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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT:
Victoria L. Stanish |
State Rep. Mike Hanna |
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TO: Rich Kerstetter, Editor
FROM: State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre
RE: Agriculture/new role as Ag Chairman for 2007-08 session
Agriculture is the number-one industry in Pennsylvania, and with good reason – agriculture and related businesses contribute about $45 billion to the state’s economy every year. As the recently appointed chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, I’ve had to learn a lot in a short time about the many areas this committee encompasses. I’d like to share some of that information with you, as well as some of the topics the committee will be looking at in the upcoming months.
This committee reviews all legislation relating to agriculture and rural development. It also oversees the state’s Farmland Preservation program and farmers’ market/food purchase programs for seniors and participants in the Women, Infants and Children program to encourage the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables at Pennsylvania farmers’ markets and roadside stands.
Agriculture and its related industries employ about one in six of Pennsylvania’s workers, and we have more working farms than any other northeastern state. Our agribusinesses produce milk, eggs, beef, poultry, apples, peaches, mushrooms, hay and many other important products that are sent all over the world.
As chairman of the agriculture committee, I’ll have voting power on a number of related boards, giving me meaningful input on decisions about important issues affecting agricultural businesses.
One of those important issues involves milk pricing and what’s fair to dairy farmers, which make up the majority of the agricultural businesses in the 76th Legislative District. We’ll be awaiting the decision of the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board on pricing, and afterward will review the decision with the possibility of formulating legislation.
Fuel consumption will also come under the jurisdiction of this committee because, like other states, Pennsylvania is making an aggressive effort to move away from dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels. Our state’s agribusinesses will play a major role in this process because they are the producers of crops like soy and corn that are being experimented with as sources of alternative fuels. These biofuels, along with the furnaces and other products used to burn them, are rapidly becoming part of a new and growing industry that will not only preserve our environment, but will also contribute to the economic growth of the state.
We’ll also be reviewing the state’s current dog law regulations to see if they are stringent enough to prevent mass-breeding facilities where conditions are not up to standard. Everybody agrees that we want to be sure that man’s best friend is well-taken care of, but we don’t want to punish the people who do a great job taking care of our dogs while we aggressively pursue those who are negligent.
Additionally, the agriculture committee will be focusing on ways to continue promoting “agritourism” to enhance knowledge of the state’s wineries, fairs, farmers’ markets and other businesses that draw both Pennsylvania residents and tourists from other states. Combining the Commonwealth’s two largest industries will boost economic development and provide more job growth in both sectors.
I’m excited for this opportunity and welcome your feedback on the agriculture topics that are important to you and our area. Call me or send me an e-mail through my Web site, www.pahouse.com/hanna. I look forward to hearing from you and working to preserve the farming legacy in the 76th Legislative District.
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