ICCD Legislative Tour attendees learning about the district’s demonstration hop farm project. Photo provided by Emil Bove.
On August 22, 2022, the Indiana County Conservation District (ICCD) held a legislative bus tour. The thirty attendees visited a Community Garden Project, two Low Volume Road Projects, and an acid mine drainage project site. PACD Second Vice President Emil Bove (Westmoreland) represented PACD at the event.
U.S. Senator Robert Casey spoke at the event. Photo taken by Emil Bove.
State Senator Patrick Stefano spoke at the event. Photo taken by Emil Bove.
The Oven Run Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Project Re-Dedication Ceremony was held on September 1, 2022. The tour highlighted the complete reconstruction of five AMD passive treatment systems on the Stonycreek River that will continue to be responsible for the historic improvement in water quality in the watershed. PACD 2nd Vice President Emil Bove (Westmoreland) represented PACD at Somerset Conservation District’s recent ceremony.
U.S. Senator Robert Casey, State Senator Patrick Stefano, PA Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Tim Schaeffer, former Congressman John Murtha’s Chief of Staff John Hugya, representatives from the Department of Environmental Protection, and local conservation groups spoke during the event.
Photo of installed rain barrel provided by Dauphin County Conservation District.
On June 15, the Dauphin County Conservation District held a workshop where homeowners learned about stormwater and the effects their actions have on the quantity and quality of stormwater generated on their property. In addition, various best management practices were discussed for attendees to consider implementing on their property.
Thirty-four participants attended the workshop and received one rain barrel per household. In addition, one lucky household received a rain barrel painted by a local high school art student (pictured).
Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
FCCD Chairperson Evan Burkholder (left) presents the annual Franklin County Conservation Farmer of the Year Award to Bryan and Tina Kyle.
Franklin County Conservation District received a Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Educational Mini-grant to hold a Summer Conservation Farm Luncheon on August 9, 2022, at the Lurgan Lions Club near Roxbury. The district also took this opportunity to honor the 2022 Franklin County Conservation Farmer of the Year, Bryan and Tina Kyle of Chambersburg.
The grant funding enabled the Franklin County Conservation District to provide meaningful education on Best Management Practice (BMP) benefits to approximately 55 attendees. Attendees visited the Kyle beef farm and saw firsthand the benefits of no-till cropping and various BMP improvements that have been implemented. They also learned how BMPs can reduce nonpoint source pollution. After touring the Kyle farm, guests returned to the Lurgan Lions Club, where they could view the club’s recently-completed stream restoration project.
Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The Cumberland County Conservation District Interns (left: Jacob Goudsward, right: Rebecca Wenschhof.) Photo provided by Cumberland County Conservation District.
Submitted by Dylan Varner, Nutrient Management Specialist, Cumberland County Conservation District
Cumberland County Conservation District conducted their Pre-Sidedress Nitrogen Test (PSNT) program. The PSNT program helps determine if additional nitrogen is needed to reach the desired yield goals, limiting, and in some cases eliminating, excess nitrogen from entering surface water entities.
Cumberland County’s 2022 PSNT Program tested 132 fields equaling 2,304 acres. Twenty-one farmers participated, and just two farmers required additional nitrogen.
If all the farmers participating needed a nitrogen recommendation and would follow our calculated recommendation, we would save around 247,432 lbs. of excess nitrogen from being applied to the fields and potentially entering the Chesapeake Bay. This, on average, would save each participating farmer $5,891 at current nitrogen prices. This would be a big step in helping Cumberland County reach its goal to reduce its current nutrient pollution by 2.205 million pounds of nitrogen per year.
Click here to read the entire article.
Photo provided by Allegheny County Conservation District.
Urban soil is known to contain contaminants, like lead, that harm human health. New research from the University of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County Conservation District links patterns of contamination in Pittsburgh’s soil with historic emissions from the city’s industrial past.
Read click here to read more.
Penn State’s Sjoerd Duiker discusses soil health during the Grazing Field Day. Photo provided by JCCD.
On June 29, 2022, Jefferson County Conservation District held a grazing field day at Sandy Lick Farm in Summerville, PA. Thirty-seven farmers and agency personnel attended the event. Attendees were able to see first-hand the benefits of a rotational grazing system, utilizing a roofed heavy-use area and manure storage for the winter months.
Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Photo provided by Clearfield County Conservation District.
Clearfield County Conservation District held a field day for farmers on July 29, 2022, at a dairy farm in Dubois, PA. Seventy people attended the event. Topics included cover crops and nutrient management.
Financial and other support for this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Photo provided by Berks County Conservation District.
The “SWAG BUS” Conservation Education on the Move!
The Berks County Conservation District has been secretly working hard on an exciting mobile education unit to increase accessibility to their programs. They can’t keep it a secret any longer!
The SWAG Bus (Soil, Water, and Agricultural Education) will be outfitted with hands-on displays and program materials that build awareness about conserving and valuing our precious natural resources. The SWAG BUS will provide quality hands-on conservation education programs for schools, local organizations, and special events.
They hope to be on the road by the Spring of 2023! Check out the SWAG Bus at the Berks County Fair for a sneak peek.
Chester County Conservation District’s multi-functional riparian buffer project in the White Clay Creek Watershed.
Chester County Conservation District and Warren County Conservation District completed projects through PACD’s multi-functional buffer sub-grant program.
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