Section 1918-B. Department of Agriculture.
The following apply to appropriations for the Department of Agriculture:
(1) From money appropriated for general government operations, no less than $250,000 shall be used for the Commission for Agricultural Education Excellence to assist in the development and implementation of agricultural education programming.
(2) From money appropriated for agricultural preparedness and response, no less than $6,000,000 shall be used for costs incurred by the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System across this Commonwealth in preparing for and responding to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza.
(3) From money appropriated for agricultural excellence, no less than $1,400,000 shall be used for beef excellence supported programs and initiatives.
(3.1) From money appropriated for the Farmers Market Food Coupons:
(i) $5,000,000 shall be used to reduce food waste and strengthen food access programs.
(ii) $2,000,000 shall be distributed to a nonprofit organization that is headquartered in a city of the first class and has received a grant under 7 U.S.C. § 7517 (relating to the Gus Schumacher nutrition incentive program) to be used for administration and program costs associated with a benefit incentive program for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants to purchase fruits and vegetables at eligible food retailers.
(4) From money appropriated for agricultural research, the following apply:
(i) No less than $300,000 shall be used for an agricultural resource center.
(ii) No less than $100,000 shall be used for agricultural law research programs, including those addressing energy development, in conjunction with a land-grant university.
(5) From money appropriated for hardwoods research and promotion, at least 80% of the money shall be equally distributed among the hardwood utilization groups of this Commonwealth established prior to the effective date of this paragraph.
(1918-B added July 12, 2026, P.L.265, No.21)