A2O-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 27, 1990
Answer Farm Questions
Gov. Casey: Our economic development policy over the past four years has involved ag
in a very direct way. We have two agricultural representatives on our economic develop
ment partnership. And two of the major initiatives on the economic partnership have been
related to agriculture and the rural area. One is food processing that direcdy affects the
agricultural community. It’s one of the pillars of our economy: the other is hardwoods
production.
In addition, we have put over $5O million m the development of Pennsylvania agricul
ture through PEDA, the capital loan fund; BEDFA Benjamin Franklin Partnership; The
Agricultural Entrepreneurial Development Fund; new to our adminstration. The PennAg
Fund; The Farm Market Loan Fund; and the Family Farm Loan Development Fund.
Having said that, I don’tknow if you can assign a numerical ranking to one vs. another.
All these industries in Pennsylvania are interdependent economically. But I just want to
say, Agriculture has been a key to everything we have done here by way of job creation,
economic activity, and market research. One of the first things I did when I came in this
door, m my first budget, was to add $5 million to the ag extension service at Penn Statp to
make sure all the research information and other activities gets to the farmer. I don’t
know if that was ever done before in that kind of massive amount of money.
Atty. Gen. Hafer: Agriculture is our number one industry, generating $3B billion a
year in Pennsylvania. It helps keep hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania men and
women in jobs from Philadelphia to Erie, tens of thousands of jobs in the cities and more
in the rural areas. Agriculture has a ripple effect on the economy from banks to the retail
level. Agriculture deserves the full attention and the support of our next governor.
Question: Pennsylvania’s program offarmland preservatipn through conservation
easements was created under the Casey Adminstration. Some critics claim the program
got off to a slow start. Are you satisfied with the farmland preservation program so far?
Gov, Casey: We are very proud of the farmland preservation program. We have received
a national award and have $lOO million committed to it, as you know. It’s now being
looked at as a model for other states. In a letter from the director of the American Farm
land Trust, he points out that far from being slow on getting underway, as some people
have contended, Pennsylvania’s program (quoting) is functioning far sooner than any of
the several earlier state programs. So we are off to a good start.
Atty. Gen. Hafer: The program is still moving too slowly. Casey moved slowly in
implementing it, and failed to meet deadlines for regulations. A very important vacancy
was left for months. While now moving, its time to take further action to get counties
involved, and work with them to adopt the necessary programs to take full advantage of
the available funding.
Question: One of the points often made related tofarmland preservation is that if we
make farming profitable, we will automatically preserve the farmer and his farm. Can
you give any suggestions how the person in the governpfspffioe. can help make farm
ing more profitable? ‘ ’
Gov. Casey: Obviously, profit comes from reduced cosfeahd increased revenues, ora
combination of both. In looking at the cost side, we raised taxes, which helps
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FARMLAND PRESERVATION
PROFITABLE FARMING ,
everyone, including the farm community. We have increased money for ag research. The
5 million for the extension service has certainly helped on the cost side of the ledger. We
have encouraged integrated pest management to reduce the cost of pesticides, and we
have encouraged the use of less expensive newsprint for bedding, which is widely used,
as you know. And we have provided financial assistance for the adoption of new
technology.
On the other side of the ledger, to increase demand and price, we have opened new
markets, worldwide, with our aggressive ag exports program. And ag exprots are up 61
percent since 1986, which I think is something that should be mentioned. Second, we
have given the power of promotion back to the producers through Act 1, called Act 1
because it was the first act I signed after I got here. It was a delivery of a campaign prom
ise to take it away from the bureaucrats and give it back to the farmer. And that’s been
done.
Next, we have increased state spending on ag promotion by about 51 percent. We have
tripled the number of economic financing programs available to Pennsylvania farmers
through the Department of Agriculture and the economic partnership. In all these ways
we have done our best to reduce costs and increase markets and price for products, there
by contributing somewhat to the farmer’s profit.
Atty. Gen. Hafer: The governor can help make farming more profitable by standing
shoulder to shoulder with farmers to help the market their products, and by not letting
DER stand on farmers’ shoulders. The governor can help by relieving the unfair tax bur
dens on farmers created by Casey’s spending programs. In addition, the funding neces
sary for agricultural research and new product development should be provided. By tak
ing a more agressive role in promoting and marketing Pennsylvania farm products, the
state can provide funds for this effort. By making agriculture a major part of the overall
effort to improve the Pennsylvania economy we can rebuild the economic development
in agriculture.
Question: The importance of preserving wetlands is widely recognized. But the
impact of the various interpertations of what constitutes wetlands often unfairly bur
dens landowners and abuses private property rights. What are your views on the wet
land issue and how do you supportfarmers who may lose tillable land to save wetlands?
Gov. Casey: This a relatively new issue in terms of the regulatory laws of the Com
monwealth. As you know, DER has proposed strong wetlands regulation. I know the con
cern that’s out there in the farming community about loss of tillable land. The problem
with compensation, as we see it, is that it would be prohibitably expensive and would
hamstring DER efforts to protect the wetlands. At die same time, the regulations are
being revised according to public comment, and it is my understanding that many of the
concerns of the ag community are being addressed pus part of that process. Hopefully, out
of thstt process will come someresponse that will btfhelpful to the ag community 4 want
to assure the farm community thatalithese comments arebeing considered by us, and ihe ■
final regulations will not restrict normal farming operations."
Atty. Gen. Hafer: Wetlands are important natural resources just as are
support efforts to preserve those important exceptional value wedands, but I alsorem
limited value wedands can be treated less rigidly. A permit waiver shouldfce giwi for
normal farming activities, including aquaculture and silvaculture, with jand
management practices and county conservation plans are being lf a fafmoS
rights to land are taken through the wedand delineation process, that farmej*itoiiMhavS*‘
recourse to tax credits as compensation for the taking.
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WETLANDS
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