Washington Township Community Building

Attention farmers and all those who care about our community’s rural heritage.... The Future of Westmoreland Agriculture (FWA) program is being launched to understand and address the challenges and opportunities facing the farming community in Westmoreland County. Here is some information further explaining the FWA process. The local meeting is at the Washington Twp. Fire Hall on Tuesday, November 9, 2004 at 7:30PM. Please pass this information on to others you know that may be interested.

Questions & Answers

Following are answers to some of the questions you may have regarding the FWA initiative.

What is the purpose of the "Future of Westmoreland Agriculture" initiative?

Agriculture is a major industry in Pennsylvania and in Westmoreland County. Unlike other industries, agriculture touches everyone -- in terms of economics, environment, health and quality of life. The purpose of this initiative is to raise awareness of the vital role our farms serve in the community, to better understand the issues and challenges they face and to develop strategies to keep farming healthy and viable for the future in our county.

How will it take place?

The first phase of the program consists of gathering input from farmers through "Let's Talk" meetings and farm visit surveys. Information gathered will then be compiled and reviewed to identify priority issues and opportunities. The information will be communicated to the public, and the real work will begin to develop action plans to implement strategies that will strengthen the future of agriculture in our county.

Who is running it?

It is based on a model developed by the Penn State Cooperative Extension, but it is entirely community-based. It is run by volunteers from Westmoreland County, based on direct input from farmers in Westmoreland County and will therefore result in workable outcomes specific to the needs of the agricultural community in Westmoreland County.

There is a Leadership Team overseeing the initiative and it consists of all volunteers -- a diverse group that includes traditional farmers, niche farmers, a computer software engineer, small business owners, community leaders and others with no involvement in farming.

There is also a Task Force comprised of a cross-section of additional community volunteers -- farmers, non-farmers, business owners, community leaders, rural land owners, residential property owners and others -- who will actually conduct the program.

This is believed to be the first community-wide effort focused on agriculture in our county.

Why do non-farmers care about the farming community?

Agriculture is an industry that touches everyone. The Leadership Team has identified a number of ways that agriculture is essential and worthy of the community's time and energy:

AESTHETICS

In recent surveys conducted as part of the county's comprehensive planning effort, there was a recurring theme and public desire to maintain the "rural, open space character" of Westmoreland County. This is not just a superficial observation. People are drawn to Pennsylvania and Westmoreland County in particular because of the 'country' environment. We need to recognize what draws people here and then work to preserve it.

ENVIRONMENT
Besides looking nice, open space in a community benefits the environment. Conservation of natural resources; preservation of wildlife/nature; increased property values; and reduced traffic in rural areas are just a few examples.

ECONOMICS
Development is important to every region, and there are ways to balance growth and progress while maintaining a rural atmosphere. There are good economic reasons to sustain agriculture. Farmers demand fewer services than most other groups and are important to local tax bases.

FARMING AS AN INDUSTRY
When you consider the reach of its product, agriculture is one of the largest industries in Westmoreland County. Its employment, revenues and other measuring factors are monumental when you consider the businesses and suppliers that farmers depend upon and serve (agri-businesses, grocers, etc.)

FOOD QUALITY & SAFETY
With recent health scares related to imported foods, there is no better time to encourage and strengthen local food production and buying local.

VALUES
It would be hard to find an industry with employees who work harder. Farmers don't only pass down their land from generation to generation, they pass down their work ethic and family values. That is something the entire community should be working hard to cultivate.

For all of these reasons and more, the many volunteers who signed on to be part of this initiative care about the farming community.

Can it work?

Because it is a grass-roots effort that involves broad participation, we believe that it can be very effective. When you have a blend of full-time farmers, part-time farmers, community leaders and non-farmers working together focusing on the impact of agriculture, there is a solid foundation for success. This a unique program in that the entire community is involved in supporting the agricultural industry.

This is not just another program that is ambitious in the beginning but lacks follow-through. The goal is to develop workable ideas and plans and to see that they are considered as part of the long-term planning for Westmoreland County.

Also, county and community officials are supportive of the process and are eager to be informed of the progress of the program as well as its outcomes which will be considered in the overall planning for the county.

Does agriculture in Westmoreland County need to be 'saved'?

Many aspects of farming are thriving, while others are at risk. There are no pre-conceived outcomes for this initiative. The results will take shape based on what farmers tell us. That is why participation and input from every farmer is crucial.

Is it going to tell me how to run my farm?

Absolutely not. In fact, the opposite is true. Through this program, farmers are going to tell the community what they need and see as opportunities for the future. The ultimate goal is to have farming considered in any long-term plans for the county.

No one will tell farmers what to do with their farms as a result of this program. Again, the purpose is for farmers to share with the public what they feel needs to be done to sustain their industry.

What outcomes are you expecting from this initiative?

Cumberland and York Counties have used the same model offered by the Penn State Cooperative Extension and found the entire process useful in addressing potential obstacles, generating new ideas and raising overall awareness and appreciation for the farming industry. Some of the outcomes in Cumberland and York included the creation of new educational programs/materials, developing alternative marketing information, and a ‘buy-local’ campaign.

But this is Westmoreland County and the needs and opportunities may be different. This is a program conducted by volunteers from this county, for farmers in this county and the outcome will be workable solutions specific to Westmoreland County.

How will you know if it's a success?

One of the overriding goals is to simply get more people to understand and appreciate the significance of the county's agricultural base. If we accomplish only that, we will have succeeded. However, we have much higher hopes of identifying strategies to strengthen agriculture and have the commitment to see them through to implementation.

What are you asking farmers to do?

It's easy. Every farmer in Westmoreland County is simply being asked to participate in the input-gathering phase. This means giving up small amounts of time to participate in one of the Farmer "Let's Talk" Meetings, and if your farm is one of those randomly selected – to allow for a farm visit to participate in a confidential survey.

How can I get MORE involved if I choose to?

Anyone who wishes to get more involved as a volunteer is welcome! We are in need of more Task Force members and Volunteer Farm Visitors. Please encourage spouses and children to get involved.

Interested volunteers should contact Anita Nichols, Extension Educator, at the Penn State Cooperative Extension in Westmoreland County, 724-837-1402 or adn3@psu.edu.

The Future of Westmoreland Agriculture (FWA) is a community-wide effort to build a strong foundation for agriculture in Westmoreland County that ensures the health and economic viability of our farms, our people and our communities.

Submitted by the Washington Township