This month, Chamber members and staff joined with local elected officials and the farming community to discuss current legislation and public policies directly impacting our regional agriculture sectors. Agriculture remains the largest sector as part of our overall GDP. The Chamber, through its Public Policy Committee and Agricultural Programs, will continue to track legislation at the state and federal levels and advocate on their behalf. For the full story as it appeared in the Altoona Mirror, see below:
MARTINSBURG – Farmers and elected officials from across Blair County convened at Stauffer Custom Farming and Gahagan Farms on Friday morning for a roundtable discussion about the most pressing issues facing the agriculture industry.
The Legislative Farm & Agribusiness Tour, hosted annually by the Blair County Farm Bureau, is an invaluable opportunity to connect farmers and their elected representatives, according to bureau president Mark Heeter.
Since farming is a smaller, more niche industry in Blair County, it is “vital” to maintain open lines of communication with representatives in Harrisburg, Heeter said.
Farming is an essential part of the larger Pennsylvanian economy, Heeter said, as it keeps the commonwealth fed. Two of the key issues Heeter highlighted during his presentation to the about 50 people in attendance were PennDOT regulations surrounding farm vehicles and milk tanker logistics.
Under current regulations, farm equipment like tractors and manure haulers cannot travel on state roads more than a certain distance from their home farm without a special permit, Heeter said, which limits the ability of farmers to conduct business over a wider area.
Loosening this requirement would keep the agriculture industry up to speed with modern logistical needs, he said. Another issue the bureau is advocating for is the passage of state Senate Bill 481, which would allow truckers to transport milk tankers during weather emergencies and state-declared disaster declarations.
According to Heeter, since it is a perishable product, keeping the milk supply chain moving even during inclement weather events would prevent logistical issues and would help the dairy industry as a whole.
Read more in the full Altoona Mirror article by Conner Goetz here: https://www.altoonamirror.com/news/local-news/2025/08/blair-county-holds-ag-talks/
Mirror Staff Writer Conner Goetz is at 814-946-7535.
