To contact an Ombudsman:

Agriculture
If you are a farmer who has questions about what state, federal or local regulations affect you, the Ombudsman Program may be able to help. We can help sort out which regulations apply to your operation. We can help you decide whom to contact to comply with various regulations. The Ombudsman Program wants to ensure Conservation Districts, regulatory agencies and municipalities that agricultural producers being assisted by the Ombudsman are meeting all the applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Ag Ombudsman Program also wants to be sure that farmers are treated fairly and expeditiously in any plan review or application process.

The Ombudsman Program is also a resource to farmers who find themselves facing conflict from neighbors in regards to normal farming practices or when making changes to their operation.

Agricultural Permit Ombudsman
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Center for Farm Transitions was launched in 2005. Among the goals of this initiative was to provide farmers with information and assistance with the various transitions that they may face throughout their careers. One such transition is to new types of agricultural production or the expansion of an existing operation.

One of the obstacles faced by farmers wanted to create a new operation or expand an existing operation is the sometimes complex regulatory requirements for these transitions. To meet farmers' needs for information and assistance with the permitting process, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture established an “Agricultural Permitting Ombudsman”.

The role of this ombudsman is to create a better understanding of permitting requirements. This is accomplished through outreach to farmers and consultants, informational meetings and by way of printed material on how to maximize efforts in the permitting process. If a farmer is experiencing difficulty, the Agricultural Permitting Ombudsman is available to help facilitate resolutions to issues regarding required permits and approvals. Please contact the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture at (717) 705-7960 for assistance.

Municipalities
The Ag Ombudsman Program recognizes that municipalities have a duty to protect the health and welfare of residents while facilitating the present and future economic viability of agricultural operations. This sometimes creates friction between the agricultural community, residents and municipal officials.

The Ombudsman's duties include serving as an intermediary between agricultural producers and municipalities, Conservation Districts and regulatory authorities, and to assist producers in navigating applications and permit and plan review processes to ensure the producer is treated fairly and expeditiously in that process, while ensuring municipalities, Districts and regulatory agencies that the producer has met all the applicable requirements.

The Ombudsman Program is available to look over proposed ordinances and provide comments designed to encourage municipalities to consider all the implications or ramifications of the proposed requirements. Written comments made by an Ombudsman are of a professional opinion, not a legal one. Our Program is willing to work with various municipal boards one-to-one to further explain any written comments and ensure an ordinance that is agreeable to the municipality and the agricultural community. The Ombudsman can also comment on trends being observed in other townships, if the municipality is interested.

The Ombudsman is also available to help municipal officials prepare for meetings expected to attract significant public interest or concern. Sample policies are available for municipalities to review and consider using to ensure an orderly, productive meeting that allows all parties involved to give their input.

Through education and outreach, the Ombudsman Program hopes to inform municipalities and residents about current farming practices and helps dispel myths about modern agriculture. We are available to facilitate discussions between agricultural producers and municipal officials and residents who have concerns about current or proposed practices related to agriculture.

Conservation Districts
The PA Ag Ombudsman Program is available to all Pennsylvania Conservation Districts) that would like assistance when agricultural issues arise within the county. Issues relating to township ordinances or controversial nutrient management plan reviews are examples of areas with which an Ombudsman can provide assistance. The Ombudsman program also sponsors many educational programs for district staff on issues that often cause disputes, such as odor management or nutrient management.

According to the Nutrient Management Act Delegation Agreement, if a Conservation District is going to be taking action on a nutrient management plan that is expected to be controversial, a well-run meeting should provide an opportunity for the public to voice their comments, while maintaining order. An orderly meeting should keep things productive for the District and the public, as opposed to a chaotic meeting where feelings may get hurt, and nothing is accomplished.

It is important for a Conservation District to have a written policy of how the Board of Directors is going to handle a meeting that has the potential to be emotionally charged. It is also important that the chairman of the Board is willing to adhere to that policy, in order to have a well-run, productive meeting. The Ag Ombudsman Program will help the District staff finalize a policy so that throughout the review and approval/disapproval process, the staff handles the public in a way that addresses their concerns, but also ensures consistent, accurate and pertinent verbal information.

Conflict Resolution
The Ombudsman will not solve problems for individuals, agencies or governmental entities. Rather, this Program will encourage moderated or facilitated discussions between affected parties to try to have them work out an agreeable solution that considers regulatory issues, the needs of the agricultural producers and concerns of the neighboring residents.

Education
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 PA Municipalities Planning Code, PA's Odor Management Regulations, 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.

Since the inception of the PA Agricultural Ombudsman Program, the Ombudsmen have worked to develop a reference and resource base of qualified experts and speakers to assist with filling educational needs across the state about a variety of topics. The experts and speakers are utilized in formal and informal ways to link “those who know” with “those who want to know.”

One resource that the PA Agricultural Ombudsman Program greatly appreciates is a working relationship with the Dickinson Law School, Agricultural Law Research & Education Center. We encourage you to check out available services listed on their website.

The PEACCE Program
The Pennsylvania Environmental Agricultural Conservation Certification of Excellence (PEACCE) Program originated at the same time as the PA Agricultural Ombudsman Program. It was also a pilot project in Lancaster, Chester and Berks Counties, to recognize and reward livestock and poultry producers in Pennsylvania who use environmentally safe agricultural practices. PEACCE has evolved into a fully incorporated, statewide environmental certification program. .