Local farmers heard from the state Farm Bureau president and leadership from the state Department of Agriculture at the Warren County Farm Bureau’s annual meeting recently at Jackson Valley Golf Course.

“Each and every one of you is part of the grassroots movement,” Chris Hoffman, state Farm Bureau president, said. “Your activity is what energizes everyone. It’s about the future that we need to focus on. When I became president almost two years ago, I wanted to have us in every conversation, local, county, state or the federal level and that we’re going to build an influence that gets the job done.”

Ag policy at the state level and the federal Farm Bill are two areas of focus. Addressing the Farm Bill, which sets the nation’s ag priorities, “comes back to the same thing over and over again. The rest of Congress doesn’t understand the importance (of) how food security is national security. It’s on us to make sure we educate and tell everyone exactly what we need,” Hoffman said.

That has included meetings with all of the state’s administrative agency secretaries and the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

Pictured is state Farm Bureau President Chris Hoffman.

“Farmer’s don’t tell their story well enough. They don’t tell what we’re doing,” Hoffman siad. “We are the conservationists.

“We have to be there (and) engaged. If we’re not engaged, someone else is going to tell our story.”

Hoffman said he’s starting to see that pay off, especially at the state level.

“We’re starting to see some of those engagements are now coming through,” he said, citing a meeting with Gov. Shapiro. “He understands the ag sector. He understands what it is we need.”

He also cited Congressman Glenn Thompson’s role as House Ag Committee secretary and the role that brings with shepherding the Farm Bill.

“We’re going to get this Farm Bill done. I know farmers are struggling right now,” Hoffman said, citing droughts and storms. “We need the Farm Bill, the research. We are calling on everyone, it’s on us folks…. We’ve got to protect our farmers so they can farm next year.”

The issue of solar farming came up and Hoffman said it’s a balance between protecting farmland and property rights.

“It’s a really really tough situation as we think about all the things we have to kind of consider in how we address it,” he said. “We have to have a really solid conversation about our ground, whether it’s for solar, industrial or residential. America is strong because of its ag. As a team, we can make real change,” Hoffman explained, citing science and technological advancements “for what we do on our farms. We’re increasing how we use our water, how the land is more healthy than it has ever been before. This is an exciting time for ag. Good things are happening. We’re working hard to be your voice when you’re out working on the farm.”

Mark Critz, western regional director and the executive director of the Rural Development Council for the Pa. Department of Agriculture, told the county Farm Bureau about increased state funding as well as expanded testing options in western Pennsylvania.

“Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation with a state-specific Farm Bill,” he said. “23 bills had to be passed and signed to create” that provision.

Critz told local farmers that the agency has pulled together all of the grant programs available for farmers throughout state government.

“What we’re trying to do is support ag,” he said. “These aren’t giant programs. They’re not going to solve every problem.

“We’re trying to do our part to be helpful and listen.”