Keystone Today

The Shapiro Administration has announced a significant expansion of the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System (PADLS) with a new facility at Penn State University's Beaver Campus in Monaca. This development, funded by a $6 million investment secured in the bipartisan 2024-25 state budget, aims to enhance the state's capacity to respond to animal disease outbreaks. Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding highlighted that this expansion will "speed diagnoses for farmers in the western part of the state, lowering their business costs, and helping protect their animals and investments."

Governor Josh Shapiro has proposed an additional $2 million investment in his 2025-26 budget to support the new lab's operations. The new facility will join existing labs in Harrisburg, University Park, and Kennett Square. According to Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, "Establishing a western animal health lab has been part of our long-term vision for decades," emphasizing that it strengthens Pennsylvania's capacity to address animal agriculture growth.

Senator Elder Vogel said that "the new veterinary lab in Beaver County will be an incredible asset to agriculture in Western Pennsylvania," while PA Farm Bureau President Chris Hoffman noted that it provides greater access to PADLS services for farmers west of Interstate 99. Glenn Stoltzfus from Pennwood Farm remarked on the importance of PADLS' role in supporting livestock industry growth.

In 2024, PADLS labs conducted over 607,000 tests crucial for monitoring diseases like avian influenza and rabies. Governor Shapiro's proposed budget also includes $13 million for the Ag Innovation Fund and continued support for various agricultural centers and initiatives aimed at enhancing Pennsylvania's agricultural competitiveness.

These investments are intended to build a resilient agricultural economy and secure a prosperous future for Pennsylvania’s farming communities.

For more information on Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget proposal, visit shapirobudget.pa.gov.

Media contact: Shannon Powers, 717-603-2056 or shpowers@pa.gov

Information from this article can be found here.