Metro

MARTINSBURG — Farmers and elected officials from across Blair County convened at Stauffer Custom Farming and Gahagan Farms on Friday morning for a roundtable discussion about the most pressing issues facing the agriculture industry.

The Legislative Farm & Agribusiness Tour, hosted annually by the Blair County Farm Bureau, is an invaluable opportunity to connect farmers and their elected representatives, according to bureau president Mark Heeter.

Since farming is a smaller, more niche industry in Blair County, it is “vital” to maintain open lines of communication with representatives in Harrisburg, Heeter said.

Farming is an essential part of the larger Pennsylvanian economy, Heeter said, as it keeps the commonwealth fed.

Two of the key issues Heeter highlighted during his presentation to the about 50 people in attendance were PennDOT regulations surrounding farm vehicles and milk tanker logistics.

Under current regulations, farm equipment like tractors and manure haulers cannot travel on state roads more than a certain distance from their home farm without a special permit, Heeter said, which limits the ability of farmers to conduct business over a wider area.

Loosening this requirement would keep the agriculture industry up to speed with modern logistical needs, he said.

Another issue the bureau is advocating for is the passage of state Senate Bill 481, which would allow truckers to transport milk tankers during weather emergencies and state-declared disaster declarations.

According to Heeter, since it is a perishable product, keeping the milk supply chain moving even during inclement weather events would prevent logistical issues and would help the dairy industry as a whole.

This bill would allow PennDOT to issue special milk transportation permits to qualified drivers who are willing to volunteer for the job, Heeter said.

Stauffer Custom Farming owner Andrew Stauffer said that making PennDOT regulations more farmer-friendly is one of his top priorities.

As a custom farmer, who is contracted by other farmers with established operations to help with a number of tasks on their respective properties, Stauffer needs to travel farther than his traditional-farming counterparts.

Stauffer said that “more clarity” from PennDOT and Harrisburg on regulations regarding moving farm machinery would be a big help for custom farmers like himself.

A number of officials, including state Rep. Scott Barger and members of Rep. John Joyce’s and state Sen. Judy Ward’s offices attended the tour.

“I can’t do my job without understanding the agriculture community’s needs,” Barger said.

As the 80th District is home to a number of both livestock and crop farms, Barger said it was important to him that he advocates for the agriculture industry in Harrisburg.

One of the key agenda items on Barger’s radar is supporting the energy industry, he said, as lowering the cost of energy in the state would be an immediate boon to the hundreds of farmers he represents.

According to Barger, some farms pay upwards of $18,000 per month in electricity bills, so harnessing the commonwealth’s abundant supply of natural gas to bring that cost down is a top priority.

“I’m really appreciative to see (my elected representatives) here and taking an interest in farmers and working for a better agriculture industry,” Stauffer said.

Mirror Staff Writer Conner Goetz is at 814-946-7535.