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Since January 2023, about $85 million of the $154 million American Rescue Plan funds that Pennsylvania invested in the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program have been used to help more than 1,200 farmers improve their conservation practices. (Summit Art Creations/Adobe Stock)

More than fresh produce: PA farmers markets help local economies

This is National Farmers Market Week, but almost every week, fresh fruits and vegetables and local products attract customers to more than 8,000 …

The USDA claims its electronic tag requirements will prevent disease outbreaks and protect beef export markets. (Jackie Nix/Adobe Stock)

Smaller ranchers voice concerns about USDA electronic tag mandates

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will soon require electronic eartags for cattle and bison that cross state lines. The USDA says its rule will …

It's estimated that invasive pests destroy up to 40% of food crops and cause $220 billion in trade losses worldwide. (Lee/Adobe Stock)

USDA: Spring in PA is time to be on lookout for invasive pests

April has been "Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month," but the pests don't know that. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it's the …

Among young BIPOC farmers surveyed, 33% said getting access to land is

Young PA farmers urge Congress to help secure land access

Young farmers in Pennsylvania and across the country want Congress to help them, especially with fair and affordable land access, as they deal with …

Pennsylvanians can help save the Chesapeake Bay by using native grasses or other plants that don't require watering or fertilizing. This will help reduce or eliminate use of chemical herbicides and pesticides. (Chesapeake Bay Foundation)

Chesapeake Bay cleanup priorities for 2024

Pennsylvania waterways are drowning in pollution, with over 28,000 miles impaired according to the state. And cleanup is once again going to be a …

Around 80% of voters, regardless of political affiliation, believe preventing cruelty to animals is a matter of personal moral concern, according to a Data for Progress poll. (Adobe Stock)

Local meat producers in PA rally against EATS Act

Advocates for locally controlled family farms in Pennsylvania say a proposed amendment to the 2023 Farm Bill would gut states' ability to regulate the…

The Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint has set a deadline for watershed states to have pollution-reduction practices in place by 2025. (flownaksala/AdobeStock)

Halfmoon, Pequea Creek restoration project aims to restore watershed health

Pennsylvania has received more than $3 million in federal funding for watershed restoration projects. Conservation groups say it will help the state …

With 52,000 farms and 7.3 million acres of farmland, agriculture is a big business in Pennsylvania, accounting for approximately $83.8 billion in direct economic output and 280,500 jobs. (Kegfire/AdobeStock)

Farmer Education Bill to Tackle Impacts of Climate Change in PA

New federal legislation aims to help farmers in Pennsylvania and elsewhere share their knowledge of conservation practices as they face an increasing …

In 2020, nearly 3.4 million people, or about 26% of Pennsylvania's 13 million residents, lived in 48 rural counties in the Keystone State. (Gary L Hider/Adobe Stock)

Rural PA Mayor Puts Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funds to Work

A small Pennsylvania community is hoping Congress will remember the needs of rural areas as lawmakers negotiate the final, contentious debt ceiling …

The Spotted lanternfly is native to China and was first spotted in Pennsylvania in September 2014. They are invasive and can be spread long distances by people who move infested material or items containing egg masses. (ondreicka/Adobe Stock)<br />

USDA Warns Pennsylvanians to Protect Plants from Invasive Pests

April is Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is warning Pennsylvanians that it's the best time of …

The Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint calls for Pennsylvania to reduce nitrogen runoff by 40% by 2025. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Agrees to Settlement in Chesapeake Bay Pollution Lawsuit

The Environmental Protection Agency has reached a tentative settlement in a lawsuit over the agency's failure to make Pennsylvania abide by the same c…

In the Keystone State, 474,000 cows produce more than 10 billion pounds of milk annually. (Adobe Stock)

Grant Money Geared to 'Keep Milk Local' in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania dairy processors and farmers can apply for grants to assist them with upgrading their facilities, as part of a larger effort to keep …

The Susquehanna River begins in upstate New York and flows 284 miles through Pennsylvania, before reaching Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay. (Christian Hinkle/Adobe Stock)

Report: PA Actions Key to Chesapeake Bay Restoration

A new report says there's hope for restoring the Chesapeake Bay - if Pennsylvania does more to meet its clean-water commitments. The 2022 State of …

Forty-eight of Pennsylvania's 67 counties are classified as rural, and the Keystone State has the third-largest rural population in the nation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. (Christian Hinkle/Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

PA Democrats 'Showed Up' for Rural Voters

In Pennsylvania and across the country, Democrats have struggled to gain support from rural voters in recent elections, but this year's midterms …

Two major rivers in Pennsylvania are part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: the Susquehanna, with a watershed of 21,000 square miles, and the Potomac, with 1,600 square miles. (Michael/Adobe Stock)

Report: PA Lags in Chesapeake Bay Restoration Goals

The Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint has deadlines for Pennsylvania, and other states in the watershed, to implement practices to reduce water-…

The pilot program in the CHIPS Act is based on legislation known as the RECOMPETE Act, written by U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Wash. (Sherman Cahal/Adobe Stock)

An Asset for Distressed Rural Communities in PA

A little-known facet of the CHIPS and Science Act, passed in Congress this summer to boost the semiconductor industry, could benefit areas of rural …

Pennsylvania's 58,000 farm families continue to care for over 7.7 million acres of farmland. (asafaric/Adobe Stock)

Inflation Reduction Act Seen as 'Win' for PA Family Farms

President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law Tuesday, which conservation groups see as a major victory in the battle against …

Farmer Steve Groff, left, and Mark Myers of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service prepare to bury some cotton underwear on Groff's farm in York County. The underwear will be dug up in 60 days and the level of decomposition will be an indicator of the soil's health. (Kelly O'Neill/Chesapeake Bay Foundation)

Underwear Underground? Campaign Aims to Educate PA on Soil Health

A campaign this month is challenging Pennsylvanians to learn about the health of their soil and neighborhood microbes by planting underwear in their f…

Pennsylvanians who suspect their poultry is infected with avian influenza can report concerns 24 hours a day, seven days a week to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic<br />Services at 717-772-2852, option 1. (Adobe Stock)

Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu Found at Lancaster County Poultry Farm

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has confirmed a positive case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in a flock of commercial layer chickens …

One-third of Chesapeake Bay's watershed is dedicated to farming, which is why reducing agricultural runoff is such a big part of cleaning up the watershed. (Adobe Stock)

Regenerative Farming Can Help PA Reach Pollution-Reduction Goals

Chesapeake Bay states have until 2025 to implement practices to reduce watershed pollution, and a new report shows "climate-smart" farming can help …

Half of the fresh water that flows into Chesapeake Bay comes from Pennsylvania. (Adobe Stock)

Report: PA Behind in Goals for Chesapeake Bay Pollution Reduction

With a fast-approaching deadline, Chesapeake Bay Foundation's assessment of multistate progress shows Pennsylvania remains far behind in meeting its …

According to Restore Pennsylvania, the state's broadband initiative, achieving high-speed internet access throughout the state will require between $480 million and $715 million. (Adobe Stock)

Infrastructure Bill's Broadband Funds to Support Rural Pennsylvanians

MILL CREEK, Pa. -- The trillion-dollar infrastructure bill passed by Congress last month includes $65 billion to provide better internet access to …

Organizers with the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership say they hope to hit their halfway goal of plating 5 million trees by the end of 2022. (Adobe Stock)

PA Groups Planting Trees as Part of "10 Million By 2025" Goal

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Now through November, Pennsylvania groups will plant an estimated 300,000 trees for fall, as part of a goal of 10 million new …

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and others have filed suit against the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to hold Pennsylvania accountable for polluting the bay. (Adobe Stock)

Legislation Could Bring Funding to PA for Chesapeake Bay Cleanup

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania is behind on its goal to reduce pollution into Chesapeake Bay, and clean-water proponents say legislation in …

A white paper from ReImagine Appalachia estimates that reforestation of mountaintop removal sites could absorb 8% to 10% of carbon emissions in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. It's the type of project a new CCC could take on. (Adobe Stock)

Casey's Civilian Conservation Corps Could Help Fight Climate Change

HARRISBURG, Pa. - U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., wants to bring back the Civilian Conservation Corps, a public-works program from the 1930s that created …

Senate Bill 465 will offer funding to help farmers reduce runoff into local streams and protect their long-term viability. (Photo: CBF)

Agriculture Conservation Bill Wins Praise

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Farmers and conservationists are praising a bill introduced in the Pennsylvania Senate that would bring funding to stop …

Some older, low-producing gas wells release more methane into the air than they capture for sale. (evgenii/Adobe Stock)

Groups Call for Regulating Smaller Sources of Methane

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Environmental groups say actions in Washington and Harrisburg to curb methane emissions are major steps forward, but they see a big …

Pennsylvania is increasing forest buffers that keep sediment and nutrient pollution from reaching waterways, but a new report says more must be done. (CascadeCreatives/Adobe Stock)

Report: PA Key to Chesapeake Bay Restoration

HARRISBURG, Pa. - After years of weakening environmental regulations, a new report says there's hope for restoring Chesapeake Bay but Pennsylvania …

By Oct. 17, new COVID-19 infections in rural areas had reached record highs, four weeks in a row. (JackF/Adobe Stock)

COVID Spreading Fast in Rural PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Seven rural counties in Pennsylvania were in the "red zone" for new COVID-19 infections last week as the pandemic spread rapidly in …

The Pennsylvania DEP has identified agricultural runoff as the source of pollution for 5,765 miles of impaired waterways. (World Travel Photos/Adobe Audition)

Cost-Share Bill Could Benefit PA Farmers, Water Quality

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A new bill in the General Assembly could help Pennsylvania farmers reduce the amount of polluted runoff in rivers and streams and …

Pennsylvania's plan fails to meet commitments for reductions in nitrogen pollution from agriculture and other sources. (jonbilous/Adobe Stock)

EPA Sued for Approving 'Inadequate' Clean-Water Plans for PA, NY

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Clean-water advocates are suing the Environmental Protection Agency for approving plans they say will fail to meet required …

Agriculture accounts for 93% of the nitrogen pollution reductions needed to meet Pennsylvania's Clean Water Blueprint commitments. (asafaric/Adobe Stock)

Report: PA Losing Ground in Clean-Water Efforts

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A new report shows Pennsylvania needs to do much more to meet its goal under the Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint. Three …

To benefit pollinators, the Giant Co.'s new solar farm has been seeded with flowering plants throughout the site. (Center for Pollinators in Energy)

Pollinator Solar Array Provides Dual Benefits

CARLISLE, Pa. -- A solar-array project unveiled in Carlisle on Monday will not only generate renewable power, but will also provide real benefits for …

Agriculture continues to be a major source of nitrogen pollution flowing into the Chesapeake Bay. (CascadeCreatives/Adobe Stock)

EPA on Notice: Enforce Clean-Water Mandate or Be Sued

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The Environmental Protection Agency could face federal lawsuits if it doesn't take action against states not meeting their …

About 30,000 students have participated in SWEEP since it began 30 years ago. (Chesapeake Bay Foundation)

Trading Classrooms for Canoes to Study Water Conservation

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Students soon will be exploring local waterways by canoe as they learn how streams work and the importance of clean water…

A landslide insurance bill introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly could help deal with disasters brought on by climate change. (trekandphoto/Adobe Stock)

"State of the States" Report Shows Progress, Promise for PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- There's good news for Pennsylvania in a new "State of the States 2020" report. Stateline's annual report covers five major topics …

Pennsylvania's clean water plan has an annual funding gap of more than $300 million. (Chesapeake Bay Foundation)

EPA Fails to Hold PA Accountable as Clean Water Plan Falls Short

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania's Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan for reducing pollution flowing into Chesapeake Bay can't meet its 2025 goals…

Pennsylvania farmers harvested oysters, set crab traps and tested the nitrogen content of Chesapeake Bay water during a three-day, hands-on learning experience. (Chesapeake Bay Foundation)

PA Farmers, Watermen Find Common Ground on Chesapeake Bay

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania farmers and conservation professionals just spent some time on Chesapeake Bay to gain firsthand experience with the …

A new report confirms improving agricultural land-management practices will be critical to fighting climate change. (Dusan Kostic/Adobe Stock)

Report Highlights Role for Farming in Slowing Climate Change

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A new report says farming has an important role to play in fighting climate change. The Climate Change and Land Use report …

Pennsylvania�s Lake Erie shore includes parks and natural areas that need protection to ensure water quality and preserve wildlife habitat. (Susan Vineyard/Adobe Stock)

Candidates Pressed for Clean Water Policies

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Environmental groups want the presidential candidates to lay out what they'll do to clean up the Great Lakes and protect …

Pennsylvania is far behind other Chesapeake Bay-area states in reducing water pollution from agriculture and stormwater runoff, according to a new report. (George Sheldon/Adobe Stock)

PA Efforts to Meet Clean-Water Goals Falling Short

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania has fallen far behind in its commitment to reduce pollution that flows downstream to Chesapeake Bay, according to a …

The proposed changes would remove protections from many small streams and wetlands. (pxhere)

Time Almost Up for Comments on Proposed Clean Water Act Changes

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Monday will be the last day of the public comment period on proposed changes to the Clean Water Act that environmentalists …

Chesapeake Bay is in danger of increased pollution from rivers and streams. (mcfisher/Pixabay)

Chesapeake Bay More Polluted for First Time in Decade

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Chesapeake Bay became more polluted last year for the first time in a decade according to a new report from the Chesapeake …

Mehoopany Creek in Wyoming County currently is protected by the

Drinking Water at Risk? Groups Question Clean Water Rule Rollback

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Negative reaction from conservation groups was swift to a Trump administration proposal on Tuesday to remove federal clean-…

SB 780 would require insurance companies to cover telemedicine-provided health services. (Pixabay)

Time Running Out to Pass Telemedicine Bill

HARRISBURG, Pa. – With the state legislative session coming to a close, advocates are still hoping a bill that would expand options for …

Cover crops promote soil health and control erosion and nutrient runoff, but support for them in a new Farm Bill is uncertain. (TheDigitalArtist/Pixabay)

Farm Bill Could Help or Hinder Clean-Water Efforts

LANCASTER, Pa. - The federal Farm Bill expires on Sept. 30, but different versions of its replacement could have a big impact on Pennsylvania's clean-…

The EPA has found chlorpyrifos residue at levels not considered safe on fruits and vegetables in grocery stores. (Pixabay)

Court Urged to Overturn EPA Refusal to Ban Pesticide

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The EPA must be ordered to ban a pesticide known to cause brain damage in children. That's the message delivered to a federal …

More than 35,000 family farms are in the Pennsylvania portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. (12019/Pixabay)

Bay's Water Getting Cleaner but Hard Work Ahead

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Chesapeake Bay is getting cleaner, but a new analysis says much more needs to be done to clean up pollution coming from …

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PA: Rural/Farming