Redding, Bernstine discuss issues with farmers
MIDDLESEX TWP — Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding and Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-17th, discussed a variety of issues including rural internet access and whitetail deer management in a meeting Wednesday with farmers and other residents.
Farmers need broadband to run modern equipment and the lack of broadband access that impacts rural areas across the state, Redding said to a small audience in the township fire hall.
The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority is preparing to expand broadband service, said Mark Critz, executive director of the state’s Rural Development Council.
The goal is to provide access to rural and agricultural areas that currently have a weak or no signal, he said.
“The broadband authority is working to deploy $200 million to get broadband to as many people as possible,” Critz said.
In addition, the federal government is providing $1.16 billion for rural and agricultural broadband service nationally, he said.
Bernstine said the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau had been asking the Legislature for broadband service for years, but “it didn’t sell.”
That changed when the COVID-19 pandemic struck and, as a result, students in rural areas without internet access were not able to get their homework assignments from their schools, he said.
Schools and some businesses were forced to close for periods of time during the pandemic.
Bernstine said a bill providing funding for broadband expansion quickly passed.
Luke Fritz, who owns a farm in the township, criticized the state’s deer management practices and said real estate taxes should be replaced by a sales tax.
He said he is enrolled in all of the Game Commission’s programs to reduce crop damage, but they don’t significantly reduce the number of deer that eat his crops.
“The way they manage the deer herd is a joke,” Fritz said.
Bernstine expressed confidence that the House Game and Fisheries Committee will find a solution to the problem.
Redding agreed that deer density and population are problems and said the Farm Bureau is advocating for the creation of a crop loss fund.
“The density issues are out of control,” Redding said.
He said he hears complaints about the overabundance of deer everywhere he goes. He said the commission needs to come up with a solution if hunting and other current population control methods aren’t working, and should cover some documented crop losses.
Regarding taxes, Bernstine said he and most other legislators support replacing property taxes with a sales tax “in theory.”
If that change is made, he said he believes the tax rate will significantly increase every year and fees would be added.
“I have never seen Harrisburg say we have enough money” Bernstine said.
He said he would support the change only if the rate is locked in and requires a two-thirds vote in the House to be changed. Rebate programs for agricultural property can be included, he added.
