Lancaster Farming
By Charlene M. Shupp Espenshade

HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) - Everyday, Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff finds himself on the front lines of what has become a challenging issue in agriculture - the environment.

As the state's growing urban population continues to move into townships, issues that have faced Wolff include the passage of township ordinances restrictive to agriculture, House Bill 1222, and keeping farms profitable while protecting the environment.

House Bill 1222, passed by the General Assembly in December 2003 to address illegal township ordinances, was vetoed by Gov. Ed Rendell. Since the veto, Wolff and members of the Rendell Administration have been working to develop a proposal addressing the concerns addressed in Rendell's veto message.

Wolff has stressed the need for balance between environmental quality and farm economics.

"It is always important to balance environmental impact and economic impact when dealing with agriculture. Every one of our discussions (on HB 1222) has included balance between the two," said Wolff.

Rendell's proposal in response to HB 1222 is targeted for public release near the end of June.

Since becoming agriculture secretary in 2003, Wolff, a dairy farmer from Columbia County, has found himself working as an agriculture educator to township supervisors and rural residents.

"Agriculture-related education initiatives continue to build the bridge between the agriculture community and our neighbors," he said.

His message reinforces the saying "farmers are the best stewards of the land" and refers to the state's Nutrient Management Program as one example.

The "agriculture community has not ignored the potential pollution that could be the result of everyday farm practices," Wolff said.

"Not only do high-density animal operations cooperate with our staff to develop plans suited for their farms, but farms of all sizes continue to voluntarily expand their own environmentally sound farming practices."

An example of "agriculture education bridge-building" started under Wolff's tenure is the hosting of regional and state agriculture education workshops in conjunction with the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors and the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania.

Last year, Wolff hosted a farm tour at the state township supervisors meeting, taking them to farms and showing how modern agriculture works.

Farm tours and meetings Wolff credits with the tabling or defeating of many restrictive agriculture ordinances.

"Manure application is a continuous challenge. Rural residents and their local elected leaders often voice public concerns related to odor and manure control and related regulatory measures," said Wolff. "In cooperation with the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, we have been able to help raise the awareness of public officials about our continuous efforts toward odor control and improved water quality."

Using the environment to improve the economic health of a farm is an area that Wolff believes has potential. One program he refers to is Energy Harvest.

Last year, Wolff said that many farmers applied for grants to develop a wide range of projects from ethanol and biodiesel fuels to electric generation by methane digestors or windmills.

"Energy from renewable sources has numerous environmental benefits that are well-documented," he said. "But the economic potential is enormous. I would go so far as to predict that, just as farmers provided the stable, safe, and abundant food supply that made development of the rest of the American economy possible over the last 300 years, farmers can lead a renewable energy revolution, bringing down their own production costs as well as those of every other energy-dependent economic enterprise."

The future looks positive for renewable energy sources. However, Wolff said, "More work needs to be done in terms of ensuring that farmers can be paid a fair price for energy they produce in excess of their own needs in order to realize the full economic potential."

In the international environment, Pennsylvania agriculture continues to look for new trade opportunities.

Wolff, who has worked in the global marketplace with his dairy farm, is excited about the trade potential in Cuba. He led a trade mission to the country in the spring.

During the recently conducted trade mission, Wolff said that contracts were signed for the sale of apples and dairy livestock. Negotiations are under way for feed and processed food.

"Cuba is a new market opportunity, has a close proximity to the U.S., and is willing to purchase quality Pennsylvania products at a fair price. In addition, U.S. law dictates that all sales are on a cash-only basis. This all provides good sales opportunity for Pennsylvania producers.

"Cuba has a population equal to that of Pennsylvania and receives approximately two million tourists annually. There is market demand for a variety of products that Pennsylvania provides, such as apples, livestock, feeds, poultry, tomato products, and eggs.