Blair County Farm Bureau Discusses Budget's Affect on Ag

Blair County Farm Bureau's meeting took place on Friday morning at Ritchey's Dairy to discuss how the recently signed state budget affected agriculture industries.

Those who gathered included local officials, Blair County commissioners, farmers, and FFA students from Tyrone.

Other topics that were discussed included, the avian flu, wildlife damage to trespassing, hunting regulations, and milk prices.

To wrap everything up, attendees were treated to a tour of Ritchey's Dairy, and ice cream after the tour.

According to the meeting's agenda, the Department of Agriculture's budget increased by nearly 10%, reaching around $228 million.

About $31 million is earmarked for poultry farmers affected by avian flu, covering testing costs and flock loss compensation.

"I appreciate everyone's effort in passing the state budget, especially since it ensures we have support if avian flu strikes," Blair County Farm Bureau President Laverne Nolt said.

Nolt also highlighted the allocation of over $33 million combined funding for the Penn School of Veterinary Medicine and Penn Medicine's Division of Infectious Disease for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

Blair County Conservation District's district manager, Donna Fisher, informed the group that roughly $35.75 million of the $50 million budgeted for the Clean Streams Fund would support the Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program.

This includes $6 million for the Clean Water Procurement Program, $5 million for the Nutrient Management Fund, $2 million for Stormwater grants and reimbursements, $1 million for the Acid Mine Drainage Abatement and Treatment Fund, and $250,000 for the Keystone Restricted Account.

"Blair County is set to receive a portion of these funds," Fisher said. "If the allocation follows the same pattern, we could see about $300,000 annually. This is the most significant amount the conservation district has had to distribute to farmers in years."

Fisher added that the district is accepting applications for funding until the end of August, with minimal conditions attached. "Farmers are required to contribute 10% to the project," Fisher said. "We aim to distribute the funds across Blair County."

Nolt also discussed the challenges facing farmers, citing USDA's Risk Management Agency's report that Pennsylvania ranked among the top states for crop losses due to wildlife damage, with over $20 million lost in corn and $15 million in soybeans in 2017.

In 2022, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service estimated that predators caused $232 million in livestock losses, and bird damage to crops exceeded $150 million annually, Nolt said.

House Bills 2106 and 2108 propose increasing penalties for hunting trespass, streamlining crop damage mitigation programs, requiring at least one farmer on the state Game Commission, creating a system for farmers to contact licensed hunters, and repealing the Sunday hunting ban. Similar Senate bills would also add a 10th seat to the Game Commission for a farmer-at-large.

"We're asking the Game Commission for more hunting opportunities but also tougher trespassing laws to prevent people from roaming our farms without permission," Nolt said.

The laws applied to side-by-side, ATVS, and quads, because they can cause significant damage to farms, he said.

"Four-wheelers can do more damage than deer," Nolt said.

Nolt hoped the General Assembly would pass the legislation when they reconvene in the fall.

He also addressed "Prop 12," which would mandate more space for animals raised for food, arguing that it would increase food costs without benefiting farmers.

Another legislative issue discussed was Senate Bill 1297, which concerns over-order premium reform. The Department of Agriculture defines over-order premium as an additional charge paid for milk sold above the minimum regulated price. In Pennsylvania, dairy farmers receive this state-mandated payment for Class 1 milk.

Farm Bureau Secretary Anthony Rice explained that the Senate bill seeks to involve the House and Senate agriculture committees in the Milk Board's decisions on over-order premium rates.

"Currently, the Milk Board has sole authority over these rates," Rice said. "SB 1297 would allow the agriculture committees to hold hearings, gather testimony, and vote on the matter."

Andrew Ritchey, owner of Ritchey's Dairy said during the tour, the business has been operating since 1940.

At one time, they competed with 24 other dairies in Blair County.

"In the past, our main business came from mom-and-pop shops and home deliveries since large grocery stores didn't exist," he said.

Ritchey attributed the success of the business to his grandfather who would knock on doors after reading birth announcements in local newspapers.

Now in its 85th year, Ritchey's Dairy processes about 32,000 gallons of milk weekly, along with 19,000 gallons of other beverages like tea and lemonade.

"We're grateful to have thrived for so long in Blair County," Ritchey said. "The Cove and Blair County will always be our home."