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Local farms receive agriculture innovation grants

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Gov. Josh Shapiro, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis and state Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced the second round of grants through the nation's first Agricultural Innovation Grant Program.

The $9.7 million investment will provide support for 97 projects and leverage $4.8 million in private investment.

The funding will put innovative technology into practice to help Pennsylvania agricultural businesses improve efficiency and increase production, protect soil and water resources, and generate clean, renewable energy.

"For the last three years, I've visited farms across the commonwealth to hear from our farmers and see firsthand both the challenges they face and the noble work they do," Shapiro said. "Agriculture is the backbone of our commonwealth, and this important funding will help Pennsylvania farmers, growers and producers innovate and grow, while building on three years of historic investments that have delivered commonsense solutions to lower costs, open new markets and strengthen the entire agricultural industry."

Among the recipients of the 2025-26 Agricultural Innovation Grant are:

-- Blair County: Kulp Family Dairy, $97,800.

-- Centre County: Penn State University, $129,800, to optimize the performance of Penn State's anaerobic digester; Jeffrey Brooks, $129,800, for a robotic dairy system at Brooks Family Farms; and Nyra Graham, $55,411, for a Farmlocal precision agriculture system serving 15 Centre County farms.

-- Huntingdon County: Valley Meadow Farm, $41,154, for an automated egg-handling and grading system.

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