A22-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 15, 2003
Ag’s Future, Ethanol Plans On Slate At Issues Forum
(Continued from Page A 1)
generates the most economic
spin-off in Lancaster County,
Baldrige said. Another 35 percent
of employment comes from the
growing service industry.
About one in five jobs in the
county are agriculture-related,
with a total of 7,000 workers in
production ag alone.
Beside employment opportuni
ties, Lancaster County agricul
ture makes a number of other
contributions to the economic
and general welfare of the area,
Baldrige pointed out.
Farms and rural culture are a
primary draw for the $1.3 billion
annual tourist business here. The
farm economy also makes a
major contribution to the tax
base while using only 7 cents of
the tax dollar.
Another benefit, coming more
into the spotlight in recent
drought years, is the crucial role
that open farmland plays in
groundwater recharge.
“The list goes on and on,”
Baldrige said. “There’s no deny
ing the significance of agricul
ture.”
However, because “Lancaster
County has among the most ex
pensive ag land in the U.S.” and
this farmland “is con
fined to small fields
and nearby neigh
bors,” the community
needs to take a differ
ent approach in
promoting a viable ag
riculture. according to
Baldrige.
“For agriculture to
continue its success,
we need to change the
message,” he said
This effort includes
more than preserving
farms, according to
Baldrige.
“I believe in farm
land preservation,” he
said. “It’s important,
but we shouldn’t let
that be the only mes
sage.”
Baldrige recom
mended five examples
of action to help keep
farms and agribusi
nesses thriving in the
county:
• Work to “preserve
the farmer” by educat
ing farmers and public
officials on crucial top
ics.
• Ensure industrial-
A lesson
well learned...
Lancaster
Farming’s
classified ads
get results!
zoned land is protected as well as
farmland in order for ag-process
ing facilities and other agribusi
nesses to exist.
• Bolster an “ag-friendly”
community through means such
as promoting on-farm businesses
and easing burdensome regula
tions.
• Develop a Lancaster brand of
farm products.
• Create a vision for the future
of the Lancaster County ag econ
omy.
“Our local economy is very in
terrelated,” Baldrige said. “We
need each sector to prosper.
“Agriculture is an important
industry in Pennsylvania, and
Lancaster is a fertile place. Let’s
not let it go at that.”
The forum also included an
update on the prospects of an
ethanol-producing plant in
southcentral Pennsylvania.
Scott Welsh, project manager
for Penn Mar Ethanol, LLC, said
that the group is working on final
site selection and full capitaliza
tion for an ethanol facility. A
group of investors has committed
to the project. Site selection is fo
cused on the area of Cumber-
(Turn to Page A 23)
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Scott Welsh and Tom Baldrige, front row, from left, were speakers at an ag issues
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