Ag Business Development Committee
Bureau of Market Development
Purpose: The new agriculture advisory committee is part of a partnership established last year between the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and Team PA. The advisory committee shall meet as often as necessary to advise the secretary on satisfying the purpose of this chapter and establishing and awarding grants under this chapter.
Statute:Title 3, Chapter 48, Act 40
Meetings: Hybrid with both in-person and virtual options to attend. Meetings occur around once every 3 months but is subject to change.See link to meeting noticeshere.
Time commitment: ~1 hour per month plus 2-4 hours per meeting.
Ag Law Resource and Reference Council (INACTIVE)
Executive Office
Purpose: The Ag Law Center provides resources focusing on the contemporary agricultural law issues facing PA farmers, landowners and citizens. The Ag Law Center is a collaboration between the PA Department of Agriculture, Penn State's Dickinson School of Law and the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences.
PA Apple Program Board
Bureau of Market Development
Purpose: The Pennsylvania Apple Program represents 240 apple growers in Pennsylvania and provides growers with industry research support, consumer education, and national representation in the U.S. Apple Association
Statute:PA Apple Program Order, 2012;Ag Commodities Marketing Act, 2002
Meetings: Morning meetings take place three times per year - January/February, Hershey, 3 hours; July, Virtual, 2 hours; November, Virtual, 2 hours
Time commitment: 2-3 hours per meeting
Aquaculture Advisory Board
Bureau of Animal Health
Purpose:
(1) To encourage aquacultural operators to make a long-term commitment to aquaculture by offering them the same protections afforded other agricultural practices.
(2) To reduce the amount of governmental agencies with jurisdiction over aquaculture by transferring authority over commercial aquacultural operations to the Department of Agriculture.
(3) To encourage further development of the aquacultural industry by including quaculture in any and all promotional and other economic developmental programs.
Statute:PA Title 3, Ch 42, Section 4216
Malt and Brewed Beverage Board
Bureau of Market Development
Purpose: The Board, which will be staffed by five members appointed by the Governor and General Assembly, will oversee a $1 million-per-year grant program designed to increase the production of Pennsylvania-made malt and brewed beverages and the enhancement of the industry in general.
Statute:Act 39 of 2016, Section 446.1;Ag Commodities Marketing Act, 1998
Meetings: Morning meetings take place five times per year - February, Virtual, 3 hours; March/April, Virtual, 3 hours; May, Virtual, 4 hours; July, Virtual, 4 hours; October, Virtual, 4 hours
Time commitment: ~3-4 hours per meeting
Peach and Nectarine Board
Bureau of Market Development
Purpose: The Pennsylvania Peach & Nectarine Research Program represents each producer who grows 500 or more peach and/or nectarine trees, of all ages, for the production for sale or marketing.
Statute:Pennsylvania Peach and Nectarine Research Program, 2014;Ag Commodities Marketing Act, 1998
Meetings: Morning meetings take place twice per year - January/February, Hershey, 2.5 hours; July, Virtual, 2 hours
Time commitment: ~2 hours per meeting
Potato Research Program Board
Bureau of Market Development
Purpose: The Pennsylvania Potato Research Program represents each producer who grows potatoes for the production for sale or marketing
Statute:Pennsylvania Potato Research Program, 2017;Ag Commodities Marketing Act, 1998
Meetings: Morning meetings take place twice per year - January/February, Hershey, 2.5 hours; July, Virtual, 2 hours
Time commitment: ~ 2 hours per meeting
Specialty Crop Advisory Board
Bureau of Market Development
Purpose: This is an advisory board to provide oversight and assist in evaluating grant applications for funding. This board is composed of legislative representatives (Senate and House Agriculture), produce broker, food service, academics, and department of agriculture staff. Board meets annually.
Vegetable Marketing Board
Bureau of Market Development
Purpose: Represents each producer who does one or more of the following during a particular marketing season:
-Grows one or more acres of vegetables within this Commonwealth for the purpose of selling said vegetable;
-Grows vegetables in one or more greenhouses located within this Commonwealth if: (1) the greenhouse(s) is/are used for growing vegetables in 1,000 square feet or more of growing space; (2) the vegetables are grown for sale; and (3) the vegetables are not grown to be transplanted outdoors; or -Grows vegetables within this Commonwealth and sells $2,000 or more of the vegetables grown in a given marketing season.
Statute:Pennsylvania Vegetable Marketing and Research Program, 2018;Opens In A New WindowPA Agricultural Commodities Marketing Act, 1998
Meetings: Meetings take place five times per year - January, Hershey, 2.5 hours; February, Virtual, 2 hours; March, Virtual, 2 hours; June, Virtual, 2 hours; November, Virtual, All Day
Time commitment: Aside from the day-long meeting in November, the other four annual meetings are around 2 hours
Wine Marketing Board
Bureau of Market Development
Purpose: The Pennsylvania Wine Marketing and Research Program Board was established by state law and grants funds collected from producers through the Agricultural Commodity Marketing Act (ACMA). These funds are to be used exclusively for wine production marketing and research
Statute:3 Pa.C.S. §§ 4501—4513,PA Wine Marketing & Research Program - 2016 Program Order;PA Agricultural Commodities Marketing Act, 1998
Meetings: Morning meetings take place eight times per year - February, Virtual, 4 hours; March/April, Virtual, 4 hours; May, Virtual, 4 hours; June, Virtual, 2 hours; June, Virtual, 2 hours July, AG/Virtual, 2 hours; September, Virtual, 2 hours; November, AG/Virtual, 3 hours
Time commitment: ~2-4 hours per meeting
