Redding Sets Ag Agenda at Legislative Luncheon

Charlene M. Shupp
Espenshade
Special Sections Editor

HARRISBURG, Pa. — One might assume that as the Rendell administration heads into its last year, it would be a time to relax and take it easy. Not so, according to newly-appointed Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding as he discussed his goals at the legislative luncheon at the recent Pennsylvania Farm Show.

“The last leg of a relay is the most important leg,” Redding said, describing his goals to the nearly 800 people in attendance.

The six goals he noted will take a partnership of “everyone who eats” to continue to invest in agriculture.

With the industry evolving, he noted the importance of recognizing the industry in all of its shapes and sizes. The department should be “size neutral, practice neutral, food positive,” he said.

The media coverage on food safety issues has not been lost on Redding. He said the department would remain focused on enhancing food safety programs in Pennsylvania.

As a third goal, he spoke on the importance of environmental stewardship and conservation — from working with lobbying for conservation programs in the last Farm Bill to implementing those programs. With Chesapeake Bay Watershed clean-up, “We need balance between viable farms and viable watershed. They are co-equals,” he said.

Redding noted that the number of families who are nutritionally at-risk has risen with the economic recession. In Pennsylvania, he said there are about 1.2 million people who are nutritionally at risk. The largest line item in the state ag budget is for food nutrition.

Redding also pledged that agriculture is a “business without walls” and will work with other state agencies to assist agribusinesses with access to other department programs.

In the Rendell administration, three “Centers of Excellence” were created — for dairy, beef and farm transition. Redding wants to maintain the centers, and make sure the time and effort spent to establish them were not wasted.
Several elected officials also shared concerns from their offices.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett presented an update on the ACRE (Agriculture, Communities and Rural Environment) legislation. He said the program, which looked to strike a balance between agriculture and communities, is working. The number of requests for ordinance reviews has slowed. Also as his office continues to work with the program, the goal is resolve disputes outside of the courtroom. To date, six cases are in litigation and the office is trying to resolve nine requests outside of the courtroom.

Seven new requests are under review by his office.

Congressman Tim Holden (D-17) talked about the 2012 Farm Bill as the agriculture committee, which he serves on, begins to discuss its priorities.

"Now we must begin to work on the next one,” he said.

More must be done for dairy farmers in the next bill, according to Holden.

“Our dairy farmers are facing a crisis,” he said. “The peaks and valleys are too steep. We must come together as representatives of dairy farmers to come to solution,” he said.

Regional differences must be set aside, Holden believes. “There is nothing like $9 milk to make people realize that we need to work together,” he said.

Holden said he will also focus on conservation and energy in developing the 2012 Farm Bill.