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For Immediate Release
May 7, 2002
Senate Approves White Bill to Streamline Regulation of Elk Farming
Harrisburg
– The state Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Mary Jo White
(R-21) that would streamline regulation of the emerging field of elk farming.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania
State Council of Farm Organizations and the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau supported
passage of Senate Bill 1158, which will be sent to the House of Representatives
for consideration.
White
explained that elk farmers are currently regulated by both the state Department
of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Under Senate Bill 1158,
elk kept on farms would be regulated only by the Department of Agriculture, as
is the case with other farm animals.
“This
will help elk farmers in our area with the marketing, promotion and growth of
the industry,” said White. “The state
Department of Agriculture is the regulatory agency that works with Pennsylvania
farmers to expand their operations and promote Pennsylvania agriculture on a
state, national and international level. It makes sense to eliminate overlap
and put elk farming under this jurisdiction as well.”
The
bill does not include hunting preserves where elk are imported or purchased for
harvesting through hunting. The Pennsylvania Game Commission will continue to
have regulatory and enforcement oversight over wild elk populations in the
Commonwealth as well as elk used in menageries and those in hunting preserves.
In
March, the Senate approved bills sponsored by White that would amend the definitions of “agricultural
animal” and “livestock” to include elk or red deer raised on farms.
Senate Bill 1156 and Senate Bill 1157 are now before the
House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.
CONTACT:
Leigh Ramsey (717) 787-9684
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