According to the 2007 Census of Agriculture, there are 63,163 active farms in Pennsylvania, utilitzing 7.81 million acres of land. The value of all agriculture in Pennsylvania is $5.9 billion (68% of which comes from animal products and 32% from crops.) Of the top 100 counties in the United States offering direct sales for human consumption, 10 Pennsylvania counties made the list (#9 - Lancaster; #20 - Bucks; #34 - York; #59 - Schuylkill; #60 - Adams; #61 - Chester; #85 - Franklin; #91 - Berks; #97 - Butler; #100 - Montgomery).

Commodity Specific

   Aquaculture

      Pennsylvania ranks fourth nationally in trout production. The USDA Trout and Aquaculture Census reports

      Pennsylvania aquaculture sales of $10.48 million in 2008. Sales of food fish comprised 83.4 percent of

      total sales, with the remainder of the sales composed of sport and game fish, baitfish, crustaceans,

      mollusks, ornamental fish, water garden plants and other animal aquaculture (tadpoles, frogs, trout

      eggs, etc.). While trout comprises most of the food fish sales, tilapia and hybrid striped bass are also

      produced, albeit on a smaller scale. Pennsylvania hatcheries, including those of the Pennsylvania Fish

      and Boat Commission, also produce additional trout valued at $14.7 million for conservation and

      recreational purposes. A recent press release from USDA notes the 2010 value of trout production in
      Pennsylvania at $16.9 million.
   Dairy

      In 2009 Pennsylvania ranked 5th nationally in total milk production, coming in behind California,

      Wisconsin, New York and Idaho. The Commonwealth's 545,000 cows produce 10.51 billion pounds of

      milk, with the state's annual production per cow at 19,360 pounds. The state ranks 15th in milk

      production per cow. The dairy industry is the key economic driver in Pennsylvania's agriculture industry,

      the Commonwealth's leading economic enterprise. Dairy generates $1.5 billion in cash receipts each

      year, contributing to 40 percent of the state's agricultural receipts. The dairy industry also generates

      40,000 jobs in the commonwealth. Research estimates that roughly 85% of the dairy farmer's total

      income is spent locally, making dairy farms a significant contributor to the local economy. For additional

      information, visit www.centerfordairyexcellence.org.

   Equine

      Pennsylvania equine owners devote 1,140,000 acres of land for equine purposes with associated

      assets totaling $8.27 billion; the racehorse industry accounts for $1.12 billion of that total. The equine

      industry provides 20,300 jobs annually in Pennsylvania. Equine related expenditures total $746 million.

      Approximately 26,365 racehorses reside in Pennsylvania, with a value of $978 million. (Source: Penn

      State Equine Survey)

   Feed, Grain

      Pennsylvania is home to 5,858 oilseed and grain farms. Of the 7.81 million acres of land farmed in

      Pennsylvania, 4.87 is cropland and a total of 3.94 is harvested cropland. Grains and oilseeds account for

      26.8% of all crop sales in Pennsylvania, while hay and other crops account for 8.0%. The total value of

      crop sales in Pennsylvania is $1.9 billion. (Source: 2007 Census of Agriculture Pennsylvania)

      2010 Economic Analysis of Animal Agriculture, conducted by Promar International and funded by the

      United Soybean Board’s Domestic Marketing Committee

   Poultry

      Pennsylvania ranks third nationally in egg production and tenth nationally in turkey production. According

      to the most recent USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service data, the farm value of Pennsylvania

      poultry and eggs was $864 million in 2007. However, since this figure does not take into account the

      Commonwealth's very sizable game bird, broiler breeder, and embryo industries (for vaccine production),

      the value of the industry certainly exceeds $1 billion.   

   Swine

      Pennsylvania is home to approximately 1,072 hog farms. The pork industry in Pennsylvania comprises

      $331.5 million in sales and supports more than 8,000 jobs in the Commonwealth. The Pennsylvania

      pork industry ranks 13th in the country, generates approximately $67.5 million in export income, and

      creates more than 1,600 export jobs. Visit www.papork.org for additional information.

In an increasingly urban society, our contact with animals, especially farm animals, is limited. While man and animal depend on each other, our modern culture separates people from animals more and more. As a result, our understanding of the needs and roles of domesticated animals becomes weaker, and in some cases, distorted.

Many of today's consumers don't know how modern farmers produce meat, milk, and eggs. The image of the family farm with its red barn, a few chickens in the yard, some pigs in the mud, and cows in the field isn't accurate anymore. Today, U.S. animal agriculture is a dynamic, specialized endeavor - the envy of the rest of the world. Modern American agriculture allows 2% of the people to feed 100% of the population. Well cared for, healthy livestock and poultry is the key to this efficiency, resulting in the highest quality and most affordable food in the history of the world.

Modern farm animal production is no accident. Improved animal housing, handling practices, and healthy, nutritious feeds are the result of billions of dollars of private and government research into how to raise healthy animals. As American animal agriculture grows and changes, two truths remain constant: Farmers' and ranchers' concern for their animals' welfare, and their dedication to providing the highest quality, safest food in the world.

Some of the commonly heard myths about modern animal agriculture are listed below. Then general facts on how and why farmers and ranchers really operate follow. (Adapted from Animal Ag Alliance.)

MYTH       Most farm animals are raised on 'factory farms,' confined in 'crowded, unventilated cages and

                  sheds.'

FACT        Animals are kept in barns to protect the health and welfare of the animal. 

                  Housing protects animals from predators, disease and bad weather or extreme climates.

                  Housing also makes breeding and birth less stressful on the animals, protects young animals 

                  and makes it easier for farmers to care for both healthy and sick animals. Modern housing is

                  well-ventilated, warm, well-lit, clean and scientifically-designed to meet the animal's

                  specific needs. Housing is designed to allow the farmer to provide the best care possible for

                  the animals he/she cares for. Yes, just as in any industry, there are bad actors in agriculture.

                  We as an association do not condone the mistreatment of animals in any way. We work with

                  producers to ensure housing facilities are current with Pennsylvania's standards and do in fact

                  provide the best care for the animals.

MYTH       Farm animals on 'factory farms' are prone to disease, forcing farmers to routinely use

                  antibiotics, hormones and drugs to keep them alive, thus jeopardizing animal and

                  human health.

FACT        Animal scientists, veterinarians and on-farm experience show animals kept in housing

                  are generally healthier because they are protected. Farm animals do sometimes get sick. To 

                  prevent illness and to ensure that an animal remains healthy all of its life, farmers will take

                  preventative measures, like using animal health products. These products are

                  generally included in scientifically formulated feed that matches the animal's needs. Animal

                  health products include animal drugs and vaccines, in addtion to vitamins, minerals and other

                  nutrients the animal needs in its diet. All animal health products are approved and regulated by

                  the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). 

MYTH       By eating less meat, Americans would improve the environment and free land and resources for

                  the production of food crops rather than animal products, which could be used to feed the hungry

                  overseas.

FACT        Americans need both animals and plants to manage the nation's natural resources and feed its

                  people. For example, about half the land area of the U.S. cannot be used for growing crops - it can

                  only be used for grazing animals. That land would be of no use as a food resource if it were not for

                  grazing livestock like cattle, goats and sheep. The U.S. has more than enough cropland to grow

                  both feed grains and food crops.
 
MYTH       Farming in the U.S. is controlled by large corporations, which care about profits and not about

                  animal welfare.

FACT        There are 2.1 million farms in the U.S. (63,000 in Pennsylvania alone!), according to a May 2006

                  report on the structure and finances of U.S. farms. Exactly the same number was counted by the

                  1997 Census of Agriculture. The 2006 report found that the vast majority of America's farms (98%)

                  are family farms.