The Pa. Department of Agriculture survived the state budget gauntlet in Harrisburg for Fiscal Year 2014-15 which began July 1. PSCFO wrote legislative leaders June 29 to say “Many of PSCFO’s sixty-plus agricultural organizations are directly affected by the staff capacity at PDA. In this case, a modest increase will stabilize the PDA budget and allow it to meet its directives from the General Assembly.” Following are a number of PDA budget line items compared with the last fiscal year.
Line Item 2014-15 Enacted Budget 2013-14 Available Change
General Gov’t Operations 25.269 million 22.703 million +11.3%
Ag Excellence 1.1 million 600,000 +83.3%
Farmers’ Market Coupons 2.079 million 2.079 million same
Ag Research 787,000 787,000 same
Promotion, Ed. & Exports 250,000 196,000 +27.6%
Hardwoods Promotion 350,000 350,000 same
Livestock Show 177,000 177,000 same
Open Dairy Show 177,000 177,000 same
Youth Shows 140,000 140,000 same
State Food Purchase 17.438 million 17.438 million same
Marketing & Research 494,000 494,000 same
Nutrient Management 2.714 million 2.714 million same
Conservation Districts 869,000 869,000 same
Land Scrip Fund 46.237 million 46.237 million same
(NOTE: This is not what Penn State Ag Research and Extension was budgeted for last year. Comparison is for the available funds, not the budget-approved amount.)
PA Preferred 550,000 550,000 same
UPenn Veterinary 28 million 28 million same
UPenn Infectious Disease 261,000 261,000 same
Updates