3 Pa. Stat. § 2104

Current through Pa Acts 2024-53, 2024-56 through 2024-111
Section 2104 - Sustainable agriculture program
(a) Establishment.-- The department is hereby directed to establish a program to promote the practice of sustainable agriculture.
(b) Duties of department.-- The department shall:
(1) Make sustainable agriculture part of a policy to invigorate the farm economy, increase farm income and conserve natural resources.
(2) Encourage nonprofit educational institutions to identify and develop sustainable agriculture practices.
(3) Distribute funds appropriated by the General Assembly and received from other sources for loan and grant programs.
(4) Provide a clearinghouse of sustainable agriculture information.
(5) Disseminate information concerning sustainable agriculture practices, including the results of research projects funded by the sustainable agriculture loan and grant programs.
(6) Administer the loan and grant programs and issue loans and grants from the funds appropriated by the General Assembly and awarded by the board.
(7) Appoint an executive director to advise the board. The executive director may be drawn from the department's current staff and may use the services of other departmental employees, as directed by the secretary.
(c) Participation in Federal program.-- On or before December 31, 1996, the department shall, in collaboration with the board, develop a State plan for submission to the United States Department of Agriculture's Regional Administrative Council on sustainable agriculture for Commonwealth participation in the Federal-State matching grant program established pursuant to section 1623 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( Public Law 101-624, 7 U.S.C. § 5813 ).

3 P.S. § 2104

1994, Dec. 12, P.L. 891, No. 129, § 4, effective in 60 days.