Section 1718-J - Department of Agriculture.The following apply to appropriations for the Department of Agriculture:
(1) From money appropriated for general government operations, no less than the amount transferred in the 2014-2015 fiscal year shall be transferred to the Dog Law Restricted Account.(2) From money appropriated for general government operations, at least $250,000 shall be used for the Commission of Agricultural Education Excellence to assist in development and implementation of agricultural education programming.(3) From money appropriated for agricultural preparedness and response, no less than $1,000,000 shall be used to fund research on chronic wasting disease, including research on diagnostic tests to detect chronic wasting disease in cervids and preventing humans from consuming infected venison, toward developing and testing live-animal tests for the detection of chronic wasting disease and injectable and oral vaccines for chronic wasting disease prevention in cervids. Funding under this paragraph shall be awarded after the issuance of a request for proposals.(4) From money appropriated for agricultural research, the following apply:(i) No less than $300,000 shall be used for an agricultural resource center.(ii) No less than $100,000 shall be used for agricultural law research programs, including those addressing energy development, in conjunction with a land-grant university.(5) The appropriation for agriculture promotion, education and exports includes $250,000 for costs related to supporting the expansion of hemp farming, including program development, outreach and education.(6) From money appropriated for hardwoods research and promotion, at least 80% of the money shall be equally distributed among the hardwood utilization groups of this Commonwealth established prior to the effective date of this section.(7) In addition to the uses provided in section 7.3 of the act of June 18, 1982 ( P.L. 549, No.159), entitled "An act providing for the administration of certain Commonwealth farmland within the Department of Agriculture," the department may use up to a total of $165,000 in the Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Fund under section 7.1 of the act of June 18, 1982 ( P.L. 549, No.159), entitled "An act providing for the administration of certain Commonwealth farmland within the Department of Agriculture," to issue grants not to exceed $5,000 each for succession planning to ensure that agricultural operations continue on land subject to agricultural conservation easements. The department, in consultation with the State Agricultural Land Preservation Board, shall establish eligibility criteria for awarding grants under this paragraph.(8) The Secretary of Agriculture shall provide to the Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee of the Senate and the Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives a status report on the implementation of the PA Preferred Organic Initiative. The internal report shall include progress on program development, assessment of the organic market opportunities for farmers and consumers in this Commonwealth, outline the process for USDA approval and any recommendations to ensure program success. Added by P.L. TBD 2019 No. 20, § 22, eff. 7/1/2019.