Pennsylvania farmers advocate for fewer regulations, better deals

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Pennsylvania farmers sat down for lunch with the Governor and lawmakers to discuss different ways to help farmers.

The sit-down lunch was organized by the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau in hopes of having a more fruitful relationship with the state.

Farmers are looking to lawmakers for fewer regulations, to construct more processing plants, and to provide cheaper energy.

Most importantly, farmers want consumers to know that the prices of goods going up are not on the farmers. In fact, even though consumers are paying more does not mean that farmers are getting paid more.

“…In many cases, we’re being paid the same price for grain as many years ago,” said cattle farmer Marty Yahner. “And everyone knows the cost of production is way up. So just we’re always in that price cost squeeze.”

“The prices anymore are just outrageous,” said State Senator Judy Ward (R-Blair/Fulton/Huntingdon/Juniata/Mifflin). “And people want to blame the farmers, but it’s not the farmers. You know, everything has gone up. Everything has gone up.”

Just because consumers pay more doesn’t mean farmers make more.

“It’s the reminder that if there’s no margin, there’s no mission,” said State Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “Right? You need a margin… but we hope that, you know, the the marketplace is going to be kind to us.”

It’s startling to realize that 2% of the population feeds the 100% of us that need to eat.

“So we are food security for the nation, right? And so we need help from our legislators to do the job that we do,” said Chriss Hoffman, President of the PA Farm Bureau.

Farmers say another way to help them is to choose Pennsylvania produced products at the store or at the farm stand.

abc27 news will keep you updated as more information becomes available.