Farm lobby fighting proposed cuts

Apr 1, 2009      The Evening Sun

Richard Fellinger

Apr. 1, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- A first-generation farmer with just five years experience, Matthew Meals says he's worried the state is about to put a damper on his operation.

The hay farmer from Cumberland County said he relies heavily on programs facing the budget ax, such as assistance for crop insurance and agricultural research. And without them, he's not sure he can stay in business, he said.

"They're both key," Meals said.

Meals was among the farm advocates who were in Harrisburg Tuesday fighting to have agricultural funding restored in the next state budget.

Gov. Ed Rendell, trying to fill a massive budget hole, has proposed big cuts to the agricultural budget. Besides assistance for crop insurance and research, his budget plan would slash funding for conservation districts, animal health, youth programs, product marketing and hardwoods research and promotion.

The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau hosted a news conference Tuesday aimed at pressuring Rendell into restoring money to farm programs. They say they understand the need for cuts in a bad economy, but argue that the Rendell plan hurts agriculture more than other areas.

With the agriculture budget facing a 17-percent cut, compared to an average 8.8-percent cut for other areas, the farm bureau is asking Rendell to restore $7.7 million to the agriculture budget.

"There's plenty of work to do back on the farm this spring, yet farmers also have some work to do here at the state Capitol," farm bureau president Carl Shaffer said.

Their effort is backed by groups such as the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association, which represents food retailers and says the agriculture budget is important for food safety. Also, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation says cuts to conservation districts threaten clean water and the environment.

Rendell spokesman Chuck Ardo said every line item in the budget has its advocates, but the governor had to make "very difficult decisions in an unprecedented budget year."

Rendell has prioritized programs that directly affect the health, safety and welfare of Pennsylvanians, Ardo said.

"If he had to choose between education funding and hardwoods research and promotion, education funding would win every time," Ardo said.

Lawmakers who appeared at Tuesday's farm bureau event were Reps. Sam Rohrer, R-Berks, and Michael Hanna, D-Centre, who chairs the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.

To free up money for farm programs, Rohrer said the state should cut evenly across all departments, and especially scrutinize the education and public welfare budgets. Hanna said everything should be on the table.

"It's my belief that we should look very closely at a whole host of programs, and very carefully determine which ones to eliminate," Hanna said.

PROPOSED AGRICULTURE CUTS

Gov. Rendell's 2009-10 budget plan calls for the following cuts to agricultural programs:

Assistance for crop insurance: From $1.75 million this year to $700,000

Conservation districts: From $1.66 million this year to $1.19 million

Agricultural research: From $1.87 million this year to $500,000

Animal Health Commission: From $6 million this year to $4.85 million

Hardwoods research and promotion: From $760,000 this year to zero

Payments to PA fairs: From $3.9 million this year to $2 million

Product promotion and marketing: From $839,000 this year to zero

Youth farming programs: From $109,000 this year to zero

Newstex ID: KRTB-1031-33837214

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