Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) Delegates Approve New Policies on Solar Energy, Farm Conservation Data

CAMP HILL, Pa. – Pennsylvania Farm Bureau members serving as delegates to the 71st Annual Meeting approved a slate of new policies as part of the grassroots process which guides the organization and addresses emerging challenges in the agriculture industry, including solar energy development on farms, improving farmers access to meat processing, finding ways to deal with damage caused by wildlife and better data collection of on-farm conservation efforts.

Included in the slate of solar energy policies was support for programs that encourage the development of solar energy projects to occur on marginal farm ground and a strong recommendation to avoid the placement of solar facilities on the state’s most productive farmland.

Delegates from the organization’s 54 county Farm Bureaus also supported policy resolutions that will help additional meat processing facilities to open, or expand existing facilities, using state grants and incentives. Farmers also addressed ways to better address wildlife damages, including the creation of a management assistance program for the state’s elk herd.

In order to better facilitate conservation efforts, delegates also approved policy that recommends that state and federal agencies coordinate when collecting data and reporting on agricultural conservation practices to better capture the efforts that farmers are already implementing in meeting the water quality goals in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

“These policies will guide our efforts in the year ahead, as we begin to navigate new efforts to expand solar energy production in the state and continue to push for recognition of those conservation practices farmers are already implementing on their farms,” said PFB President Rick Ebert. “Our grassroots process is Farm Bureau’s greatest strength and it shows how engaged our members are on conservation efforts and responsibly growing new renewable energy sources.”

Hundreds of farmers from across the state attended Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s 71st Annual Meeting at the Hershey Lodge from November 15-17, to set policy for the statewide organization on issues affecting farm and rural families.

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 Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is the state’s largest farm organization, representing farms of every size and commodity across Pennsylvania.

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Delegates debate policy resolutions during PFB’s 71st Annual Meeting in Hershey.