Section 1718-B - Department of AgricultureThe 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, no less than $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 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.(4) The appropriation for agriculture promotion, education and exports includes $250,000 for costs related to supporting the expansion of industrial hemp farming, including program development, outreach, education and refining and processing.(5) 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.(6) All money appropriated for the Animal Health and Diagnostic Commission shall be equally distributed to the animal diagnostic laboratory system laboratories located at a land grant university and at a school of veterinary medicine located within this Commonwealth.(7) From money appropriated for Livestock and Consumer Health Protection, funding shall be used for information technology projects and for equipment acquisition and maintenance in the Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services and in the Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services.(8) 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.Added by P.L.622021 No. 24, § 18, eff. 7/1/2021.