BCTV.org recently released a video on urban agriculture programs. The video features Briana Johanson, Agriculture Resource Conservationist, and host Ryan Bradley, Clean City Coordinator for the City of Reading, discussing urban agriculture programs offered by the Berks County Conservation District.
Click here to watch the video.
Rob Thompson, sheep farmer from Potter County, discussing his successes with improving his forages and reducing the parasite pressures in his 200-ewe flock by implementing a system that includes daily rotations and over 60-day rest periods between grazing events. Photo taken by Lindsay Shapiro from PA Sustainable Agriculture (PASA).
On October 20, 2023, ninety-eight farmers and agency employees attended an educational grazing field day titled “Harvesting Abundance: Sustainability in our Grazing Havens,” held at the Wilson Land & Cattle Co. in Tionesta, PA.
Most attendees plan to implement the conservation practices they learned, including soil health improvement, rotational grazing, biodiversity, and non-point source pollution reduction via cover crop planting with a no-till planter.
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.
DCNR Service Forester for Beaver County Jessica Pierce (on the right) presents a Forest Stewardship sign to district representatives Hannah Ward and Richard Voytko. Photo provided by Beaver County Conservation District.
The Beaver County Conservation District has been certified as a Stewardship Forest. Jessica Pierce, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Service forester, recently presented the district with a sign noting this achievement. The Forest Stewardship Program is designed to promote the wise use and sustained benefits of forest resources.
To obtain this certification, the district developed a Forest Management Plan to guide the management of the forest resources on the Environmental Center grounds.
The plan has four key goals, which include:
This plan details the major forest habitat types and how they will be managed over the next ten years. This plan complements the existing land management and integrated pest management plans previously developed for the environmental center grounds.
The forests and wetlands at the district environmental center grounds are open to the public for hiking, bird watching, and a host of other outdoor pursuits. Come visit the grounds and enjoy the forest!
Photos provided by Westmoreland Conservation District.
From: “Conservation Assistance to Farmers” article from WCD Landmarks High Points November 2023 Newsletter.
John Kitz, who recently received the 2023 Conservation Farmer of the Year award from the Westmoreland Conservation District, is now the first farmer in the county to receive funding from the Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program, or ACAP. Conservation improvements on John Kitz’s Mount Pleasant farm include fencing along streambanks, a stabilized cattle crossing, streambank stabilization, a water trough, a stabilized animal heavy-use area, subsurface drainage, a livestock watering ramp, subdivision fencing, and a riparian buffer with approximately 385 trees and shrubs. Upon completion, approximately 3,500 feet of stream will be improved.
ACAP was created through the Clean Streams Fund to reduce nonpoint source pollution in Pennsylvania’s waterways. It provides funding and technical assistance to implement best management practices on agricultural lands. Funding for the program is provided through local conservation districts.
Click here to read more and to see before and after photos.
Jason Snyder, Owner/Pilot of Horizon Crop Care LLC of New Bloomfield, talked about what drones can do for farmers. Photo provided by Snyder County Conservation District.
Submitted by Barry Spangler, Ag Conservation Technician, Snyder County Conservation District
The Snyder County Conservation District held a Farming for the Future Day event at the Middlecreek Valley Antique Association Grounds in Selinsgrove on November 1, 2023. Eighteen farmers, landowners, consultants, and conservationists attended the event.
Click here to read more and see more photos.
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 SCCD.
The Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) held a tour this summer that showcased best management practices installed on farms to prevent nutrient and sediment pollution. The SCCD cooperated with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Middleburg Field Office and other agency staff to offer the tour. Twenty-six participants learned about various conservation programs, including the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).
This CREP education and outreach event was funded by a $3,000 CREP Mini-grant for Conservation Districts. Click here for more information and to apply.
Financial and other support for the CREP Outreach Program Office Mini-grant Program is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a Growing Greener Watershed Protection grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and with additional support from USDA-NRCS.
Photos provided by Lehigh County Conservation District.
The Lehigh County Conservation District, in partnership with Lehigh County, installed a rain garden at Cedar View Apartments, which provides low-income housing to 122 residents who are older than 62 years of age or are physically challenged.
Residents learned the importance of minimizing stormwater runoff and nonpoint source pollutants from adjacent parking lots and mowed lawns through an educational program at the project site.
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.
Screenshot of Westmoreland Conservation District Manager Rob Cronauer from video.
The Westmoreland Conservation District received the 2023 Non-profit of the Year award from the Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce at their annual business meeting and award celebration. The award recognizes the programs and partnerships the district has made in its nearly 75-year history.
Watch this video spotlight to learn more about the district and how it helps communities.
Photo of riparian planting provided by MCCD.
On Friday, September 22, 2023, in partnership with Variety – the Children’s Charity of the Delaware Valley, Montgomery County Conservation District (MCCD) held a “Native Meadow and Riparian Buffer Showcase.” This event toured and described a native meadow and two riparian plantings installed on the Variety campus. The benefits, steps to installation, maintenance requirements, funding, and other project details were discussed.
The meadow planting was completed as a demonstration through a partnership between MCCD, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Penn State Extension, and Variety – the Children’s Charity of the Delaware Valley.
The riparian plantings were completed through funding from the TreeVitalize Watersheds (now “Trees for Watersheds”) grant program. The partnership between MCCD and Variety – the Children’s Charity of the Delaware Valley has been ongoing since 2019, with the meadow planting in Fall 2019 and riparian plantings installed in Fall 2020 and Fall 2021. There were approximately 40 people in attendance at the event, coming from many organizations and groups, but all coming together in their interest in environmental conservation projects.
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 Butler County Conservation District.
The Butler County Conservation District partnered with the State Conservation Commission (SCC) to hold the Fall Western PA Nutrient Management Round Table and Field Day on October 17, 2023.
During the afternoon, employees from surrounding conservation districts met at the Thiele Dairy Farm to learn how to do manure spreader calibrations for solid and liquid manure. The group also toured best management practices installed on the operation.
Click here to read the entire article.