HARRISBURG, PA — On Tuesday, the fourth day of the Pennsylvania Farm Show, state agriculture leaders used the packed halls of the state’s largest farm expo to spotlight a fast-growing network of public-private partnerships that now anchors a $132.5 billion agricultural economy and is being positioned as a national model for how food, research, and rural jobs move forward.
Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Lisa Graybeal joined leaders from Pennsylvania’s Centers for Excellence to mark more than two decades of coordinated investment that links industry groups, universities, and state government to drive research, workforce development, and business growth across plant and animal agriculture.
“This year’s Farm Show theme, Growing A Nation, isn’t just a reference to the food on our plates,” Graybeal said. “It’s a recognition that agriculture is the foundation of our economy, the health of our communities, and the security of our nation.”
Collectively, the Centers for Excellence receive $4.1 million through the state budget and span dairy, beef, poultry and livestock, plant industries, and organic agriculture. Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration expanded that network in 2025 with the launch of the Center for Plant Excellence and the creation of the Organic Center of Excellence, alongside legislation establishing the PA Preferred Organic brand to open new markets for growers.
The beef sector is using its funding to improve herd genetics, veterinary infrastructure, and youth outreach through programs such as PA Beef to PA School and Beefing Up Backpacks, according to the Department of Agriculture. Scotty Miller, farm manager of Masonic Villages Farm, said the targeted approach creates “long-term value and measurable impact” by reinvesting strategically in the industry.
Dairy producers are seeing a different kind of multiplier. The Center for Dairy Excellence, which serves more than 4,800 farms, delivers a four-to-one return from private industry for every dollar invested by the Commonwealth through programs focused on business management, reinvestment, and farm transitions. Farmer Kendra Nissley of Jubilee Heritage Cheese credited the center with helping operations improve everything from cow comfort to branding through PA Preferred.
The Center for Poultry and Livestock Excellence supports a $12 billion sector that includes more than 400 million poultry and over 1.6 million head of swine, sheep, and goats statewide, providing more than $5.4 million annually in research support and serving more than 2,350 farmers and stakeholders. Jim Shirk of Silver Valley Farm called the model “a three-legged stool of support” built on government, industry, and academia.
On the plant side, Pennsylvania remains a heavyweight, ranking first nationally in floriculture businesses, with 741 operations generating $209 million in annual sales, while its hardwood industry contributes $21.8 billion to the economy. The specialty crop sector ranks fourth in apple production and remains a leader in vegetables and small fruits, reinforcing the state’s role in both food production and tourism.
Those sector-specific efforts are backed by additional investments in the Shapiro administration’s 2025–26 budget, including another $10 million for the nation’s first Ag Innovation Program and continued funding for Pennsylvania’s Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza recovery fund, which still has $59.5 million available after more than $13.5 million in grants have already been distributed.
State officials said the combination of research, workforce development, and targeted capital is designed to keep Pennsylvania agriculture globally competitive while protecting family farms, strengthening rural economies, and securing the state’s food supply for the next generation.
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