Answer Farm Questions
Question: Many farmers and their organizations advocate a “bottle bill” that would
place a deposit charge on beverage containers to motivate consumers to recycle these
containers rather than discard them as litter over the countryside. From statistical
reports, deposit charges on beverage containers has reduced litter in other states. But
in Pennsylvania, some people say, political pressure from special interest groups keep
this kind of legislation from passing. Even the proposal to initiate a state referendum
on the ballot in November has been stymied in committee. What are your views on the
bottle bill concept?
Gov. Casey: I know the litter problem is a separate problem from the recycling prob
lem in many respects. I have to say, though, that particurarly in view of the uncertain
impact of the bottle bill on the market, I would like to give the new law at least a year to
function to see how it works, to see what markets develop, and then keep an open mind on
the referendum issue. We’re concerned about developing markets for recyclable pro
ducts and we are going to need at least a year of experience to really make that judgment
Then at that time we can relook at the issue.
We have been very stomg on all aspects of environmental policy. It’s been one of the
keystones of what we have done. In addition, we have, as you know, a very aggressive
program through Penn Dot right now, where we spend $400,000 in a multi-media cam
paign urging our citizens to stop littering. And we have the new adopt-a-highway prog
ram that has been very successful in recruiting business firms and non-profit groups to
help pick up this litter. So, we are very supportive of recycling in small communities, and
we are supportive of the anti-litter efforts that are essenstial to protect the farm population
from this poliferation of bottles and cans they must deal with. I would like to come back
and visit it again in a year when we have some idea how the markets are working out
under the new act.
Atty. Gen. Hafer: I support the bottle bill legislation that calls for a 5 cent deposit on
any bottle holding less than a gallon. Discarded glass and aluminum bottles and cans are
uhsafe for animals and machinery. Leadership must be shown from the top down and the
governor should insist on bottle bill legislation.
Question; During the recent state budget negotiations, funding for the FFA Found
ation became quite controversial The deletion and eventual restoration of these funds
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in the budget seemed to bring into focus the frustration of the farm community that
benefits of the FFA program have been increasingly overlooked in the state’s edua
tional system . How important is the FFA program in the public school system? Why is
it or why is it not important?
Gov. Casey: Well, it is important. And the specific enactment that you are referring to,
that was a legislative initiative. The money did finally appear in the budget, through Sam
Hays’ initiative. We normally do that as part of, in other words, when we start the budget
process, all the legislative initiatives for the proceeding year are removed, knowing that’
they are going to be restored as part of the legislative process. So it wasn’t a case of any
lack of confidence in that program, or in any way to downgrade the program. It was part
of the normal budgetary process, and it was restored through the effort of Representative
Hayes.
The broader question is that I know the future farmers program, witnessed and worked
with those kids for a long time. We have a group from the Northeast that is very active.
It’s a good program and I suppport it. I think what we can do, in addition, is to ask the rural
education task force that I announced at the rural conference earlier this year, to examine
that process for a better way of doing it. And maybe we can, in the future, include it in the
budget as a line item in the ag budget I don’t know how Sam Hayes would feel about it
but I would be open to it.
Atty. Gen. Hafer: The FFA program and vocational agriculture as a whole is critical to
the future of Pennsylvania agriculture. Agriculture education must be expanded and
advanced to help meet world trends and to provide the support and leadership necessary
for our youth. Casey cut funding for the FFA Foundation and vocational agriculture in his
budget But the Republicans put the funding back in at more appropriate levels. As Gov
ernor, I would exert that leadership through funding to the FFA Foundation and through
insuring full time staff representation in the education department for a vocational educa
tion specialist.
Question: The poultry industry in Pennsylvania lives in fear of a disease called
Salmonella Enteritidis or “SE.” Many people in the industry think the federal task
force rules on SE tracebacks are too severe. Despite that, Pennsylvania, which controls
interstate shipments of shell eggs,follows the federal rules. These rules put some pro
ducers in a position where they may not be able to survive. What is your opinion on the
SE crisis and what can be done to make sure the consumer is protected without devas
tating the poultry industry that constitutes a major positive economic force in the state
and provides us with one of nature’s most nutritious foods at a very reasonable price?
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 27, 1990-A2l
SALMONELLA
Gov. Casey: As you know, Secretary Boyd
Wolff and Secretary Mark Richards are working
losely together on this issue. I certinly recognize
U there ate many links in the food distribution
tain. And it’s unfair to isolate the fanner as one
M the only person, to concentrate on for the prob
:m. I don’t agree with that. More importantly, the
and the agricultural community had a dialogue
this whole issue. They suppported legislation
it requires food establishments to be required to
mgerate eggs, for example. In addition, the PDA
funding four research projects on salmonella right
'w. We have a full-time person in avian health
>rking on this problem. It’s important to highlight
need to educate institutional food operators and
, public so that safe food handling practices are
Mowed. This is very important to the prevention of
We encourage all of these efforts and want to
msify them, because I know it’s really a threat, a
ible threat to the entire poultry industry.
Atty. Gen. Hafer: The Pennsylvania poultry
lustry has supported efforts to get legislation
ich would mandate refrigeration of eggs at 55
:grees to limit growth of SE bacteria. But the
\sey Adminstration will not budge from its 45
ree requirement, a requirement many poultry
rations cannot possibly meet. My solution
juld be threefold: first I support legislation similar
that under consideration that takes steps to insure
\ximum cleanliness at all stages of egg production
packaging. I believe food wholesalers and
toilers must be educated and mandated to do a bet-
job of storing and handling eggs to prevent the
wth of SE bacteria. And consumers must be
taught how to properly handle, store and prepare
eggs and egg products.
SUMMARY POINTS
Question: As a summary of your feelings about
agriculture, if you could talk personally to each of
Lancaster Farming’s 200,000 readers, what would
you tell them?
Gov. Casey: First of all, I would remind them I
got the PFA Bam Raiser award, of which I am very
proud. I would tell them that we kept every promise
we made to the ag community in our 1986 campaign
about farmland preservation, the animal heath com
mission, and independence for producer financed
and run promotion boards. We have fought side by
side with fanners on the tax reform issue.
So that when we look at all the increases in sup
port for agriculture across the board, I think that our
interest and the interest of the agricultural commun
ity have been identical. We have had a strong rela
tionship, and I would like that to continue.
Ally. Gen. Hafer: The men and women involved
in Pennsylvania agriculture are one of our most pre
cious resources. You deserve the respect and sup
port of state government because of the important
economic, social and environmental role you play.
Agriculture will not be taken for granted in the Haf
er adminstration. Elect me and I’ll be a full time far
mer’s advocate in Harrisburg, consulting regularly
with your leadership to make the future of Pennsyl
vania agriculture a future of growth.