Other Representation pages: Priorities United Fresh Produce Association Penn State Ag Council
State Council of Farm Organizations
Policy Resolutions
The following policy resolutions have been adopted by the General Membership at the Annual Meetings of the Association to set forth the position of the Association on various issues that impact the vegetable and berry industries of the Commonwealth. They are reviewed each fall by the Board of Directors, which then proposes changes or additions to the General Membership. Members are encouraged to submit any comments on the existing resolutions or suggested additions to the Directors for consideration at any time.
Wildlife Crop Damage (1994, 96, 98, 99, 2000, 02, 05, 06,07)
Whereas deer, elk, turkeys, geese and other wildlife cause large amounts of damage to vegetable, potato and berry crops each year, the Association is on record as:
Supporting the deer-damaged farm program established by the Game Commission whereby antlerless deer may be harvested on those designated lands during the regular antlered season;
Supporting the current practice of allowing hunters to take antlerless deer with each antlerless license;
Supporting financial assistance to farmers who utilize temporary fencing or other techniques like invisible fencing with guard dogs to control wildlife crop damage;
Supporting the allocation of antlerless licenses based on scientific and statistical information;
Supporting the practice of allowing hunters to purchase multiple antlerless licenses when surplus licenses are available; especially for use on private or other lands where deer populations are determined to be too high;
Supporting deer management areas smaller than counties;
Supporting special seasons to reduce the resident Canada goose populations in areas where they are
causing crop damage;
Supporting longer antlerless seasons and/or concurrent antlered and antlerless seasons;
Supporting compensation from the Game Commission to farmers for crop damage losses from wildlife;
Supporting changes to the Game Code providing for bear damage claim payments to beekeepers with five or more hives in a location for multiple instances of damage (with a $50 minimum payment for second or subsequent claims) regardless of whether a fence has been erected around the hives.
Supporting the Game Commission's hunter/landowner link program that retains the landowner's rights to control access to the land but directs hunters to lands where the owners desire more hunting pressure;
Supporting the appointment of one or more Game Commissioners who are farmers or have an agricultural background;
Supporting deprediation permit programs for deer, turkey and geese that will allow these species to be harvested by hunters out-of-season on farms where damage is excessive;
Opposing protected status for elk;
Opposing hunting on Sundays (2005);
Supporting the partial funding of the Game Commission by the General Assembly so that the Commission is not totally reliant on hunting license fees and thus hunters for income (2006); and
Supporting the elimination of liability of landowners for damages or injury caused by hunters hunting on the landowners property on a no-fee basis (2007).
Worker's Compensation (1994)
Whereas the rising cost of Workers' Compensation insurance is a burden for employers, the Association is on record as:
Supporting continued reform of the Workers' Compensation Act to prevent abuses and decrease the cost to employers while still maintaining adequate coverage for workers.
Nutrient Management (1994)
Whereas many vegetable, potato and berry growers do not raise any poultry or livestock and must purchase inorganic fertilizer; and
Whereas economics encourage growers not to use excessive amounts of these fertilizers; the Association is on record as:
Supporting the current Nutrient Management Act which exempts farms with less than two animal equivalent units per acre from regulations requiring the filing of approved nutrient management plans.
Taxes (1994, 97, 2000, 02, 04, 06, 07)
The Association is on record as supporting efforts to reform the local tax structure which places too much burden on property owners, especially for the support of school districts and tax reform legislation must include tax reductions on all buildings and land (2006);
Supporting the elimination of local nuisance taxes;
Supporting the permanent elimination of the state inheritance tax or at least the establishment of a $1.3 million exclusion for estates in which at least 50% of the estate consists of interest in a family-owned business and a $1 million exclusion for all other estates (2006);
Supporting the assessment of buildings used solely for agricultural purposes based on their contributory value;
Opposing proposals to impose the sales tax on food sales (2004);
Supporting the evaluation of farmland for transfer inheritance tax purposes at its value as farmland provided the land continues to be farmed or maintained in open space for a seven-year period; and
Supporting the evaluation of preserved farmland for transfer inheritance tax purposes at the value of $1.00 per acre (2007).
Food Processing Wastes (1994)
Whereas food processing waste, packing line culls, vegetable trimmings from retail markets and other crop by-products are organic matter suitable for farmland application, the Association is on record as:
Supporting regulations that allow the disposal of wastes and byproducts on farm land with normal farm operations.
Hazardous Waste Facilities (1994)
The Association is on record as opposed to the location of and the site selection process that would allow such locations of hazardous waste incinerators and hazardous waste disposal facilities where they would
negatively impact agricultural land.
Preservation of Agricultural Land (1994)
Whereas developed land is permanently lost to agricultural purposes, and
Whereas more and more valuable farmland is being developed, the Association is on record as:
Supporting the state's Agricultural Land Preservation Act and the formation of local Agricultural Security Areas.
Property Rights (2006)
The Association is on record as opposing the ability of municipalities to lower the property value of land through zoning restrictions without reasonable compensation to the landowner.
State Funding (1996, 99, 2001, 02, 07)
Whereas the vegetable and small fruit industries depend on various support services from The Pennsylvania State University and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the Association is on record as:
Supporting adequate funding for the College of Agricultural Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University, especially funding for its research and extension programs;
Supporting adequate funding for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture;
Supporting continued funding of the Agricultural Education Student Loan Forgiveness program;
Supporting continued and increased funding for the Agricultural Product Promotion Matching Grant program; and
Supporting $1 million funding for the Farmers’ Market Development Act grants (2007).
Produce Promotion (1999, 2001)
Whereas the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has developed the "Pennsylvania Produce - Simply Delicious" logo and promotion campaign; and
Whereas the Department's produce promotion campaign has resulted in unprecedented promotion of Pennsylvania vegetables and berries beyond the capabilities of the Pennsylvania Vegetable Marketing and Research Program, the Association is on record as:
Supporting strongly the Department's continuation of its produce promotion efforts and the permanent state funding of the Pennsylvania Produce Promotion Program.
Ag-in-the-Classroom (1996, 2003, 07)
Whereas a very small portion of the population has direct contact with production agriculture and is therefore unfamiliar with agricultural practices, the Association is on record as:
Supporting comprehensive Agricultural Education Standards in the state educational standards:
Supporting the Ag-in-the-Classroom program (2007); and
Supporting government funding for Ag-in-the-Classroom.
Farm Marketing (1997, 2001)
Whereas direct-marketing is an important option for Pennsylvania vegetable, potato and berry growers, the Association is on record as:
Recognizing that some farmers' markets and farm markets have prospered by restricting themselves to selling only the products personally produced by the growers and other have prospered by selling purchased products in addition to those personally produced by the grower;
Supporting the creation of farmers' markets where there is sufficient interest from growers and the public, including at turnpike rest areas;
Supporting public laws and policies, both local and state, which encourage direct farm marketing;
Supporting provisions in the Right-to-Farm Act giving roadside markets which produce at least half of the product sold certain protections from local restrictions; and
Supporting allowances for farm markets and farmer's markets to sell produce items by volume measures or by the piece when it is readily obvious to the consumer what quantity is being purchased.
Right to Farm (2003)
Whereas local ordinances and regulations may prevent growers from operating a viable farm business by adding restrictions above and beyond state restrictions, the Association is on record as:
Supporting the Pennsylvania Right-to-Farm Act and provisions to make it more effective in protecting farmers from restrictive local regulations.
Pennsylvania Vegetable Marketing and Research Program (1994)
The Association is on record as strongly supporting the continuance of the Pennsylvania Vegetable Marketing and Research Program and its enforcement.
Disaster Assistance (2000)
The Association is on record as supporting the establishment of a state agricultural disaster assistance program to include grants and low interest loans for operating expenses in years of exceptional losses and an ongoing assistance program to provide grants and low interest loans for improvements to irrigation systems and other farm systems that will minimize the effect of future disasters.
Vehicle Code (1998)
The Association is on record as supporting legislative or regulatory changes that will provide for the development of "acceptable cleaning standards" for trucks and trailers after hauling non-food products thereby rendering them safe and legal to haul food products.
The Pennsylvania State University College of Agricultural Sciences (1996)
Whereas The Pennsylvania State University College of Agricultural Sciences has over the years provided invaluable support through its research and extension programs to the vegetable and small fruit industries of Pennsylvania and to the Association itself; and
Whereas the vegetable and small fruit industries continue to need the University's support in the areas of applied vegetable and small fruit research and extension programs; and
Whereas the continual shortage of funds within the University has necessitated the adjustment of the University's priorities, sometimes favoring the expansion of basic research at the expense of practical, applied research; and
Whereas the amount of faculty time devoted to vegetables and small fruit has declined over the past several decades, especially in the Department of Horticulture; and
Whereas the undergraduate education program in vegetable and small fruit crops is rather weak, the Association is on record as:
Supporting basic plant science research, but not at the expense of practical, applied research;
Supporting increased practical, applied research in vegetables and small fruits at the University to support the Pennsylvania industry;
Supporting the employment of extension specialists in all areas of vegetable and small fruit science to provide expert assistance to growers;
Supporting cooperative arrangements with universities in neighboring states to provide research support in specialized areas where it can be applied across the state borders; and
Supporting similar inter-state cooperative arrangements in the area of undergraduate education in vegetable and small fruit crops.
Minimum Wage (1996, 2002)
Whereas increases in minimum wages result in increased labor costs for agricultural employers; and
Whereas a state minimum wage that exceeds the federal minimum wage would put Pennsylvania employers at a competitive disadvantage with out-of-state employers; the Association is on record as:
Opposing unreasonable increases in the minimum wage;
Opposing any state minimum wage that exceeds federal minimum wages; and
Supporting a two-tiered minimum wage that provides for a lower minimum wage for employees under 18 years old.
Tort Reform (2003, 07)
Whereas excessive liability judgements and the threat of frivolous lawsuits result in prohibitive business liability insurance premiums, the Association is on record as
Supporting continued reform of tort laws that will limit abuse of these laws (2003); and
Supporting the elimination of joint and several liability laws (2007).
Processor Bonding (2003)
The Association is on record as supporting the enactment of a state requirement for in-state and out-of-state processors to be bonded for value of the perishable vegetable and fruit crops they purchase from Pennsylvania growers.
Seasonal Farm Labor (94, 96, 97, 98,99, 2000, 04, 06, 07)
Whereas the availability of farm labor on seasonal basis is essential to the vegetable, potato and berry industries of Pennsylvania, the Association is on record as:
Supporting laws and regulations that insure the fair treatment and promote the welfare of seasonal farm laborers;
Opposing laws and regulations that impose burdensome requirements on farmers employing seasonal farm laborers, particularly those that give specials rights and privileges to seasonal farm laborers or impose requirements on seasonal farm labor employers which are not accorded the average worker or imposed on the other employers;
Supporting the elimination and/or de-funding of the Legal Services Corporation or at least the reform of the Legal Services Corporation by the Congress to prevent the current abuses of the system by grantees;
Supporting restrictions on any federal funding for legal aid to disadvantaged persons that would prohibit grantees from engaging in class-action lawsuits or from soliciting clients;
Supporting authorization for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to inspect labor camps for compliance with all federal and state regulations;
Seasonal Farm Labor (continued)
Supporting reform of the current state unemployment compensation laws:
Supporting reform of the present H-2A program that will make the program more feasible for Pennsylvania growers to use it;
Supporting the recognition of alien farm laborers as legal permanent residents;
Supporting the proposed AgJOBS legislation that reforms the H-2A guest worker program to make it more feasible for growers to utilize (2004); and
Opposing state and local laws or ordinances that duplicate or exceed federal regulations relating to the employment of aliens (2006, 07): and
Supporting federal comprehensive immigration reform legislation that includes:
- a workable temporary worker program that matches willing employers with willing workers
- border and interior enforcement that provides employers with the tools to ensure legal workers without punishing employers who try to follow the law; and
- an opportunity for earned adjustment to legal status for those aliens who have been in the country for a significant period of time (2007).
Sustainable Agriculture (1994)
Whereas the Association is interested in the long term viability of the industry and the quality of our environment, the Association is on record as:
Supporting the research on and development of integrated crop management and integrated pest management systems and the responsible use of pesticides;
Supporting the research on and development of methods of utilizing biocontrols;
Supporting the research on and development of methods of increasing soil organic matter; and
Recognizing the value of synthetic chemical pesticides, when applied in accordance with their label, in allowing the production of increased yields of high quality crops that are safe for human consumption.
Farm Product Payment (1996, 97)
Whereas prompt payment is important to any business enterprise, and
Whereas creditor security is especially important with perishable agricultural commodities, the Association is on record as:
Supporting the continuation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act to provide legal requirements for prompt payment and creditor security for sellers of perishable commodities; and
Supporting state requirements for prompt payment and state provisions for a statutory trust protection for farm products.
Wetlands (1994)
The Association is on record as:
Supporting the conservation of wetlands;
Opposing the restriction of the use of property by owners for its intended use without just compensation; and
Opposing wetland laws and regulations that are overzealous in the protection of wetlands without due consideration for the property owners' rights.
Crop Insurance (2003)
Whereas the crop insurance can be a valuable risk management tool for growers that minimizes the need for government disaster relief programs, the Association is on record as:
Supporting the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s efforts to develop new insurance products and revisions to current products that will make crop insurance options available to vegetable, potato and berry growers;
Supporting the continued subsidy of crop insurance premiums by the Commonweatlh;
Supporting a federal Farm Bill that provides incentives and assistance for crop insurance programs, particularly those that would make crop insurance more useful to vegetable, potato and berry growers, rather than increasing or maintaining crop subsidy programs.
Private Property Rights
Whereas the freedom to determine the use of private property is essential to Pennsylvania vegetable, potato and berry growers as landowners, the Association is on record as:
Supporting statutory provisions requiring government agencies to evaluate proposed regulations for their potential impact on private property use and value and to proceed with such regulations only when the benefit outweighs any negative impact;
Opposing laws which negatively impact private property values without proportionate benefit; and
Supporting reasonable compensation to landowners when the value of their land is significantly impacted by government actions; and
Supporting restrictions to eminent domain powers of government bodies that prohibit the use of such powers to take private property 1)to be turned over to non-public entities, 2) to increase the tax base of the locality or 3) without reverter provisions that return the property to the condemnee if the property is not used for public purposes (2006).
Health Care (2006)
Supporting tax exemptions for Health Savings Accounts.
Food Safety and Pesticides (1994, 97, 98, 99, 2000, 03)
Whereas Pennsylvania vegetable, potato and berry growers endeavor to produce food products that are safe and nutritious, the Association is on record as:
Supporting laws and regulations that insure that pesticides are properly tested for safety, labeled with complete instructions, and required to be used safely;
Opposing laws and regulations that place burdensome restrictions on pesticide application when there is no firm scientific evidence to support such restrictions;
Opposing efforts to remove pesticides from the market without solid scientific evidence to support the withdrawal;
Supporting special regulations that enable chemical companies to economically maintain labels for minor crop uses of pesticides;
Supporting efforts to hold the news media accountable for inaccurate or exaggerated claims about the danger of pesticides;
Affirming the safety of crops produced with the use of pesticides when the pesticides are applied according to the instructions on the label; and
Supporting the enforcement of Food and Drug Administration residue standards for imported produce.
Supporting the regulation of pesticides at the state level by the Department of Agriculture rather than another state agency;
Opposing the proposed increase in private pesticide applicator fees;
Opposing laws that add notification to the general public of pesticide application requirements beyond those contained on the pesticide labels while supporting the notification of chemically hypersensitive persons as provided in current Pennsylvania regulations;
Supporting revisions to the federal Worker Protection Standards that make them more practical to implement while still protecting the safety of agricultural workers;
Supporting adequate funding of the IR-4 project to obtain the registration of new pesticides for minor crops;
Opposing the creation of a new single federal agency to oversee food safety regulations currently enforced by the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies;
Supporting implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act in a manner consistent with sound scientific evaluations of the risk associated the use of particular pesticides;
Opposing implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act using evaluations of the risk associated with the use of particular pesticides based on theoretical or maximum use patterns rather than actual use patterns: and
Opposing efforts to allow local law enforcement agencies to enforce pesticide regulations but supporting continued enforcement of these regulations by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
Water Resources Management (1994, 97, 2001, 02, 06, 07)
Whereas the availability of water for irrigation is important to Pennsylvania vegetable, potato and berry growers, the Association is on record as:
Opposing efforts by the Commonwealth or any river basin commission to unduly restrict, control, or charge for the use of water for irrigation purposes.
Supporting the registration of water usage by growers for irrigation and other purposes provided similar registration is required of other water users and there is no fee involved;
Supporting the efforts of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission to have the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on behalf of the state’s agricultural consumptive water users develop the ability to pump water from underground mine pool storages during the summer months and release water from public and private surface water impoundments during the fall months to offset the agricultural consumptive water use (2006);
Supporting state funding for the development of this water storage capacity for agricultural consumptive use make-up water
Supporting the federal funding of the Susquehanna and Delaware River Basin Commissions,
Supporting the recycling of waste water for agricultural purposes;
Supporting the enactment of water resources legislation by the Commonwealth if such legislation gives priority to irrigation and other agricultural water uses in circumstances of short water supplies and if registration and annual reporting requirements are reasonable for growers to comply with; and
Supporting the permanent reauthorization of the federal Surface Mining Land Reclamation Act to allow fees paid by mining companies to be used by states to treat abandoned mine runoff water and thus enhance the quality of the state’s waters (2007).
Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs (1999, 2003)
Whereas vegetables have been shown to be an essential part of a balanced diet, the Association is on record as:
Supporting the continued state and federal funding of the Farmer's Market Nutrition Program that provides WIC recipients with vouchers to purchase Pennsylvania grown produce at farmers' markets and farm markets;
Supporting changes in regular WIC programs to encourage consumption of fresh produce; and
Supporting the continued state and federal funding of the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program for Seniors that provides eligible senior citizens with vouchers to purchase Pennsylvania grown produce at farmers’ markets and farm markets.
Endangered Species (1996)
Whereas the current Endangered Species Act has unreasonably deprived property owners of the desired use of their land, many times without substantially benefiting the endangered species in question, the Association is on record as:
Supporting the revision of the Endangered Species Act that recognizes the rights of private property owners, provides just compensation to property owners denied use of their property, provides for more reasonable penalties for minor or unintentional violations, and considers the cost/benefit ratio of restrictions placed on property owners.
Transportation (1998, 2002)
The Association is on record as supporting adequate federal funding for highway and bridge maintenance and construction to maintain a viable highway infrastructure across the nation, including rural areas, to allow farmers ready access to supplies and markets; and
Opposing federal envirnomental regulations that will limit the affordability of pick-ups and other light trucks that are essential to farmers.
Biotechnology (1996, 2001)
Whereas scientists are increasingly able to use biotechnology to develop new varieties of crops, new pest control methods and other beneficial products and processes, the Association is on record as:
Supporting the use of biotechnology to improve productivity of the agricultural industry, especially the vegetable and small fruit segments of the agricultural industry;
Supporting the strict enforcement of reasonable safeguards in the use of biotechnology to prevent harmful side effects;
Supporting efforts to inform the public of the benefits and safety of properly-handled biotechnology and its products; and
Supporting efforts to preserve germplasm diversity and open pollinated varieties.
Trade (1994, 2001, 05)
The Association is on record as:
Supporting the general concept of free trade with the understanding that labor, environmental and other standards are equal;
Opposing free trade for commodities that are subsidized by the competitor's government;
Supporting the patenting of cultivars or varieties but not the patenting of generic plant products; and
Supporting a voluntary country-of-origin labeling program that places no regulatory burden on domestic growers, shippers and retailers (2005).
Clean Air
Whereas clean air is essential to the quality of life for all persons as well as healthy crops and livestock, the Association is on record as:
Recognizing the improvements in air quality effected by current air quality standards;
Supporting continued improvements in air quality when the benefit exceeds the costs involved to bring about such improvements; and
Opposing higher air quality standards that do recognize that it is not economically feasible to prevent all forms of air pollution, such as dust created by normal farm operations in rural areas.
Occupational Standards (1998)
The Association is on record as opposing Occupational Safety and Health Administration ergonomic standards that do not recognize the nature of agricultural labor and that will impose unreasonable burdens on agricultural employers with dubious benefits to employees.
Taxes (2006)
Supporting the permanent elimination of federal estate taxes.
Supporting changes to update the optional self-employment tax thresholds to allow farmers to earn four quarters of credit per year towards Social Security benefits.
Food Safety and Good Agricultural Practices
Whereas Pennsylvania vegetable, potato and berry growers endeavor to produce food products that are safe and nutritious, the Association is on record as:
Supporting the implementation by growers of science-based Good Agricultural Practices.
Farm Support Programs (2006, 07)
Supporting funding of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act (2006); and
Supporting the Equitable Agriculture Today (EAT) for a Healthy America Act (2007).
2007 Farm Bill (2006, 07)
The Association is on record as advocating that the following changes be made when a new Farm Bill is enacted (2007):
- Guaranteed payments for program commodity crops should be discontinued in favor of Loan Deficiency Payments and Counter-Cyclical Payments rewarding those who actually produce the crops.
- If guaranteed payments are continued for program commodity crops, that farmers be prohibited from planting vegetables on acreage for which they receive government subsidy payments unless such vegetable acreage is contracted for processing use only and unless the subsidy on such acreage is forfeited for the years in which vegetables are produced.
- Traditional formula funding for agricultural applied research and extension at land grant institutions should be restored to historical levels.
- Funding for specialty crops research and export market development should be increased.
- Funding for conservation practices that enhance water and environmental quality should be increased, including funding for irrigation equipment and source development.
- Conservation programs such as CREP must be revised to only apply to highly erodeable or otherwise unproductive land so that they do not increase land rental rates.
- Shipping of agricultural exports should not be restricted to American ships which typically have higher freight rates than prevailing free market rates for international shipping.
- Farm operations that are in practice operated as a single entity must be registered as one entity for Farm Bill programs rather than as several separate operations under the names of individuals employed by the operation for the purpose of skirting maximum payment limits.
- Adjusted Gross Revenue LITE insurance should not require operators to purchase separate multi-peril policies for all their crops that be may eligible for multi-peril coverage (2006).