Agriculture Survives State Budget Woes

budget paThe 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

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/current_and_proposed_commonwealth_budgets/4566

Posted in AG ONE Newsletter, State budget by Leave a comment

What Governor Vetoed in the 2014-2015 State Budget

budget paOn July 10, Governor Corbett signed the new state budget into law but expressed dismay in that the General Assembly did not pass pension reform, something he said had to be done.  To send a message, he vetoed $65 million in monies out of the funds allocated to the General Assembly.  He also vetoed items on which the media did not report:

  • Dept. Environmental Protection $150,000 (environmental program management)
  • Dept. Environmental Protection $700,000 (sewage facilities planning grants)
  • Treasury Department $45,000 (general gov’t operations)
  • Dept. Community & Economic Development $250,000 (financial institution grants)
  • Dept. Community & Economic Development $300,000 (Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority)
  • Dept. Conservation & Natural Resources $$500,000 (parks)
  • Labor & Industry $250,000 (general government operations)
  • Civil Air Patrol $100,000
  • Dept. General Services $5 million (rental, relocation and municipal charges)
  • Reduce Machinery & Equipment Loan Fund from $100 million to $85 million
  • Small Business First Loan Fund (for agriculture, tourism, manufacturing) from $100 to $95 million
Posted in AG ONE Newsletter, Legislation, State budget by Leave a comment

Agriculture’s Regulatory Agenda

PDA LogoAgriculture’s Regulatory Agenda

On July 19, the PA Bulletin published a list of proposed regulations for each agency.  PA Department of Agriculture had ten:  Domestic Animal (December 2014); Weights & Measures (September 2013); Commercial Feed (summer 2014); Pet Food Rules (summer 2014), Fertilizer Regulations (December 2015), Soil & Plant Regulations (December 2015), Clean & Green (August 2014), Conservation Easement Purchase Program (August 2014), PA Preferred (summer 2014), Pesticide Regulations (September 2014).  Details: http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol44/44-29/1552.html

Posted in AG ONE Newsletter, Regulations by Leave a comment

Legislative Updates July 2014

Legislative Pa. CapitolUpdates

  • House Bill 1996 (Lawrence-R-Chester) calling for transparency in milk pricing “over order premiums” (Milk Marketing Board fee per gallon of milk that is supposed to go back to dairy farmers) was reported out of the House Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee July 1 and was re-referred to the House Rules Committee.
  • Adopted by the House unanimously was House Resolution 930 (Hahn-R-Northampton) declaring August as “PA Produce Month”.
  • Signed into law by Governor Corbett were several laws dealing with hunting/fishing: Free fishing and hunting licenses for disabled veterans (SB 1090/Act 80, SB 1102/Act 81); Elk hunting tag (HB 2169/Act 116). In addition, the Governor also signed:
    • SB 1287 regarding snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles as Act 111
    • SB 1261 under the Dog Law administered by PDA increasing penalties for torture and murder of dogs used in law enforcement as Act 110
    • SB 177 regarding Lyme disease education as Act 83
  • Senate Bill 1188 (Vogel-R-Beaver) re-establishes regulatory oversight of the racing industry under the PA Gaming Control Board. Status: Passed the Senate and referred to the House Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee June 29, 2014.
Posted in AG ONE Newsletter, Uncategorized by Leave a comment