Senate Agriculture Committee Reports Out Farm Conservation, Noxious Weed, Other Bills

On June 4, the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee approved and reported out legislation on farm conservation other agriculture bills, including--  

-- Farm Conservation Excellence Grants: Senate Bill 634 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) establishing the Conservation Excellence Farm Conservation Grant Program, a bipartisan proposal included in Gov. Wolf’s PA Farm Bill proposal (sponsor summary) - amended;

-- Relinquish Residence Provision: House Bill 370 (Klunk-R-York) would amend the Agricultural Area Security Law to authorize farmland conservation owners to relinquish the right to establish a residence (House Fiscal Note and summary); and

-- Tree Of Heaven Noxious Weed: House Bill 404 (Lawrence-R-Chester) would add the tree of heaven preferred by the spotted lanternfly as a Class B noxious weed (House Fiscal Note and summary).  [Note: The Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Committee added tree of heaven to the Class B list on April 25.]

The bills now go to the full Senate for action.

Sen. Elder Vogel (R-Beaver) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and can be contacted by calling 717-787-3076 or sending email to: evogel@pasen.gov.  Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-8925 or sending email to: SenatorSchwank@pasenate.com.

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House Agriculture Committee Reports Out Farm Conservation Bills