Over 70 members of the agricultural community in Chester County spent an evening at Octorara High School recently to share their concerns about the future of farming in Chester County. The meeting was organized by the Chester Delaware County Farm Bureau (CDCFB) – the largest county Farm Bureau in Pennsylvania.
To set the scene, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Vice President Chris Hoffman emphasized the important role agriculture continues to play in providing food and feed, providing employment and sustaining productive open space. CDCFB President Dan Miller explained that the meeting was designed to be a listening session and for farmers and the rural community to share their thoughts and opinions of what agriculture in the county needs to be able to be productive and profitable in the future.
The 70 attendees worked in nine small groups with a note-taker at each table to record all the opinions and comments. Land use was a consistent concern as townships are under constant pressure to expand commercial and housing areas. Urban sprawl should be curbed and effort directed to revitalizing existing urban areas. Careful planning is critical to ensure our preserved farms and best soils will continue to enable agriculture, ideally in contiguous areas, to contribute to our economy and landscape.
Regulatory pressures have been increasing and making it increasingly difficult to farm, particularly for small and Plain Sect farmers. Agencies need to decrease red tape and improve staffing at government agencies, such as the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), so that farmers can be helped to implement regulations such as those affecting soil conservation and implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act. There is a need to protect right of first use and water rights. Members of the farming and rural community also need to be involved in planning at the county and township level.
The average consumer has become increasingly separated from the reality of farming and has insufficient opportunity to learn about the production and safety of our food. Effort must be made to increase communication with consumers, particularly youth and promote opportunities for employment in the many aspects of agriculture and food production.
Maintaining the vital infrastructure of agriculture was considered to be critical. A centrally located Agriculture and Natural Resource Building/Facility would concentrate all those organizations serving farmers, facilitate collaboration and provide a convenient center for meetings.
Transitioning farms to the next generation is challenging and good planning is critical; however, access to funding can be a barrier. Appropriate funding sources should be established to encourage and enable young people to start up farming endeavors. The proximity of Chester County farms to an affluent and increasing population offers opportunities for value-added opportunities such as cheese production and products for the many farmers markets. Local municipalities need to figure out how to encourage farms to get involved in value-added businesses and income opportunities.
Duncan Allison
Media relations director for the Chester Delaware County Farm Bureau
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