State Senator Judy Schwank hosted an agriculture update at Penn State Berks on Wednesday morning, where Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding and State Veterinarian Dr. Alex Hamberg presented the latest developments in the state’s agriculture sector. The event was attended by local farmers, stakeholders, and community members, offering them the opportunity to engage directly with state officials on the challenges and progress in Pennsylvania agriculture.
During his presentation, Secretary Redding emphasized the unique qualities of Berks County and its agricultural infrastructure, underscoring the significant role it plays in the state’s agricultural landscape. “I get the privilege of traveling the state, and every place I go, everybody thinks they’re normal. But when you come to Berks County and look at the soil, the infrastructure, and the intersection between urban and rural, you realize this place is extraordinary,” Redding said. He acknowledged the area’s Conservation District and farmland preservation efforts, highlighting how Berks stands out compared to other regions of the state.
Redding also addressed broader trends in Pennsylvania’s agriculture, noting that the industry is constantly evolving, with consumer expectations shaping much of that change. He pointed to recent statistics from the last agricultural census, noting the state’s impressive rankings in certain sectors—Pennsylvania is number one in mushroom production, third in the organic sector, and second in direct farm sales.
However, Redding expressed concern about the future of farmland preservation, citing the loss of 200,000 acres of productive farmland across Pennsylvania since 2017—an area roughly the size of Berks County farmland itself. “As we think about agriculture and what we do in the state, we have extraordinary opportunities here, but we are also losing land, which should be a cause for concern,” Redding stated. He urged the audience to consider how global trade agreements could impact the local agricultural economy, particularly when it comes to pricing.
State Veterinarian Dr. Alex Hamberg provided critical updates on the state’s efforts to control highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), a serious threat to poultry farms. Dr. Hamberg outlined the impact of the virus, which has affected 4.9 million birds in Pennsylvania across 71 premises, including 32 commercial operations, since it was first detected in the U.S. in 2022. “Luckily, here in Pennsylvania, we have no active cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza at this time and would like to keep it that way as long as we can,” Hamberg reported.
He credited the farming community’s vigilance in maintaining biosecurity protocols as a key factor in containing the spread of the disease. “It truly was a partnership between government, agriculture businesses, farmers, and animal health professionals,” Hamberg said, praising their collective efforts. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of surveillance testing and lab support, which provide real-time results to help farmers monitor and manage the health of their livestock.
Both Redding and Hamberg reiterated the importance of collaboration between the state, local organizations, and the agricultural community in navigating the challenges facing Pennsylvania’s farming industry. The event concluded with a Q&A session, where attendees raised their own concerns.
