Governor Shapiro Visits Penn State’s Annual Ag Progress Days, Highlighting His Administration’s Historic Investments in Ag Innovation to Support Pennsylvania’s Farmers, Growers, and Producers

Pennsylvania Furnace, PA – Wednesday, Governor Josh Shapiro joined Pennsylvania
Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, Penn State University leadership, elected
officials, and hundreds of agricultural leaders and producers at the Penn State College
of Agricultural Sciences’ annual Ag Progress Days luncheon to highlight his
Administration’s ongoing commitment to supporting Pennsylvania’s farmers, growers,
and producers — and the Shapiro Administration’s continued investments in the
Commonwealth’s agricultural industry.
Pennsylvania’s agriculture sector is a major economic driver for the Commonwealth —
contributing $132 billion annually to the economy and supporting nearly 600,000 jobs.
The Governor’s first two budgets delivered historic support for Pennsylvania agriculture,
and his 2025-26 proposed budget builds on that progress with investments to spur
innovation, protect against animal disease, and strengthen the Commonwealth’s food
supply chain.
“Pennsylvania farmers, growers, and producers are the backbone of this
Commonwealth — they do the noble work of putting food on our tables every day,”
said Governor Shapiro. “Over the last two years, I’ve spent a lot of time on farms
across the Commonwealth, listening to our farmers and seeing firsthand both the
challenges they face and the incredible work they do to power our economy. We’ve
made historic investments to help them innovate and grow — from funding the PA Farm
Bill, to launching the first-in-the-nation Agricultural Innovation Grant Program, to
opening new Centers of Excellence, and expanding PA Preferred. We’ve delivered
commonsense solutions that lower costs, open new markets, and strengthen the entire
agricultural industry – and under my Administration, Pennsylvania will continue leading
the way in driving economic growth in our agriculture sector and I will keep fighting for
our farming families.”
Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has brought Democrats and Republicans together
to invest in new technologies, strengthen supply chains, and expand economic
opportunity for farmers, growers, and producers. Pennsylvania is home to more than
50,000 farms, all of which play a critical role in feeding families, supporting rural
communities, and sustaining the Commonwealth’s rich agricultural heritage.
The Governor’s first-in-the-nation Agricultural Innovation Grant Program and other
targeted investments are creating jobs, driving economic growth, and keeping
Pennsylvania at the forefront of agricultural innovation. The Governor announced the
first set of Agricultural Innovation grants in February at Penn State, supporting 88
awardees from 45 counties, representing 31 Pennsylvania-produced commodities and
40 areas of innovation. These projects include technologies that improve efficiency,
generate energy while reducing nutrient waste, and support crops that store carbon or
replace non-renewable resources.
“Pennsylvania remains a national leader in agriculture because of Governor Shapiro’s
commitment to investing in our farmers, our land, and our communities,” said Secretary
Redding. “His leadership honors our Commonwealth’s proud agricultural heritage while
driving bold, bipartisan action that ensures a stronger, more resilient future for the
generations to come. At Ag Progress Days, you can see that future taking shape —
where innovation meets tradition and Pennsylvania stands as a steadfast partner to our
farmers in keeping agriculture growing strong.”
Ag Progress Days – Pennsylvania’s largest outdoor agricultural exposition – draws
more than 400 exhibitors from across the United States and Canada. Hosted by Penn
State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, the three-day event showcases cutting-edge
agricultural research, education programs, and innovations in farm equipment and
technology.
Delivering for Pennsylvania’s Agricultural Economy
Agriculture is a key sector of Pennsylvania’s economy, contributing $132 billion annually
and supporting over 600,000 jobs. Under Governor Shapiro’s leadership, the
Commonwealth has made historic investments in Pennsylvania agriculture:
• Created the first statewide Economic Development Strategy in nearly two
decades with agriculture at the forefront
• Fully funded the PA Farm Bill at $13.8 million annually — supporting workforce
development, processing expansion, and market access
• Invested $1 million to launch the Organic Center of Excellence, empowering
organic farmers and establishing the PA Preferred Organic™ brand
• Launched the Agricultural Innovation Grant Program, securing $10 million in
the 2024-25 budget. In its first year, the Shapiro Administration provided grants
to 88 farms and organizations in 45 counties
• Preserved more than 415 farms and 35,000 acres of farmland with more than
$125 million in state funding
• Set aside over $65 million to mitigate Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza,
supporting poultry farmers and disease monitoring
• Opened a state-of-the-art animal health lab in Western Pennsylvania to
enhance disease testing and biosecurity
• Expanded the Fresh Food Financing Initiative with $2 million to increase
access to local food and support small businesses
• Invested $35 million to continue Clean Streams Fund support for Agriculture
Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP)
In his 2025-26 proposed budget, Governor Shapiro has called for additional
investments, including:
• $13 million more for the Agricultural Innovation Grant Program
• $4 million expansion of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System
• $4 million increase to the State Food Purchase Program
• $2 million to fully operate the new state animal diagnostic lab
The Shapiro Administration has also taken swift action to defend Pennsylvania
farmers when the federal government unlawfully terminated the $13 million Local Food
Purchasing Assistance (LFPA) Program, which supports 189 Pennsylvania farms
and 14 local food banks. The Commonwealth has taken the matter to federal court,
where a ruling is pending.
Governor Shapiro’s leadership is ensuring Pennsylvania remains a national leader in
agriculture — building a more resilient agricultural economy, safeguarding the food
supply, and securing a prosperous future for Pennsylvania’s farming communities.
Learn more about the commonsense investments in the Governor’s 2025-26 budget
proposal atshapirobudget.pa.gov and how the Shapiro Administration is supporting
Pennsylvania’s farmers.
For more information on Governor Shapiro’s budget and agriculture initiatives,
visit shapirobudget.pa.gov.