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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Mike Hanna |
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House and Senate agriculture committees
hold joint hearing on agricultural conservation
HARRISBURG, Aug. 19 – The House and Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs committees this week held a joint hearing to discuss the importance of agricultural conservation in Pennsylvania to protect the Chesapeake Bay.
State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, said this is a critical issue facing the agriculture industry in Pennsylvania.
"Farmers throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed's approximately 9 million acres of farmland need to work together to be not only stewards of our lands, but also stewards of the Chesapeake Bay through the implementation of innovative conservation practices," Hanna said.
"By reducing the amount of nutrients and sediment from our agricultural lands, we in Pennsylvania can lead the fight in helping to conserve this national treasure," he added.
Hanna said agriculture land uses contribute 56 percent of Pennsylvania's nitrogen loadings to the Chesapeake Bay, yet account for 80 percent of the nitrogen reductions. He said this is indicative of the great energy Pennsylvania farmers have exerted to achieve the ultimate goals of clean water and viable farms.
Testimony about the current issues facing the Chesapeake Bay and the thousands of acres of farmland along its tributaries was presented by representatives from the state departments of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Lancaster County Conservation District, Chesapeake Bay Commission and Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
The public hearing was part of Ag Progress Days, held each year in August to showcase the latest in agricultural research, best management practices and changing regulations in the agriculture industry.
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EDITORS NOTE: Print-quality photographs of Rep. Hanna at the hearing are available for download by clicking here and here.