Farmers & Clean Water Need State Lawmaker Leadership on Funding Priorities

At Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, state and federal policymakers gathered to discuss Pennsylvania’s Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan for the Chesapeake Bay. Members of the House and Senate agriculture committees met with leaders from the Departments of Environmental Protection and Agriculture to review progress on farm inspections and water-quality efforts.

Despite these inspections, the author argues that farmers need substantial financial support and clear leadership from state lawmakers to adopt the conservation practices necessary to meet clean water goals. Programs like Growing Greener and funding for Chesapeake Bay restoration remain underfunded, so legislators must prioritize investments that help farmers protect waterways while maintaining productive farms.