Monday, February 24, 2025, 5:04PM |  47°
MENU
Advertisement

Back to the land: For southwestern Pa., more farming makes sense

Back to the land: For southwestern Pa., more farming makes sense

What’s old is new again. Farming, the first industry in southwestern Pennsylvania and for a long time the predominant one, will be making a comeback if boosters in Fayette County and from as far away as Maryland and West Virginia have anything to say about it. They have lassoed a big federal grant to help promote the lamb industry and other agricultural pursuits. Given the booming interest in farm-to-table dining, the need for jobs and the growing need to focus on healthier living, this is a course worth pursuing.

But it’s far from a sure thing. Just ask the region’s dairy farmers how difficult it is to make a go of it. According to the nonprofit Center for Dairy Excellence in Harrisburg, the number of Pennsylvania dairy farms has been dropping — 120 were lost last year alone — even though production of milk and demand for it are increasing. While the impact of fracking is controversial, leases for natural gas drilling have been credited with saving some family farms.

The new agricultural push in 38 counties of southwestern Pennsylvania and parts of Maryland and West Virginia — an area to be known as a “food shed” in an adaptation of “watershed” — will have to be carefully planned. So far, it appears to be. As the Post-Gazette’s Daniel Moore reported Sunday, a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission, with matching money from Pennsylvania and government agencies, has created a $3.5 million pool to launch the initiative. 

Advertisement

The commission’s involvement is fitting the given need for economic development and healthier living across Appalachia. According to a study jointly released last week by the commission and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the region, taking in all or part of 13 states, lags much of the rest of the country in dozens of key health indicators. It also has fewer doctors and other health care providers than other areas. 

The food shed would attempt to unite the 38 counties in a kind of common market for the production and consumption of agricultural goods, potentially tackling two big needs — linking job creation and healthier eating — in one initiative. 

Lamb farming is a big part of the push because of high demand for the meat. Fortunately, those involved in the expansion efforts, which are being led by Fayette County Community Action and include representatives of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, understand that the work cut out for them involves growing not only the size and number of flocks but making sure there is capacity to slaughter and process the meat. Infrastructure is important to building — and sustaining — any industry.

The roots of agriculture still run deep in many parts of Appalachia, so organizations involved in the effort won’t be starting from scratch. Those county fairs are about agricultural know-how as much as midway rides. 

Advertisement

Old agricultural communities also have something else going for them — the work ethic needed to do a hard day’s farm work.

First Published: August 29, 2017, 4:00 a.m.

RELATED
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
President Donald Trump speaks at the Governors Working Session in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Feb. 21, 2025.
1
opinion
Bruce Ledewitz: The Supreme Court will step up and Trump will back down
Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden catches a pass against Ohio State during the second half of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Arlington, Texas.
2
sports
Which positions are strong and weak at NFL combine? And how will Steelers approach this draft?
La Grassa Pizza is now offering four-cut, late-night pies at The Vandal on Saturday nights.
3
life
Pittsburgh pizza news: La Grassa’s late-night pies and a big win for Mercurio’s
Two adults and a child were killed in a fire in Kittanning on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025.
4
local
2 adults, child killed in Kittanning fire
Pirates first-round pick Konnor Griffin hits against the Twins at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida, on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025.
5
sports
Pirates top pick Konnor Griffin has raised eyebrows at spring training. Next step is learning to be a pro
Advertisement
LATEST opinion
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story