Two recipients for the $300,000 in Veterans in Agriculture Grants, which will help military veterans succeed in farming in Pennsylvania, were announced earlier this month.
The Veterans in Agriculture Grant program awards funds to organizations to support ''mini-grant'' programs for the benefit of military veterans entering or expanding farm operations or related businesses as part of its ongoing commitment to agricultural business and workforce development.
A grant of $200,000 was awarded to PA Veteran Farming Network, which is the state’s grassroots network of veterans, military and their spouses who farm and operate agribusinesses, and $100,000 to Community Partnership Inc., serving Butler County, to provide funding to military veterans to establish or expand farming operations and make them more profitable and sustainable.
“Congratulations to the recipients of the Veterans in Agriculture grants for veteran farmers. We thank you for your service to our country and we applaud your commitment to our communities as farmers,” said Brig. Gen. John Pippy, Pennsylvania’s acting adjutant general and head of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “We are grateful to the Department of Agriculture for supporting veterans in agriculture and providing this opportunity for them to grow and develop their farming businesses.”
Funding for Veterans in Agriculture Grants has seen a 50 percent increase during the Shapiro Administration.
This program is made possible through the Agricultural Business Development Center, created through the PA Farm Bill to provide Pennsylvania farms and other agriculture businesses with the resources they need to grow their profits and sustain their operations.
“Two percent of Americans feed us, and two percent of Americans protect us,” said Agricultural Secretary Russell Redding. “The Shapiro Administration is deeply grateful to those who have bravely served our country. We are proud to support these heroes who are ‘Powering Pennsylvania’ with their continued service through agriculture by connecting them with resources for their farms to grow and thrive.”
In the United States, less than 2% of the population are farmers, and less than 2% have served in the military. Based on the 2022 Census of Agriculture, Pennsylvania is home to more than 6,000 veterans who are identified as agricultural producers.
The Shapiro Administration also supports veteran farmers through the Homegrown by Heroes program, in collaboration between the Farmer Veteran Coalition and the PA Preferred® program. Homegrown by Heroes helps farmer-veterans sell their locally grown products and connects consumers to a tangible way to support veteran-owned farms.
To learn more about PA Farm Bill and other funding and support for Pennsylvania, visit the Department of Agriculture's website.