Agriculture CommitteeTOGETHER, WE CAREFOR THE LAND UPONWHICH FUTUREGENERATIONSWILL LIVEThe Agriculture Committee’sefforts this year havecentered on Clean and Greenissues, particularly as theyapply to Clean and Greenproperties impacted by oil and gas drillingin the Marcellus Shale region and thedevelopment <strong>of</strong> alternative energy.Our committee has helped to directCCAP’s input over the past several yearson how to administer Clean and Green affectedby these special uses, and we havebeen successful in negotiating with stakeholdersto bring clarity and consistencyto counties and landowners under Acts 88and 109 <strong>of</strong> 2010. These Clean and Greenamendments allow partial violations <strong>of</strong>tracts used for oil and gas development,windmills, and on-farm alternative energysources where more than half <strong>of</strong> theenergy is used in support <strong>of</strong> the farmingoperation. Even if the areas used for thesepurposes cannot be immediately returnedto a Clean and Green qualified use, therest <strong>of</strong> the tract can remain eligible forpreferential assessment. We believe this isconsistent with the philosophy developedfor cell towers under the Clean and Greenlaw, and balances fairness for the landownerwith equity for the rest <strong>of</strong> taxpayers.The Agriculture Committee is workingwith legislators on additional necessaryclarifications discovered after the enactment<strong>of</strong> both laws. In addition, otherspecial uses have come to the committee’sattention, such as composting facilitieslarger than those that typically qualify asan agricultural commodity under Cleanand Green. As farmers create side businessesto diversify their operations forrevenue purposes and continue to seekways to encourage environmental stewardship,the committee will give furtherconsideration to their relationship with theintent <strong>of</strong> existing laws and programs.The CCAP-Cooperative ExtensionFellowship, which originated with theCCAP Agriculture Committee, is closingits fourth year, and the <strong>Association</strong> hasenjoyed working with Chet Hughes, aLancaster <strong>County</strong> Extension Coordinator.Chet has served as a valuable resource forthe committee and CCAP, coordinatingseveral important conference breakoutsessions with Extension resources. He alsohelped facilitate the January CCAP Board12 <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 2011 <strong>County</strong> <strong>Commissioners</strong> <strong>Association</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Pennsylvania</strong>
<strong>of</strong> Directors meeting hosted by PennState’s College <strong>of</strong> Agricultural Sciences.This provided an excellent opportunity forExtension to connect on-going universityresearch with field-related activities in ourcounties. As Penn State, the College <strong>of</strong>Ag Sciences and Cooperative Extensioncontinue to analyze potential structureand service delivery changes in responseto diversification <strong>of</strong> needs and budgetarylimitations, the Agriculture Committeecontinues to support these programs at thestate and local levels.With the commonwealth facing a difficultbudgetary situation and potentially severalbillion dollars’ worth <strong>of</strong> cuts to programsand other initiatives, the AgricultureCommittee has carefully watched overline items affecting conservation districts,farmland preservation and conservationeasement administration, and theCooperative Extension program throughPenn State. The committee has supportedthe budget requests <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Pennsylvania</strong><strong>Association</strong> <strong>of</strong> Conservation Districtsand the Penn State Ag Council for Commonwealthfunding to both conservationdistricts and the cooperative extension.The State Farmland Preservation Boardapproved a 2011 spending threshold <strong>of</strong>$22 million, based on availability <strong>of</strong>“. . . we will continue to seekopportunities to advance theneed for more funding for oursuccessful farmland preservationprogram to help keep ourfarmers on their land.”funds between fiscal years, which is a $2million increase over the threshold set in2010.This, in connection with informationprovided on the importance and value<strong>of</strong> open space preservation at the SpringConference, will help our committee tocontinue to advance its farmland preservationpriority. We will also be examiningthe Agricultural Conservation EasementProgram to consider whether provisionsallowing easements to be extinguished after25 years if the eased land is no longerconsidered agriculturally viable are stillrelevant.The committee is also building relationshipswith the new Secretary <strong>of</strong> Agriculture,George Greig, who attended thecommittee’s spring meeting for introductions.In addition, with the change inleadership in the House, and three <strong>of</strong> thefour House and Senate Agriculture Committeechairs being new, the committeeis involved in outreach and educationalopportunities at the Capitol. We are verypleased to have former CCAP memberJudy Schwank as the minority chair <strong>of</strong> theSenate Agriculture Committee and lookforward to working with her in her newrole.In the year ahead, our committee anticipatesworking to resolve the Clean andGreen issues mentioned as we face a newgeneration <strong>of</strong> agriculture, and we willcontinue to seek opportunities to advancethe need for more funding for our successfulfarmland preservation program tohelp keep our farmers on their land. Wewill also need to monitor agriculture andwater quality issues in conjunction withthe Energy, Environment and Land UseCommittee as <strong>Pennsylvania</strong> begins toimplement the new Total Maximum DailyLoad levels for Chesapeake Bay cleanup.Finally, we will maintain our advocacyefforts and build our partnership with thenew administration and legislative leadersat the Capitol to ensure the interests <strong>of</strong> theagriculture industry remain at the forefrontto keep the industry viable.Dennis StuckeyChairLancaster <strong>County</strong>Dennis Stuckey, Commissioner, Lancaster <strong>County</strong>,ChairErick Coolidge, Commissioner, Tioga <strong>County</strong>, ViceChairC. Sherman Allen, Commissioner, Crawford <strong>County</strong>Stark Bartron, Commissioner, Wyoming <strong>County</strong>Paul Corbin, Commissioner, Jefferson <strong>County</strong>Gary Ebersole, Commissioner, Bedford <strong>County</strong>Bill Hoover, Commissioner, Huntingdon <strong>County</strong>James Kennedy, Commissioner, Butler <strong>County</strong>Stephen Naylor, Commissioner, Perry <strong>County</strong>Betty Reibson, Commissioner, Sullivan <strong>County</strong>Richard Rovegno, Commissioner, Cumberland <strong>County</strong>Brian Smith, Commissioner, Wayne <strong>County</strong>John Sullivan, Commissioner, Bradford <strong>County</strong>Archie Trader, Commissioner, Greene <strong>County</strong>George Weikert, Commissioner, Adams <strong>County</strong>NON VOTING, EX OFFICIOJo Ellen Litz, Commissioner, Lebanon <strong>County</strong> andRepresentative to the AgricultureConservation Easement BoardJohn Bell, Director <strong>of</strong> Local Government Program,<strong>Pennsylvania</strong> Farm BureauDr. Kathy Brasier, The <strong>Pennsylvania</strong> State University,College <strong>of</strong> Agriculture ScienceJames Hercik, Chief Assessor, Fayette <strong>County</strong>Assessment Office and Assessors’<strong>Association</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Pennsylvania</strong> RepresentativeDoug Hoke, Commissioner, York <strong>County</strong> and Alternateto the Local Government AdvisoryCommittee <strong>of</strong> the Chesapeake BayCommissionJeffrey Hyde, The <strong>Pennsylvania</strong> State University,College <strong>of</strong> Agriculture ScienceJon Johnson, Center for Rural <strong>Pennsylvania</strong>Rob Schwarz, GIS Director, Tioga <strong>County</strong> and GISRepresentativeWilliam Sturges, Executive Director, <strong>Pennsylvania</strong>Rural Development CouncilJeff Wheeland, Commissioner, Lycoming <strong>County</strong> andCCAP Representative to theLocal Government Advisory Committee <strong>of</strong>the Chesapeake Bay CommissionSTAFF LIAISONLisa Schaefer, Government Relations Manager<strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> 2011 <strong>County</strong> <strong>Commissioners</strong> <strong>Association</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Pennsylvania</strong>13
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