♦I . M ' M '4 II
VERNON ACHENBACH JR.
Lancaster Farming Staff
HARRISBURG (Dauphin
Co.) State Secretary of Agri
culture Samuel Hayes Jr. last week
announced a first draft plan of
action for the state Department of
Agriculture a first formal draft.
The draft action plan is. in
effect, a department “to-do” list
Last week it was reported in
Lancaster Farming why there was
a need for such an action plan, and
what it is expected to do
provide a catalyst for the coordi
nation and accomplishment of
bureau activities within the depart
ment, in conjunction with the
needs of the individuals and
businesses it serves, to achieve
more complete and effective sup
port and service to the agricultural
community and the residents of the
state to improve business oppor
tunities and profitablity.
In brief review of what was
reported last week. Secretary Hay
es revealed an 80-point list of
“actions” or goals the department
is to achieve. The list was created
through meetings between Hayes
and the department’s bureau lead
ers and deputy secretaries.
In a cover letter to the action
plan, Hayes calls upon others to
join in making suggestions for
additions to the action plan.
Hayes also prefaced a
review of the 80 sepa
rate goals with the
caveat that it be under
stood that priority has
not been assigned to the
goals. They are all to be
achieved, if they
haven't been achieved
already.
It was also to be
understood that there
ate more goals and ideas
for providing valuable
services, but the list was
kept at 80 in order to
establish a first draft
“We have more
inventive ideas; but
now, it is time to receive
the thoughts of our part
ners," Hayes stated in
the cover letter. “I invite
the General Assembly,
professional agricul
ture, and the citizens of
Pennsylvania to join in,
suggesting additional
ideas for our Action
Plan for Pennsylvania
Agriculture. For sure,
we should nurture our
agriculture together."
During the meeting
with farm media, the
plan was reviewed
through an inhousc
created, computer
generated video that
provided more details
and breakdowns of the
action plan.
The printed version
provides an “executive
summary" of the plan. It
follows, with some clar
itive information
included in parenthesis:
Action Plan For
Pennsylvania
Agriculture
Executive Summary
Convene an annual
Secretary’s Summit on
Agriculture which will
serve as an ongoing
symposium to address
all aspects of agricul-
State Agriculture
•Create an International Users
Guide to Pennsylvania
Agriculture.
•Prepare regional (regions of the
world) marketing plans to target
international customers by geo
graphic regions.
•Develop marketing plans for
agri-services. (Hayes said he con
sidered agricultural services to be
an agricultural product with exist
ing international marketing
accomplishments, as well as great
potential.)
•Conduct a pilot project for
promotion of Pennsylvania-grown
fruits and vegetables in over 100
food stores.
•Develop a promotion project
for Pennsylvania wines. (Pennsyl
vania is a leading national wine
producer with strong experts and
about 40 percent of product avai
able to market)
•Conduct a feasibilty study to
consider formation of a marketing
cooperative for Pennsylvania’s
agricultural products.
•Sponsor a seminar on “How to
Export Wood Products” with the
Pennsylvania Rural Development
Council. (Pennsylvania is one of
the nation’s strongest holdings of
hardwoods. The Northeast North
west and Mid-Western states, as
well as southern states are strong
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Secretary Unveils Action
timber production, but much is in
conifers converted into paper and
pulpwood, or used in the construc
tion of composite building mater
ials. Hardwoods are used in the
higher-valued furniture and
cabinetry building business.)
•Activate the regional hard
wood utilization groups in the
promotion of the Pennsylvania
Sustainable Forestry Initiative
(PA-SFI) by training loggers, edu
cating private landowners and con
ducting public outreach. (Much of
Pennsylvania’s forests arc private
ly owned and there are some lum
bering companies or businesses
that seek to profit through some
what deceptive practices. Some
outfits may promise an initial mar
ginally higher profit on the sale of
timber, though in the process
destroy future profits. Some have
used forestry harvest practices that
can strip a forested property of its
valuable lumber, while leaving it
either unfit, or improperly pre
pared for the regeneration of valu
able species. Educated landowners
and loggers can make better deci
sions for maintaining forested
properties for its highest and most
rewarding values.)
•Create an “Agribond” program
for first-time farmers. Though this
was not part of the published
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action plan, Hayes said he consid
ered it a likely addition to the
action plan. The agriband would
allow die government to provide
guarantees to allow banks to make
low-interest loans to first-time far
mers (it doesn’t mean those with
out any fanning experience).
•Recruit hardwoods companies
for Interbuild the world’s
largest construction and building
show.
•Participate in the USDA Fore
ign Agricultural Service “Ameri
can Style Wood Frame Housing
Seminar Series,” to develop trade
relationships and promote Pen
nsylvania wood products.
•Participate in the governor’s
trade mission to Asia.
•Initiate a contract for agricul
tural trade assistance in Mexico.
•Establish a food processing
relationship with the Republic of
Poland.
•Identify the agricultural trade
barriers to be considered by our
negotiators at the World Trade
Organization.
•Convene an aquaculture sum
mit and compile an economic
analysis concerning the potential
of aquaculture in Pennsylvania.
•Develop a plan to promote
agri-tourism.
•Conduct an annual
O CARGILL
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Unpa»t>f jFpnwjng,, »mrddy, L
Plan
Research Symposium” to present
results of research projects spon
sored by the Pennsylvania Depart
ment of Agriculture.
•In addition to tradition agricul
tural research projects, there wil be
emphasis placed upon future PDA
funded research in areas of critical
importance to agriculture and the
general public, to include:
a. International market
analysis and export opportunities
for Pennsylvania products and
services.
“Ag
b. Application of technology
in the Pennsylvania Department of
Agriculture from a marketing
perspective.
c. Identify new nutrient man
agement systems that are environ
mentally and economically
feasible.
d Feasible methods for the
suppression of agricultural odors.
e. Application of technology
in die PDA from a client-service
perspective.
•Good learners need food food
Initiate a food safety education
program as part of the PDA’s new
responsibilities few school cafetcri
a inspection, including a food safe
ty manual for schools
“Pennsylvania Food Products:
Serve them hot. serve them cold
(Turn to Pag* A 25)