,” he said.
Gov. Josh Shapiro in his budget proposed $4 million increases each to the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System, which aids farmers in paying harvesting costs, and the State Food Purchase Program, which battles food insecurity.
Mustello argued funding isn’t all that’s needed. She said she spoke to three constituents before breakfast who said government regulations hurt them as much as increased costs.
“If we can cut back on regulations, we may not need all that money that’s being requested by the governor,” Mustello said.
Bernstine, a cattle and lamb farmer, said Shapiro’s proposed budget increases state spending by about 8%, which he said is an unsustainable amount for taxpayers.
“Gov. Shapiro’s answer to everything is to throw more money at it,” Bernstine said.
