30 Ways in 30 Days: Agricultural Funding

Agricultural Cuts Would Hit Food Safety, Animal Health Programs

Economic development programs for farm communities, agricultural programs, animal health and safety efforts would be hamstrung by Department of Agriculture cuts under SB 850.

HARRISBURG (June 6, 2009) - Even though farming is one of the largest industries in the Commonwealth, devastating cuts have been proposed for state programs that are vital to animal health, food safety and the future of farming communities.
 
Senate Bill 850, passed last month by the state Senate, calls for a 13% reduction to the Department of Agriculture below Governor Ed Rendell's proposed budget, which itself cuts the department's funding by 11% for 2009-10. SB 850 would cut funding for many county fairs, threatening several with the possibility of cancellation. Programs such as the Future Farmers of America (FFA), PA Grows and the Centers for Dairy Beef Excellence would be eliminated.
 
In testimony before the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, Dr. Sherrill Davison of the University of Pennsylvania stressed the danger in cutting funding to the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System (PADLS). She said the system and its services "stand as the first line of defense in the prevention of agro-terrorism." The PADLS system also serves all Pennsylvanians through its reference centers for several food-borne illnesses, she said.
 
Davison, her testimony delivered only a few weeks before the current outbreak of swine flu, called PADLS funding "an ounce of prevention ... worth a pound of cure." Davison said that if the proposed cuts stay, it could put the organization's laboratory accreditation at risk.
 
Incoming Penn State Agriculture Dean Bruce McPheron said that agricultural research funding provides more than $19 in economic impact for each dollar invested. He also noted that cuts from the current year funding for the agricultural research and extension programs will equate to the loss of approximately 70 positions. He said the impact would be felt in the reduced ability of the university to help landowners as they work through issues with the Marcellus Shale.

You can learn more about the impact of these proposed cuts by calling Dr. Sherrill Davison of the University of Pennsylvania at 610-444-4282 or emailing her at sdavison@vet.upenn.edu.

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