Lehigh Times

Two farms in Lancaster County are receiving $1.15 million in low-interest, tax-exempt loans through the Next Generation Farmer Loan Program, which this year will allocate $15 million to help beginning farmers in Pennsylvania, a press release this week from Gov. Tom Wolf's office said.

The loans will be going to John and Sadie K. King of East Drumore Township, and Ashton and Lorielle Weaver of Fulton Township, respectively. The Kings will receive $575,000 to buy a 12-acre farm and the buildings on the land so they can expand their produce business, which they've had running for seven years. In the past they raised produce on a small farm and sold it to local farm markets. 

The Weavers will receive $558,000 to buy a poultry and crop farm from Ashton's parents. For the past year they have operated poultry houses on the property they're purchasing.

"This program is a sound investment in feeding our future," Wolf said in the release. "Putting our commonwealth on sound fiscal footing and lowering the barriers that keep young people from entering the field are two of the ways Pennsylvania is supporting the young people who will feed us and feed our economy tomorrow."

The Next Generation Farm Loans allow the borrower to be charged a lower interest rate which is exempt from all taxes, the release said. This can help young farmers purchase both land and equipment that will help their farm and the industry as a whole. 

Agriculture is huge for the Quaker State economy, amounting to $132.5 billion and 593,000 jobs, the release said. More than $50 million has been invested by the state since 2019 with the PA Farm Bill, which is the only one of its kind in the U.S. Wolf included $13.6 million for PA Farm bill loans, programs and incentives in his proposed budget.

The PA Department of Agriculture approves the loans, partnering with the PA Department of Community and Economic Development and others in local industrial development. 

Up to $15 million will go to farms in the program this year, the release said. Last month $2.8 million in loans was awarded to five young farming couples who were purchasing property to expand their farms or start a business. Many of them had been working on family farms for many years or were involved in other facets of farming.

"Pennsylvania leads the U.S. in young producers, and Lancaster County alone is No. 1 nationwide," Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said in the release. "We lead for a reason. And a big part of that reason is the investments we have made in the past seven years in improving access to capital and planning resources, along with grant funding and support to lower regulatory burdens, bridge opportunity gaps and finance growth."