Crop damage among topics discussed during farmers’ Harrisburg visit
Courtesy of Don Carter
The cost of fuel and fertilizer, milk prices and the destruction wrought by deer and other wildlife were among the topics Washington County farmers discussed with lawmakers in Harrisburg last week when they were there for the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s annual legislative conference.
“There was a whole range of issues that were discussed,” according to Don Carter, who handles government relations for the Washington County Farm Bureau.
The state legislative conference brought together farmers from around the commonwealth to lobby legislators on issues that are of specific concern to their communities and of broader importance across Pennsylvania. Members of the Washington County Farm Bureau met with, among others, state Sen. Camera Bartolotta and state Reps. Tim O’Neal, Josh Kail and Anita Kulick.
“We’re trying to have good communication with state officials,” Carter said.
One issue high atop the list of local farmers’ concerns is the toll that wildlife takes on their crops. It’s a perennial issue, Carter said, and the most urgent one facing farmers in Washington County.
It’s estimated that Pennsylvania farmers lose millions of dollars every year as a result of crop damage caused by wildlife, with white-tailed deer being the primary culprit. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania is one of the states that suffers the most crop damage as a result of wildlife. This can result in higher prices for consumers at the grocery store.
A Pennsylvania Game Commission initiative allows landowners to enlist hunters certified by the commission to come on their property and harvest deer.
Wildlife management is also among the top legislative priorities the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau has set forth for 2026. Other priorities include agricultural labor, energy, technology and transportation. The 2026-27 state budget that is being hashed over in Harrisburg right now includes $220 million in funding for agriculture. That amount includes a mix of grants, tax credits and an $18 million increase for programs geared toward education and apprenticeship programs.