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HISTORY
The Ombudsman Program
The PA Agricultural Ombudsman Program was originally a pilot program created in 2000 in Lancaster, Chester and Berks Counties. The original Ombudsman position was employed by and housed at PennAg Industries Association and given oversight by PennAg, the Lancaster, Chester and Berks County Conservation Districts, SCC and PDA. In 2002, the program was restructured slightly, and the Lancaster County Conservation District officially employed the Ombudsman position. In January 2005, the Ombudsman Program expanded to include a second position, which is currently employed by and housed at the Blair County Conservation District.
In January 2007, the Ombudsman Program expanded again to include an “Agricultural Permit Ombudsman.” These duties are currently being carried out by D. Robert Davidson, employed by and housed in the PA Department of Agriculture in Harrisburg. The role of this ombudsman is to create a better understanding of permitting requirements. More about the Agricultural Permit Ombudsman can be found in Services and Assistance/Agriculture (link to other section in website).
The dictionary defines an ombudsman as “one that investigates complaints, as from consumers, and assists in achieving fair settlements.” That is a good start to defining an Ombudsman, but the PA Agricultural Ombudsman Program involves much more.
The Ombudsmen are knowledgeable about statewide Nutrient Management Act regulations, federal CAFO regulations, Best Management Practices (BMPs), the Right to Farm Act, and are familiar with the PA Municipalities Planning Code. An Ombudsman will offer a professional opinion, but it is NOT a legal opinion.
The PA Agricultural Ombudsman Program offers educational programs related to agricultural rules and regulations, zoning, land use planning, the basics of odor science, alternative energy from ag products, and other allied topics to municipal officials. The education can also be extended to citizens in the community.
The Ag Ombudsman Program also offers educational training to Conservation Districts, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Penn State Cooperative Extension Service employees and private sector consultants, regarding agricultural rules and regulations and assistance with better understanding the , practical odor management techniques on farms, mortality composting, and related topics.
This Program offers educational training for farmers related to odor management, mortality composting and vegetative buffers.
As mentioned previously, the Ag Ombudsman Program strives to proactively educate various groups to minimize conflict and promote understanding. However, if the Ag Ombudsman Program is requested to moderate or facilitate in a complex or controversial situation, there are some basic principles to keep in mind.
The PA Agricultural Ombudsman Program believes in agricultural production and agri-business. However, the Program and its employees do not advocate for ONLY large-scale farming, or ONLY smaller farms, or ONLY organic or ONLY non-organic. The Program and its employees do not advocate for contract farming nor do we advocate against it. If an Ombudsman becomes involved in particular situations, it is not to fight for the benefits or drawbacks of any particular site for a barn, or a particular animal type. We focus on the fairness to agriculture, working toward equitable reviews of required plans, permits or zoning requests, and allowing time for input from concerned or interested parties in a non-hostile environment. The PA Agricultural Ombudsman Program strives to ensure that farmers are allowed to farm in the future, regardless of the size or type of agriculture, provided they are following the legitimate rules and regulations that govern them.
The Lancaster County Ombudsman
The Lancaster County Conservation District was the first district to employ an Ombudsman. Shelly Dehoff started in this position with the Lancaster County Conservation District on July 15, 2002 . She was born and raised in Lancaster County , and graduated from Garden Spot High School . She has a B.S. in Environmental Resource Management from Penn State University . She worked for 51/2 years for the York County Conservation District as a Resource Conservation Specialist. Shelly worked with the Nutrient Management Act Program, the Chesapeake Bay Program, conservation planning and the installation of Best Management Practices. She currently lives in York County . The Lancaster County ombudsman works closely with farmers, conservation districts and municipalities in South Central and South Eastern Pennsylvania, as well as throughout the state.
Hosted by the: Lancaster County Conservation District
1383 Arcadia Road, Room 200
Lancaster, PA 17601
717-299-5361 x5
717-880-0848
shelly.dehoff@verizon.net
The Blair County Ombudsman
The Blair County Conservation District received funding for the second Ombudsman position in Pennsylvania in 2005. Amanda Ritchey became the second Ombudsman in Pennsylvania on January 1, 2005 . Amanda is a native of Blair County and currently resides in Bedford County . She has a B.S. in Horticulture from Penn State University . She worked as a Chesapeake Bay Technician for the Blair District from 1990 to 1996 then was employed by Penn State Extension on a part-time basis for two years to complete trials for a Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education grant investigating various Best Management Practices and briefly for the Pennsylvania Association of Sustainable Agriculture. She returned to the Blair District in 1998 as a Nutrient Management Specialist overseeing the Nutrient Management and biosolids programs. The Blair County Ombudsman works closely with the six-county Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) counties of: Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon, and Somerset and throughout the state.
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