BETHLEHEM (August 12, 2026) – – Senator Lisa Boscola announced today that Agricultural Innovation Grants totaling $150,607 have been awarded to two projects in Northampton County.
“The Commonwealth’s Agricultural Innovation Grant Program provides important funding to projects that assist Pennsylvania agricultural businesses enhance efficiency and production, while also protecting soil and water resources as these two Northampton County projects demonstrate,” Senator Boscola stated.
The following were awarded grants:
- Pennsylvania Saffron – $116,807 (regional impact): Development of an AI-enabled weeding system for small farms;
- Kenneth Barleib – $33,800: Farm water-usage efficiency system
The two grants were announced as part of the second round through the first in the nation’s Agricultural Innovation Grant Program. Across the Commonwealth, the second round of grants will see $9.7 million investment supporting 97 projects and leveraging an additional $4.8 million in private investment. The first two rounds funded 185 projects at a total investment of $30 million.
Pennsylvania’s Agricultural Innovation Grant Program helps farmers and other agriculture businesses implement new agricultural technologies, conservation, and renewable energy innovations — expanding their potential to generate profits, enrich soil and water resources, and produce energy on the farm.
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