04/22/24 - 117 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/9bh4zbtr
| Share this: | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Agriculture Budget Critical To Restoring Water Quality - Video Blog
|
|
The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee heard how critical restoring Department of Agriculture funding is to cleaning up Pennsylvania's watersheds and the Chesapeake Bay at a hearing on the agency'sbudget this week.
In a separate press conference with members of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Chairs Rep. Mike Hanna (D-Centre) and Sam Rohrer (R-Berks) both called for the restoration of agriculture funding.
Gov. Rendell proposed a 17 percent cut in the 2009-10 budget for the Department of Agriculture, much more than the average 8.8 percent cut other agencies received, including a 20 percent cut in funds for county conservation districts, nutrient management funds and other programs.
"Many members feel that one of the primary factors in determining their budget vote will be the fair and equitable funding of agriculture," said Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster), who serves as Majority Chair of the Committee. "Everyone has to share the pain of budget cuts, but many of us believe that the agriculture budget has been targeted for deep, painful and unfair reductions in the governor's budget proposal when compared to other state agencies."
At the Senate hearing, Brenda Shambaugh,Government Relations/Policy Specialist for the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation districts, Inc., testified about the vital role conservation districts play in preserving Pennsylvania’s natural resources, the worthwhile environmental activities districts perform on a daily basis, and the state appropriations for these services.
Video Blog: Testimony By Brenda Shambaugh
“This year we are starting from an even worse position than previous years in that we need an add-on of over one million dollars just to maintain what conservation districts had last year,” Shambaugh stated.
Shambaugh noted agencies such as the Department of Environmental Protection, Agriculture, and the State Conservation Commission would have to implement the programs that have been delegated and contracted to the conservation districts for every person, company, or entity that submits their applications for review, without additional state support.
As a reference point, in 2007 alone, there were almost 2,200 NPDES General and Individual Permits approved by the conservation districts and over 14,000 plans reviewed by conservation districts.
A similar story was relayed to Committee members concerning other programs such as the Nutrient Management Program, the Dirt and Gravel Roads Program, the Chesapeake Bay Program, and the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Program.
PACD is seeking dedicated sources of funding that will provide 50 percent cost share for basic staff positions and cost-of-living increases. One possible source of dedicated funding for conservation districts is through a severance tax or royalty program in Pennsylvania for extraction of Marcellus Shale gas deposits.
“We believe predictable allocations to the Conservation District Fund would be beneficial and significantly curtail the budgetary difficulties conservation districts currently face,” Shambaugh stated.
Shambaugh added, “It is undisputed that conservation districts provide much needed services to Commonwealth citizens to help them identify and resolve critical natural resource concerns. Our conservation districts deliver essential services that protect our soil, water and air for a reasonable cost.”
Matthew Ehrhart, Pennsylvania Office Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, said funding for county conservation districts was critical to support farmers installing best management practices to reduce nutrient and sediment runoff, but also to fully utilizing new resources made available through the federal Farm Bill and the new economic stimulus funding.
"Not only have farmers enhanced their operations, they've reduced sediment and nutrient loads to the Susquehanna and Potomac watershed and to the Chesapeake Bay," said Ehrhart. "Pennsylvania farmers have reduced nitrogen loads to the Bay by nearly 18 million pounds per years as compared to 1985 levels. For this effort we are truly grateful.
"Nevertheless, despite this progress we still have a considerable ways to go in the effort to restore our watersheds and meet the requirements imposed by the federal Clean Water Act," he explained. "For Pennsylvania to meet very immediate pollution caps, agriculture must reduce an additional 25 million poinds of nitrogen per year in just a few short years. By comparison, wastewater treatment plants and other point sources have just 2.3 million pounds per year of nitrogen reductions to achieve.
"This is not just a Chesapeake Bay issue. Total Maximum Daily Loads or TMDLs are already being applied to our local streams," Ehrhart said. "The costs of implementing TMDLs across the state will be substantial, but have not yet been fully calculated. The statewide total will be hundreds of millions (of dollars) in the impaired watersheds alone."
Ehrhart noted that demand for the newly-enacted REAP farm conservation tax credit program to fund best management practices was exceeded by applications for its $10 million in assistance the very first day.
"We have always depended upon agriculture to provide affordable and safe food. We are transitioning to also asking that they become primary providers of clean water and renewable energy," said Ehrhart. "It is imperative that we commit the research, funding and technical assistance necessary to facilitate that transition."
Joel Rotz, PA Farm Bureau, expressed concern with a proposed cut or elimination of 23 of 27 line items in the Department of Agriculture budget; a cut of over 17 percent, much higher than other agencies. He notedcuts in several areas, including conservation district funding. (full Farm Bureau release)
"These cuts come at a time of tremendous increase demand for professional and technical assistance they provide to farmers and local communities," said Rotz. "With production agriculture facing ever-increasing regulation and greater expectations being raised on environmental compliance for non-point sources related to water quality, it is difficult to comprehend why this vital service to accomplishing these goals continues to receive funding cuts when increases are sorely needed."
Recognizing the tough budget times, he asked the Committee to work to restore the agency's budget at least to the levels of other agencies which average an 8.8 percent cut. Christian Herr, PennAG Industries Association, in written comments to the Senate Committee, also highlighted the need to restore conservation district funding. "It is imperative that the County Conservation Districts receive firnding at a level that will allow growth in staff and equipment to respond to the needs of the agricultural community at a local level," said Herr. "All too often, the County Conservation Disticts are the first line of defense for issues ranging from nutrient management, water quality and erosion control. Without adequate, educated and hained Conservation District staff, many state programs will not be properly implemented and a lack of assistance will plaque the local communities." The County Commissioners Association of PA also provided their support for restoring conservation district funding, along with research funding for Penn State and more adequate funding forfarmland preservation. House Calls For Restoration Rep.Hanna said he supports increased funding for county conservation districts, which serve a range of agricultural and urban interests and participate in a wide variety of resource programs in 66 of the state's 67 counties.
"Although we face extreme challenges in this budget year, we must continue to provide support for those agriculture programs and services that move Pennsylvania forward while finding creative and innovative solutions to resolving the budget shortfall," Rep. Hanna said. "I will continue to advocate for sustained funding for the programs I outlined and many others."
Video of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee hearing is available online.
Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Committee and Sen. Michael O'Pake (D-Berks) serves as Minority Chair.
NewsClip: Outcry Over Agriculture Budget Cutbacks
|
|
|
4/3/2009 |
|
| Go To Preceding Article Go To Next Article |
