Senator Brubaker holds Agriculture Committee meeting

Presents members with comments gathered during statewide listening sessions

HARRISBURG – Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee members approved two resolutions yesterday and received a summary of all comments received during a statewide series of listening sessions, Committee Chairman Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster) said.

The Committee approved Senate Resolution 139, designating August 2007 as Pennsylvania Produce Month, and Senate Resolution 114, which urges Congress and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use dairy farmers’ cost of production as part of the method for calculating Federal order minimum milk prices. Both resolutions were approved unanimously.

"Some of the biggest concerns we heard during the Committee’s listening sessions this spring were from dairy farmers, who have been suffering through a very difficult financial situation," Brubaker said. "I am very pleased that my Committee continues to actively monitor the industry and the Federal Farm Bill reauthorization process to ensure that the success and viability of our dairy industry is maintained."

In addition, Brubaker provided Committee members with a document summarizing the concerns, suggestions and considerations received from listening sessions earlier this year. The Building a Vision for Rural PA series comprised eight sessions across the Commonwealth, with stops in Philadelphia, Ephrata, Duquesne, Waymart, Lebanon, Gallitzin, Leesport and Mercer.

"We received a wealth of valuable information from the individuals and organizations who attended the listening sessions, which my Committee will now use to build a comprehensive agenda for the remainder of the 2007-2008 session and beyond," Brubaker said.

Several members of the Committee expressed their appreciation of the listening session process during the meeting.

"The listening sessions were very helpful, and now it’s up to us to take hold of these comments and thoughts and make something happen in response," said Senator Michael O’Pake (D-Berks), who serves as the minority chairman of the Committee.

"It was very exciting and informative to have a listening session in Philadelphia," said Senator Shirley Kitchen (D-Philadelphia). "The connection between urban areas and local farms is something we all agree is important, and I absolutely think that the input gathered will prove to be very valuable."

State Senator Mike Waugh (R-York), vice chair of the Committee, agreed. "I would like to congratulate you and commend you for kicking off your chairmanship in such a proactive way and in an open and fair manner that really touched constituents across the state. The Ag Committee does a lot more than just deal with production agriculture, which is obvious from the number of other categories that ended up on this summary list."

Brubaker indicated that he has asked Committee members to provide their priorities from the summary document by August 1 so the Committee can then move forward with crafting a broad and far-reaching agenda.

The summary of listening session comments will be available on the Committee’s web site at www.senatorbrubaker.com/agriculture as will written testimony submitted at the sessions.

Contact:

Kristin Ebersole, Executive Director
Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee
717-787-4420