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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. David Kessler D-Berks |
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Kessler: 2 Berks farms among 13 OKd for 'PATH to Organic' transition program
HARRISBURG, Dec. 9 – State Rep. David Kessler announced that Pennsylvania's new "Path to Organic" farming transitions program, which he created, has approved 13 applications from farmers – including two from Berks County. One of the Berks County farms is a 188-acre operation.
The 13 farms range up to 280 acres and include all major categories: dairy, beef, poultry, orchard and vegetable, said Kessler, D-Berks, vice chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.
Kessler and state Agriculture Department officials met recently with the farmers to explain how the program will work. Kessler met extensively with the Rodale Institute as he developed the program.
"As far as I'm aware, this is the first state or privately funded organic transition program of its kind or scope in the country. A key part of this program is that it will provide technical assistance in organic transition as well as doing periodic soil organic matter testing and water quality testing throughout the three-year period and beyond. This will allow us to measure the improvements in soil and water quality," Kessler said.
"Organic practices can make farming more profitable by lowering expenses, while also helping the environment. Path to Organic will provide temporary financial aid during the transition period to dairy, beef, vegetable and other crop farmers who want to convert from conventional to organic agriculture. Crop farmers who switch to organics typically see lower yields during the first two to four years, but as the soil returns to a more natural state, their yields are the same as before, or better," Kessler said.
Kessler said all Pennsylvanians will share in the environmental benefits and other advantages of organic farming:
- Cleaner water: Organic methods virtually eliminate the use of pesticides and other chemicals. They will reduce the amount of nitrogen entering local drinking water supplies.
- Saving taxpayer money: Pennsylvania is facing a federal mandate to reduce the amount of nitrogen going into the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The nitrogen reduction that organic farming can achieve could save Pennsylvania taxpayers millions of dollars.
- Cleaner air: Organic farming methods can sequester up to 7,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per acre per year. If every farm in Pennsylvania used organic no-till practices, the effect would be equal to taking 2 million to 3 million cars off the road in terms of reducing emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas pollutant.
- Healthier food, healthier people: The Rodale Institute reports that 11 important nutrients were on average 25 percent higher in organic foods compared to conventional foods, based on 220 scientific comparisons.
- Preserving farmland: This initiative will help more farmers to keep farming.
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