CAMP HILL —- The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau has reached a membership milestone, exceeding the 40,000-member figure for the first time in the history of the state's largest general farm organization.

PFB increased its overall membership by more than 2,600 members since July 2005, with total membership reaching 40,141.

"The growth is substantial when you consider it was only three years ago that we reached the 30,000-member plateau, said bureau president Carl Shaffer.

Volunteer farm families drive the membership campaign, as they recruit other producers representing farms of all sizes and commodities to join the bureau.

The membership campaign runs through June 30.

"Our farmers, who set policies through grassroots efforts, understand the importance of what they can accomplish together and the benefits provided to them through membership. They also understand the strength of having one unified voice speaking to lawmakers in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C," said Shaffer.

The farm bureau has successfully addressed numerous key issues identified by its members over the past year, including increased protection for farmers from having their land unfairly taken through eminent domain.

Others include enactment of a law that addresses the problems of restrictive local farm ordinances that were making it nearly impossible for farms to expand operations.

"PFB also won a hard-fought battle in Washington to gain the renewal of the Milk Income Loss Contract program, which is currently making payments to dairy farmers now that milk prices are low," said Shaffer.