Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding highlights state’s vision for industry | News, Sports, Jobs

State Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding always enjoys visiting Blair County.

“This is an amazing place, an extraordinary place. I appreciate counties who have a clear appreciation for agriculture,” Redding told Blair County Chamber of Commerce members during Thursday’s Breakfast Club at The Casino at Lakemont Park.

Redding said he got into dairy farming at the age of 24 and, over the years, has spent several years as the state secretary of agriculture. He was nominated by Gov. Tom Wolf and confirmed in May 2015 and again in May 2023 following his reappointment by Gov. Josh Shapiro. He had previously served in that role in the administration of Gov. Ed Rendell from 2009 until 2011.

Redding was the dean of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at Delaware Valley University and serves as chair of the USDA Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture.

The Team Pennsylvania Foundation recently released the Pennsylvania Agriculture Economic Analysis 2025, an in-depth report of Pennsylvania’s Agriculture Sector from 2012-2022. The report’s findings underscore agriculture’s crucial role in the state and national economy, analyzing on-farm production, processing and manufacturing clusters to assess their efficiency, competitiveness and growth opportunities.

“This study gives us critical information we need as state government to make sure we are investing in where we are going in Pennsylvania agriculture, not in where we’ve been. This is a springboard for a deeper dive into the trends, challenges and opportunities that will inform our economic development strategy in the coming months and years,” Redding said in a previous release.

The report highlights key trends, such as job declines in clusters like crop and forestry.

“Governor Shapiro and DCED recently launched an economic development strategy and one of the five pillars was agriculture,” Redding said of Pennsylvania’s number one industry.

Redding said there have been a lot of changes in agriculture over the years.

“We lost 200,000 acres of agricultural land between the 2017 and 2023 Census of Agriculture,” Redding said.

Another change has been in milk consumption.

“A shift has occurred as consumers don’t eat a lot of dry cereal, there is a connection between milk and cereal. Milk trends have gone down. Seventeen percent of total milk produced in the U.S. hits the export market,” Redding said.

According to the Pennsylvania Agriculture Economic Analysis, with strong domestic and international trade ties, Pennsylvania’s agriculture sector is well-positioned for future growth — provided it continues advancing efficiency, infrastructure and market expansion.

“We are looking at a strategic vision for Pennsylvania agriculture. Where are we going, what will it look like in 10 years, it will not stay here just because you and I like it. We are consumers with different expectations,” Redding said. “I am so excited about the future, we have a lot to be proud of here.”

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.

State Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding always enjoys visiting Blair County.

“This is an amazing place, an …

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