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Pennsylvania Ag News Headlines
Redding Touts Ag's Importance, Opportunities in Wayne County
Pennsylvania Ag Connection - 04/26/2017

In a speech to Wayne County's economic development leaders, state Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding applauded the county's focus on food systems and agriculture as part of their ongoing effort to chart a path toward sustainable and long-term growth in the county, adding that the time is ripe for such a focus.

"This is an extraordinary time to be in agriculture," said Redding. "There is a rediscovery happening among consumers when it comes to food, and that is opening up enormous opportunities for businesses. It's exciting to be with a group that recognizes this and that is engaged in the conversation about how we reach our fullest potential with and through agriculture."

Redding delivered his remarks during the keynote address to the Wayne County Economic Development Corporation, or WEDCO, at their annual meeting in Honesdale. WEDCO is the lead economic development agency in the region, and is engaged in formulating an economic development strategy for the region dubbed "Wayne Tomorrow." Part of the initiative focuses on development opportunities in the industry and in the broader food delivery system.

"Governor Wolf sees agriculture as a resource -- as a natural resource and as an economic resource," Redding continued. "It's exciting and encouraging that you share that perspective. We find ourselves in a state of transition in so many ways because of changes in technology, weather patterns, demographics and global markets, and consumer buying trends among others. These changes are opening up a host of opportunities for farmers, food producers, and the allied industries. At the same time, though, we're recognizing that there are challenges to reaching our full potential, and under the governor's leadership, we're focused on tackling those challenges."

Redding outlined some of the initiatives the state Department of Agriculture has focused on under the Wolf Administration.

One area is workforce development. Agriculture is facing a critical shortage of skilled workers, as evidenced by an analysis the department conducted that suggests as many as 75,000 new and replacement workers are needed to fill positions in the food, fiber and veterinary care industries over the next decade. At the same time, the administration is trying to address the shortage of training programs in the commonwealth needed to develop a pipeline of skilled workers and career pathways.

Redding also outlined the department's work to draft a 10-year strategic plan for the industry. Last year, the department partnered with Team Pennsylvania to establish another connection between agriculture and the commonwealth's economic development efforts. Team PA provides a forum for the public and private sectors to come together to identify and capitalize on strategic growth opportunities and improve the commonwealth's competitiveness in attracting development projects.

Through the partnership with Team PA, an agriculture advisory board consisting of agribusiness leaders from across the state was established to help facilitate an economic impact analysis of the agriculture industry in Pennsylvania and future forecasting to identify risks and opportunities to growth that will guide the development of the industry's strategic plan. The board also will focus on addressing other barriers to agricultural development.


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