Sen. Elder Vogel Jr.

In 1978 the famous radio host Paul Harvey spoke at a Future Farmers of America convention unveiling to the world “So God Made a Farmer.”

In this poem Harvey so eloquently spoke of the hard work, long hours, trials and tribulations of what it means to be a farmer.

The words he spoke ring as true today as they did in 1978. However just as the “cantankerous machinery” has become more complicated, so has the need for our lands to produce food; this is why we in Pennsylvania have taken major steps to invest in our farms and farmers.

For every farmer under the age of 35 in Pennsylvania there are four farmers over the age of 65. Of the 7.7 million acres of farmland across Pennsylvania, 41 percent is managed by a farmer 55 years of age or older and 11 percent of that land is expected to transfer in the next five years. This is why I authored Act 65 of 2019 which creates the “New Farmer Tax Credit.”

Act 65 provides a personal income tax credit for landowners who lease or sell their land, buildings and equipment to beginning farmers. Landowners will receive a one-time personal income tax credit for the sale or a multiyear lease of property.

The legislation requires all leases be enforced through written agreements and that the sale of property be for fair market value in order to qualify for the tax credit. It is the first meaningful step we have taken in years to assist those looking to start or continue the family tradition of farming.

We have taken another large step forward to support our ailing dairy farmers with the creation of the Pennsylvania Dairy Future Commission. The commission will study and make recommendations to the General Assembly on how best to support the future of dairy in today's tough milk market. We have invested in better technologies to manage livestock and animal health along with directing resources to agriculture workforce development programs.

Farming equipment is becoming larger so more work can be done efficiently. This has led us to increasing the size of certain farming equipment allowed on our roads.

While growing food is the lifeblood of a farm, “Agro-tourism” is also growing in Pennsylvania.

We have eased some restrictions on farmland growing in this field. Ag tourism serves not only to increase tourist activities but also to educate the public on what it means to be a farmer and how important farms are to our everyday life. I am proud to have led efforts seeking to invest in and grow our number one industry in Pennsylvania, agriculture.

But I am most proud that our investments are in people — the farmer — the “caretakers” who day in and day out put food on our tables.

Pennsylvania is blessed with abundant natural resources; from clean coal to solar and natural gas to wind, our energy portfolio is strong and diverse.

Of all those resources it is still our men and women working the fields who lead our state as our greatest natural resource.

Republican state Sen. Elder Vogel Jr. has represented the citizens of the 47th District since 2009 and is the chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. He operates the family farm in New Sewickley Township, Beaver County, which was established in the late 1800s. He lives with his wife, Sue, and two stepdaughters Madison and Lynnsey.

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