HARRISBURG, Pa. — Data center construction is a threat to farmland, but could it also be an economic opportunity for Pennsylvania farm country?

Pennsylvania U.S. Reps. Glenn Thompson and Dan Meuser were inclined to say “yes” during a listening session Jan. 10 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

kAmkDA2?mq2CC@? $92H[ 2 *@C< r@F?EJ 72C>6C[ C2:D65 E96 :DDF6 H96? 96 D2:5 ?6H k2 E:E=6lQ%96 #:D6 @7 s2E2 r6?E6CD 😕 E96 |:5\pE=2?E:4 r2FD6D r@?46C? 7@C u2C>=2?5[ #FC2= r@>>F?:E:6DQ 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=2?42DE6C72C>:?8]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^57gf5`h4\5eeg\c`57\gf64\dccfd_f4bb4b^Qm52E2 46?E6CDk^2m D9@F=5 36 C6BF:C65 E@ 4@=@42E6 H:E9 ?6H 6?6C8J 86?6C2E:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?m~E96CH:D6[ E96 DF3DE2?E:2= A@H6C ?66565 7@C 2 ?6H 52E2 46?E6C 4@F=5 36 5C2H? 7C@> 2 5:DE2?E 2C62[ =625:?8 E@ :?4C62D65 6=64EC:4:EJ AC:46D 2?5 =2?5 4@?56>?2E:@? 7@C A@H6C =:?6D]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?mk2 E:E=6lQ$92H ~C492C5D $92C6D q6DE !C24E:46D (:E9 *@F?8 vC@H6C p==:2?46Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=2?42DE6C72C>:?8]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^`g5g2764\aa64\d_4d\g5ef\5b7f2ge_dd5_^Qm$92Hk^2m 😀 4@?46C?65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=2?42DE6C72C>:?8]4@>^72C>:?8\?6HD^4@?D6CG2E:@?^52E2\46?E6CD\4=@336C\D@=2C\:?\BF6DE\7@C\G:C8:?:2\72C>=2?5^2CE:4=6046`a4h7`\d7ba\c5f`\2377\23ggeedd7`5h]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?:?8 2 =@E @7 A@H6C 86?6C2E65 😕 !6??DJ=G2?:2[ 2?5 92C>:?8 72C>6CD 😕 !6??DJ=G2?:2 2?5 |2CJ=2?5 😕 E96 AC@46DD]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?m%92E CF=6 E@ A2:C 52E2 46?E6CD H:E9 ?6H 6?6C8J AC@5F4E:@? ?665D E@ 36 :>A=6>6?E65 7656C2==J[ $92H D2:5] x7 !6??DJ=G2?:2 A2CE:4:A2E6D 3FE ‘:C8:?:2 5@6D?’E[ ‘:C8:?:2 4@F=5 DE:== 5C2H A@H6C 7C@> !6??DJ=G2?:2[ 56762E:?8 E96 D2768F2C5D]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?m%9@>AD@?[ E96 492:C>2? @7 E96 w@FD6 p8C:4F=EFC6 r@>>:EE66[ D2:5 :E H@F=5 >2<6 >@C6 D6?D6 E@ 3F:=5 52E2 46?E6CD 😕 !6??DJ=G2?:2 E92? E@ EC2?D76C !6??DJ=G2?:2\AC@5F465 6?6C8J =@?8 5:DE2?46D E@ @FE\@7\DE2E6 724:=:E:6D]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?m%9@>AD@?[ @7 r6?EC6 r@F?EJ[ D66D A=6?EJ @7 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C !6??DJ=G2?:2 E@ D:E6 52E2 46?E6CD ?62C ?6H 6?6C8J D@FC46D]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?m%96 DE2E6 @776CD 2>A=6 k2 E:E=6lQ!C@A@D65 #F=6D 7@C rCJAE@4FCC6?4J |:?:?8 vFEE65[ %9C62E6?:?8 #FC2= !6??DJ=G2?:2Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=2?42DE6C72C>:?8]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^3547_75_\e4d6\“66\hbbd\hf_`66eh32b4^Qm4@2= C67FD6k^2m[ 2?5 :E 92D ?2EFC2= 82D H6==D E92E 2C6 ?@E 4@??64E65 E@ A:A6=:?6D 3FE DE:== 92G6 E@ 36 7=2C65[ %9@>AD@? D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?m“xE 😀 4C2KJ E@ 5:DCFAE AC:G2E6 AC@A6CEJ ;FDE 3642FD6 D@>63@5J 4@?G6?:6?E=J H2?ED E@ 92G6 E96 52E2 46?E6C @?6 @C EH@ DE2E6D 2H2J[” 96 D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am

LF20260117 Town Hall 01.jpg

Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, center, speaks during a town hall meeting on the opening day of the Pennsylvania Farm Show on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. On left, Penn State ag Dean Troy Ott, and U.S. Rep. Glenn “G.T.” Thompson on right.

VINNY TENNIS | for Lancaster Farming

kAmkDA2?mpD 2? 6?6C8J\C:49 =@42E:@?[ !6??DJ=G2?:2 😀 @?6 @7 C6=2E:G6=J 76H DE2E6D A@D:E:@?65 E@ A2:C ?6H =@42= 6?6C8J 86?6C2E:@? H:E9 52E2 46?E6CD[ D2:5 |6FD6C[ @7 {FK6C?6 r@F?EJ]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?mw6 4:E65 E96 ?F4=62C A=2?ED 2E q6CH:4< 2?5 %9C66 |:=6 xD=2?5[ H9:49 2C6 A2CE @7 52E2 46?E6C AC@;64ED E92E H:== 6DD6?E:2==J AC@G:56 ?6H 6?6C8J 86?6C2E:@? 7@C E96 DE2E6]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?mq6CH:4< 😀 D6E E@ C65:C64E A@H6C E92E 925 366? D6?E @FE @7 DE2E6[ 2?5 D9FEE6C65 %9C66 |:=6 xD=2?5 H@F=5 36 C6DE2CE65[ |6FD6C D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?mw6 DF886DE65 7:?5:?8 H2JD 7@C 52E2 46?E6CD E@ 36 2? 64@?@>:4 6?8:?6 2?5 D@FC46 @7 9:89\E649 ;@3D 7@C !6??DJ=G2?:2]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?m“%96C6’D 2 =@E @7 >@?6J 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 E9:D[ 2 =@E @7 E2I C6G6?F6[ 2 =@E @7 7F?5:?8 7@C 7:C69@FD6D[ 7@C D49@@=D[” |6FD6C D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?mp8 $64C6E2CJ #FDD6== #655:?8 D2:5 >6E92?6 5:86DE6CD 4@F=5 2=D@ 2 D@FC46 @7 A@H6C 7@C 52E2 46?E6CD]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?m&D:?8 >:4C@36D E@ 3C62< 5@H? >2?FC6[ 5:86DE6CD AC@G:56 6=64EC:4:EJ H9:=6 C65F4:?8 E96 2>@F?E @7 ?FEC:6?ED E92E ?665 E@ 36 DAC625 @? 7:6=5D]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?m%9@>AD@? H2D A2CE:4F=2C=J :?E6C6DE65 😕 3F:=5:?8 4@>>F?:EJ 5:86DE6CD[ H9:49 4@==64E >2?FC6 7C@> >F=E:A=6 72C>D E92E 2C6 E@@ D>2== E@ DFAA@CE 2 5:86DE6C :?5:G:5F2==J]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?mp 4@>>F?:EJ 5:86DE6C 4@>A2?J H@F=5 =:<6=J A2J 72C>6CD 7@C E96 >2?FC6[ 255:?8 2 C6G6?F6 DEC62> 7@C E96 72C>[ 96 D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?mx? 2 C6=2E65 BF6DE:@?[ DE2E6 $6?] rC:D sFD9[ #\y6776CD@?[ 2D<65 H92E AC@E64E:@?D 2C6 2G2:=23=6 7@C AC6D6CG65 72C>=2?5 E2C86E65 3J 6>:?6?E 5@>2:?] w6 92D 2 k2 E:E=6lQ!6??DJ=G2?:2 #6AF3=:42?D $66< w:896C r@>A6?D2E:@? 7@C u2C>D u24:?8 t>:?6?E s@>2:?Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=2?42DE6C72C>:?8]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^7hfa`haa\327b\“66\h662\27c3ee`45f4g^Qm3:==k^2m E@ :?4C62D6 6>:?6?E 5@>2:? A2J>6?ED E@ 244@F?E 7@C 724E@CD DF49 2D D@:= 76CE:=:EJ]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?m%9@>AD@? D2:5 96’D H@C<:?8 @? 7656C2= =68:D=2E:@? E92E H@F=5 >2<6 :E 5:77:4F=E 7@C AC:>6 72C>=2?5 E@ 36 E2<6? 3J 6>:?6?E 5@>2:?]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?m“x7 E96C6’D @E96C @AE:@?D 2?5 49@:46D[ E96J ?665 E@ =@@< E@ E9@D6 @G6C E2<:?8 AC:>6 72C>=2?5[” 96 D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?m!6??DJ=G2?:2 92D 2? p8C:4F=EFC2= {2?5D r@?56>?2E:@? pAAC@G2= q@2C5 E92E C6G:6HD DE2E6\=6G6= AC@A@D2=D E@ 4@?56>? AC@5F4E:G6 72C>=2?5 2?5 72C>=2?5 😕 28C:4F=EFC2= D64FC:EJ 2C62D]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?mqFE #655:?8 D2:5 E96 u656C2= t?6C8J #68F=2E@CJ r@>>:DD:@? 8:G6D ?@ 4@?D:56C2E:@? E@ E96 28 G2=F6 @7 =2?5 k2 E:E=6lQ{2?5 vC@FAD |2<6 r2D6 p82:?DE rF77D #F? wJ5C@6=64EC:4 !C@;64EQ 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=2?42DE6C72C>:?8]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^74f`5d5g\7f_d\c_33\3`6c\745fgdga6_he^QmE2C86E65k^2m 7@C 6>:?6?E 5@>2:?]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?m“x7 :E’D 72C>65[ E92E >2J 36 E96 9:896DE 2?5 36DE FD6 @7 E92E =2?5[” #655:?8 D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am

LF20260117 Town Hall 03.jpg

U.S. Rep. Glenn “G.T.” Thompson toasts to the signing of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act during a town hall meeting on the opening day of the Pennsylvania Farm Show at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center in Harrisburg on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026.

VINNY TENNIS | for Lancaster Farming

kAmkDA2?m%96 =:DE6?:?8 D6DD:@? 2=D@ D6CG65 2D 2 46=63C2E:@? 7@C E96 (9@=6 |:=< 7@C w62=E9J z:5D p4E[ H9:49 k2 E:E=6lQr@?8C6DD pAAC@G6D (9@=6 |:=< 😕 $49@@=DQ 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=2?42DE6C72C>:?8]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^h427_`hg\5df5\ca5h\h5fd\d776_bc6`2h7^QmA2DD65k^2m 😕 s646>36C 27E6C %9@>AD@? =65 DFAA@CE 7@C :E @G6C D6G6C2= D6DD:@?D @7 r@?8C6DD]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?m%9@>AD@? 6?4@FC2865 2EE6?566D E@ D:8? 2 A@DE6C 46=63C2E:?8 E96 3:==[ H9:49 %9@>AD@? D2:5 96 6IA64ED !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A E@ D:8? 😕 E96 ?6IE 76H 52JD]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?m%96 3:== 2==@HD D49@@= 4276E6C:2D E@ D6CG6 H9@=6 2?5 aT >:=<[ C6G6CD:?8 2 56 724E@ 32? 7C@> a_`_]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?m%9@>AD@? 2=D@ D2:5 96 A=2?D E@ 9@=5 2 4@>>:EE66 >2C2:?:?8 u2C> q:== AC@8C2>D 😕 u63CF2CJ]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?m|2?J u2C> q:== AC@8C2>D H6C6 C6?6H65 =2DE J62C 2D A2CE @7 E96 ~?6 q:8 q62FE:7F= q:== p4E[ 3FE D@>6 AC@G:D:@?D H6C6 ?@E 6=:8:3=6 F?56C E96 CF=6D FD65 E@ A2DD E92E =2H]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?m%96 4@>>:EE66 G@E6 @? E96 u2C> q:== 4@F=5 36 4=@D6 2?5 =2C86=J DA=:E 2=@?8 A2CEJ =:?6D]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?mqJ E96 E:>6 @7 E96 G@E6[ %9@>AD@? D2:5 96 9@A6D E@ 92G6 #6A] y:> q2:C5[ #\x?5][ 324< 7C@> 2 C646?E 42C 4C2D9 2?5 2 ?6H 4@>>:EE66 >6>36C 2AA@:?E65 E@ C6A=246 #6A] s@F8 {2|2=72[ #\r2=:7][ H9@ 5:65 y2?] e]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?m{2|2=72 92D 2EE6?565 %9@>AD@?’D u2C> $9@H =:DE6?:?8 D6DD:@?D 😕 E96 A2DE 2?5 925 A=2??65 E@ 2EE6?5 E9:D J62C’D]k^DA2?mk^Am

kAmkDA2?m&]$] #6A] #@3 qC6D?292?[ #\!2][ C6>6>36C65 {2|2=72 2D 2 “<:?5[ 86?E=6 A6CD@?” H9@ H2D E96 7:CDE w@FD6 >6>36C @FED:56 E96 !6??DJ=G2?:2 56=682E:@? E@ 8:G6 E96 7:CDE\E6C> =2H>2<6C 9:D 46== A9@?6 ?F>36C]k^DA2?mk^Am

LF20260117 Town Hall 02.jpg

Whole milk activist Nelson Troutman signs a poster celebrating passage of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act during a town hall meeting on the opening day of the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026.

VINNY TENNIS | for Lancaster Farming

Pennsylvania Cable Network logo

Streaming Content From the PA Farm Show
Interested in seeing more from the Pennsylvania Farm Show? Click over to PCN for streaming coverage of this year’s Farm Show, from livestock shows to rodeos. Click here for more.

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.

Error! There was an error processing your request.