Pennsylvania’s conservation districts will participate in Ag Progress Days, sponsored by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, August 17-19. The event takes place at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, PA.

The conservation district exhibit will focus on the educational opportunities that conservation districts offer throughout the state.  Conservation districts conduct educational programs for farmers, contractors, legislators, and homeowners on a variety of conservation topics including pollution control, watersheds, nature protection, soil health, and how to ensure clean water for future generations.

Staff from Centre County Conservation District, along with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, PA Department of Environmental Protection, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, PA Game Commission, PA Fish and Boat Commission, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will conduct a Stream (Riparian) Buffers and Native Grasses Tour.  Find out about the benefits of forested and grassed stream buffers as well as how to install and maintain them. Buses leave daily at 11:30.

For more information on Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, click here. Admission and parking are free.

The conservation district community and its partners met in State College, PA from July 19-20, 2010 for the 63rd annual Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc./State Conservation Commissions (PACD/SCC) Joint Annual Conference themed, “The Public Value of Conservation Districts: PRICELESS.”

During the convention several awards were presented.  Click here to read the entire press release.

At the convention professional development opportunities included a session on floodplain monitoring, nonpoint source funding opportunities and a session on the public value of conservation districts.  Other issues included a severance tax including a percentage dedicated specifically to the Conservation District Fund and erosion and sedimentation control regulations. Click here to view the presentations.

Sponsors for the conference included: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., Filtrexx International, Keller Engineers, Inc., LandStudies, PA Department of Environmental Protection, PennAg Insurance Trust, State Conservation Commission, Waste Management, and Octoraro Native Plant Nursery.

It has been almost a year since PACD hired Ray Ledgerwood, who made 100 telephone calls to interview PACD members and came to Pennsylvania to help PACD develop a new strategic plan. Many of you provided input to Ray and took time to go to State College last August to help develop the plan. We have created a brief survey to provide you with an update on our progress on the plan and give you the chance to weigh in. I encourage you to take the survey and make your voice heard!

Please take the survey by July 30. Start the survey by clicking here.

The entire strategic plan with goals, benchmarks, actions and accomplishments is available here. Where will we go from here? The strategic plan will be reviewed annually. The first annual review will take place in August, when a smaller group made up of strategic planning participants will review the strategic plan and the information gathered in this survey, and make recommendations to the PACD Executive Board accordingly.

PACD recently joined the Verizon Velocity Program in an attempt to raise funds. PACD will earn donations when members or supporters purchase qualifying residential Verizon products. For example, a Verizon FiOS Triple FreedomSM order will generate up to a $65 donation. Click the box below for more information.

All funds generated will boost unrestricted income and be used to support, enhance and promote Pennsylvania’s Conservation Districts and their programs.

Please consider sharing this information with family and friends so we can work together to support the wise use of PA’s natural resources and leave the legacy of nature’s beauty, clean water and wildlife for our future generations.