On February 4, Governor Tom Wolf presented his proposal for the State Budget beginning July 1, 2020.  This special issue of AG ONE Newsletter will describe Governor Wolf’s budgetary vision for many agricultural budget items.  PA Department of Agriculture hearings are scheduled for February 26 at 10:00 a.m. (House Appropriations Committee) and March 2 at 10:00 a.m. (Senate Appropriations Committee). The Senate Appropriations Committee is holding a hearing on the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine on March 2 at 1:00 p.m. and Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Extension at 3:00 p.m. the same day.  Check PCN for viewing schedule.

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Budget Item   (state funds)                                        Current FY                Proposed

Agriculture Dept. General Gov’t Ops.                   33.731 million             33.502 million

    (NOTE: Staff complement increases by one in the next fiscal year –for conservation.)

Biosecurity

Ag Preparedness Response Fund                            4.0 million                   same

    (NOTE:  Includes Spotted Lanternfly)

Conservation/Infrastructure/Preservation

Dirt, Gravel & Low Volume Roads                        35.0 million                 same

Conservation District Fund                                     8.422 million               7.585 million

Ag Conservation Easement Purchase                     40.0 million                 same

Chesapeake Bay Ag. Source Abatement Fund (DEP)   0                          3.974 million

Community Conservation Grants (DCNR)           6.120 million               6.0 million

Education/Research

Penn State Extension & Ag Research                     54.960 million             same

U of Pitt Rural Education Outreach                       3.346 million               same

PA Fairs

Grants (Race Horse Development Trust Fund)         4.0 million                   same

Workforce Investment                                              4.5 million                   4.5 million

PA Farm Show General Operations                       12.827 million             12.548 million

Farm Products Show Fund                                      5.0 million                   same

    (Transfer from Horse Race Development Fund)

     NOTE:  Other income for Farm Show in FY 19-20 came from parking (2.385 million), rental                  (3.631 million), concessions (1.248 million) and 420,000 from exhibits). 

Nutrition

Farmers Market Food Coupons                              2.079 million               same

PA Ag Surplus System                                              1.5 million                   2.5 million

Veterinary & Animal Health

Animal Health & Diagnostic Comm.                      7.3700 million             5.370 million

UPenn School of Veterinary Medicine                    31.660 million             same

UPenn Center Infectious Diseases                           295,000                       same

Equine Toxicology & Research Lab                       13.0 million                 5.896 million

PA Vet Lab                                                                5.309 million               same

    (Above two items funded by Race Horse Development Trust Fund)

OTHER LINE ITEMS

Centers for Ag Excellence                                        2.8 million                   same

Center for Rural PA (General Assembly)             1.128 million               same

PA Milk Marketing Board                                       2.956 million               2.840 million

PA Preferred                                                             3.205 million               same

Youth Shows                                                             169,000                       same

Nutrient Management Fund                                    7.217 million               6.329 million

Volunteer Company Loan Fund                             25.0 million                 20.0 million

 

Resource: PDA begins on Page 341; Special Funds begin on Page 780.

https://www.budget.pa.gov/PublicationsAndReports/CommonwealthBudget/Documents/2020-21%20Proposed%20Budget/2020-21%20Executive%20Budget%20Book%20-%20Web%20Version.pdf

ELIMINATED IN FY 2020-21 State Budget Proposal

Agriculture Promotion, Education, Exports          553,000                       0

Agriculture Research (not Penn State)                     2.187 million               0

Food Marketing & Research                                   494,000                       0

Hardwood Promotion                                               474,000                       0

Livestock Show                                                         215,000                       0

Livestock & Consumer Protection                          1.0 million                   0

Open Dairy Show                                                     215,000                       0

Rural Leadership Training  (DCED)                      100,000                       0

Horse Racing Purse Account                                   162.714 million           0

Racing Programs                                                      32.543 million             0

Horse Drug Testing                                                  10.662 million             0

NOTE: Horse Racing Development Fund monies diverted to create a new state scholarship fund.

TAX CREDIT PROGRAMS

Resource Enhancement& Protection (REAP)       13.0 million                 same

Mobile Telecom Broadband Investment                5.0 million                   same

Tax Credits for Beginning Farmers                        0                                  5.0 million