The Butler County Conservation District (BCCD) has been helping farmers make wise economic and environmental decisions when determining side dressing nitrogen (N) rates for their corn.

The program started 11 years ago when the BCCD purchased a SPADs chlorophyll meter and started their Early-Season Corn Chlorophyll Test Program. The BCCD felt a need for a test that allowed farmers to adjust their fields, unlike the Late Season Cornstalk Nitrate Test.

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Delaware County Conservation District planted 2.352-acres of multi-functional riparian forest buffer in Haverford Township, Delaware County. The project cost $9,188.86 and was paid for through PACD’s multi-functional buffer sub-grant program. For more information on the program click here. 

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 Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.

Butler County Conservation District planted 0.36-acres of multi-functional riparian forest buffer along a tributary to Big Run in Butler County. The buffer was located on a pasture field. The project cost $2,068.00 and was paid for through PACD’s multi-functional buffer sub-grant program. For more information on the program click here. 

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 Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.

Westmoreland Conservation District recently announced its 2022 awards. Ramsey Excavating LLC was named the J. Roy Houston Conservation Partnership Award. The Lash Family Farm was named Conservation Farmer of the Year.

For articles on the awards program, click here and here. 

Forty-eight individuals attended a legislative tour hosted by Susquehanna County Conservation District on September 8, 2022. Participating dignitaries included: Agricultural Secretary Russell Redding, Tom Williams with Senator Lisa Baker’s office, Susquehanna County Commissioner Elizabeth Arnold, Susquehanna County Commissioner Judith Herschel, and Representative Jonathan Fritz. PACD North East Region Director Chuck Gould (Monroe County Conservation District) represented PACD at the event.

Tour stops included Aldrich Homestead, a seventh-generation innovative dairy farm; Harford Farm and Flower Market, a Certified organic vegetable farm with 49 acres of farmland specializing in organic produce and flowers; and a dirt and gravel road project site.

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 2^nd 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.

Click here and here to read articles about the event.

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.

 

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.

 

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.

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