The Changing Landscape of Central Pennsylvania: Agricultural Industry at a Crossroads

Central Pennsylvania's agriculture community is facing increasing pressures from encroaching urban development and shrinking agricultural support infrastructure. As medium-sized agriculture seeks to expand and intensify production, pressure from local residents and townships have increased to keep farming operations small. A qualitative study identified the perceived barriers and challenges that agriculture faces in remaining profitable. The farmers appeared to be expecting a less favorable future, while large agricultural businesses viewed their future positively. The shortage of agricultural labor was the one theme that all sectors of the industry viewed as being a barrier to their future business success.