CHESTER SPRINGS, PA — Pennsylvania will use a new 10-year agricultural strategy to guide state investments, improve farmers’ access to capital and strengthen the competitiveness of an industry generating more than $153 billion annually, under a plan Gov. Josh Shapiro unveiled Friday, October 16, at Milky Way Farm in Chester County.
The state’s first Strategic Plan for Agriculture establishes five priorities covering workforce development, industry modernization, market access, farmland preservation and government services. The administration will use the framework to evaluate existing programs, identify gaps and direct resources toward long-term agricultural growth.
Pennsylvania’s agricultural industry encompasses more than 48,800 farms, supports nearly 600,000 jobs and produces approximately $153.2 billion in annual economic output, according to the administration.
Shapiro presented the plan alongside Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger, linking agricultural policy more directly to the state’s broader economic development strategy.
The initiative targets four underlying industry challenges: access to capital, efficiency and profitability, modernization and innovation, and public engagement.
Specific priorities include expanding agricultural career pathways, increasing the adoption of technology, strengthening regional supply chains and improving access to productive farmland for future generations.
The strategy also calls for better coordination of state assistance programs to help farmers and agricultural businesses navigate available financing, technical resources and other services.
Shapiro identified federal trade policies, rising operating costs and inadequate high-speed internet access as continuing obstacles for Pennsylvania producers.
“This plan provides a 10-year roadmap to build a stronger agricultural industry that will have the resources to thrive,” Shapiro stated.
The strategy follows more than $268 million in agricultural investments by the Shapiro administration since January 2023, according to Redding.
Those investments include $30 million through the Agricultural Innovation Grant Program to help producers adopt technology, address workforce challenges and improve operating efficiency.
The administration has also maintained annual funding of $13.8 million for the Pennsylvania Farm Bill and $4.1 million for agricultural Centers of Excellence serving the plant, beef, poultry, livestock and dairy sectors.
The new strategy arrives as Pennsylvania seeks to expand agricultural processing capacity. In September, Chobani committed $1.2 billion to establish its first dairy manufacturing operation in the state, a project expected to create 900 full-time jobs and expand opportunities for more than 4,000 dairy farmers.
The Chester County location underscored the relationship between agricultural investment, farmland preservation and business succession.
Milky Way Farm, a fourth-generation dairy operation owned by the Matthews family, encompasses 103 acres that have been farmed for more than 300 years.
The farm operates with 40 milking cows and ships approximately 45,000 gallons of milk monthly. It also generates revenue through Chester Springs Creamery and uses robotic milking technology to improve operating efficiency.
The state awarded Milky Way Farm a $15,000 Farm Vitality Grant to help cover legal consulting and restructuring expenses associated with transferring ownership to the next generation.
The property received Pennsylvania Century Farm designation in 2025 and is among the state’s permanently preserved agricultural properties.
“Like all businesses, farming practices must be ever-changing to adapt to new ideas and opportunities,” said Carolyn Eaglehouse, co-owner of Milky Way Farm.
Pennsylvania has permanently preserved 6,781 farms covering 671,082 acres across 58 counties, according to the administration.
Chester County has developed its own agricultural economic development framework through AgConnect, a public-private partnership involving the county commissioners and Chester County Economic Development Council.
Gary Smith, executive strategist at the council, described the county’s approach as connecting agricultural producers with business development opportunities and broader markets.
The statewide strategy was developed through three stakeholder workgroups and four regional listening sessions involving more than 200 farmers, agribusiness leaders, educators, lenders and other participants from more than 40 counties.
State officials will now begin reviewing existing agricultural programs against the plan’s five priorities to determine where resources and policy changes could improve industry performance.
The complete 10-year Strategic Plan for Agriculture is available at pa.gov/AgStrategicPlan.
Support the local news that supports Chester County. MyChesCo delivers reliable, fact-based reporting and essential community resources—free for everyone. If you value that, click here to become a patron today.