Commentary
Preserving our heritage
By RICK SANTORUM (R-PA)

Throughout Pennsylvania's history, the economy of our Commonwealth has been driven by a variety of industries. Whether it be coal or steel or today's booming biotechnical industry, Pennsylvanians have shown the ability to thrive in whatever economic situation we find ourselves. But through all that time, through the ups and downs and transitions, Pennsylvania has been buoyed by a consistent, steadying force - our farmers.

Farming is and always has been central to Pennsylvania's economic and social identity. Milk is the official state beverage. The Pennsylvania Farm Show is known far and wide as an unmatched display of agricultural proficiency. There are more than 58,000 farms in Pennsylvania, with over 90% of these farms owned by individuals or families. For thousands of Pennsylvania families, these farms represent their livelihood, and for America, they represent a significant, crucial part of our national agrarian heritage and economic success.

But with the increase of suburban sprawl and development, more and more of our precious farmland is being lost, transformed into things like shopping malls or condominiums. And as you can see, this farmland is far, far too important to Pennsylvania for us to allow it to simply disappear.

Back in 1996, when the Farm Bill that currently governs much of our nation's agriculture policy was being debated, Congress created the Farmland Protection Program (FPP). I am proud to have authored this legislation as, since its inception, this creative program has been enormously successful in Pennsylvania. The FPP operates by allowing active, landowning farmers and ranchers to voluntarily sell their development rights in exchange for the ability to continue farming on the land. And since 1996, the Commonwealth has received over $22 million in funding through the FPP program, enabling the preservation of over 32,000 acres of Pennsylvania farmland.

The success of the program has been contingent on putting the federal government in a support role, supplementing the efforts taking place on the state and local level, as well as those by private conservation organizations. In this role, the FPP has been able to preserve over 300,000 acres of farm and ranch land across our nation. But unfortunately, the government is poised to implement new regulations that threaten to undermine the integrity and effectiveness of the program. We simply cannot afford to let that happen. And this past week I introduced legislation to ensure that it doesn't.

This bill, titled the Farm and Ranch Land Protection Flexibility Act, will prevent the Federal government from overwhelming the Farmland Protection Program with unnecessary, costly and time consuming regulations, regulations that will undoubtedly diminish its benefits. Instead, it will give state, local and private organizations that flexibility to tailor the program to the needs of their state or region, allowing them to enter directly into an agreement with USDA, thereby avoiding the Federal government's new, burdensome requirements. Those fighting to preserve our farmland at the state and local level will once again have full access to federal funding with which they may conduct their operations aggressively and efficiently.

The passage of this bill is an important step, the first of many that will come as the Congress prepares for the next Farm Bill, a process that is just on the horizon. As we approach this piece of legislation, the most important Congressional action relating to agriculture, it is critical that the priorities of Pennsylvania farmers are loudly declared and clearly defined. The Farm and Ranch Land Protection Flexibility Act further announces our intention to protect and preserve the farmland that has helped to make our Commonwealth, and our country, what it is today.