The Snyder County Conservation District (SCCD) conducted a meeting on February 17, 2023, in Selinsgrove. The meeting was for farmers dedicated to conservation-related issues. Speakers discussed proper soil and manure management, agricultural best management practices, available conservation programs, and newly developed corn nitrogen assessment tools. Farmers came away with methods, techniques, and guidance to manage their farms while improving water quality and farm resources.

Click here to read more about the meeting. 

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.

On March 1, 2023, Franklin County Conservation District (FCCD) hosted a Winter Ag Meeting with guest speakers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Meeting attendees enjoyed an interactive question-and-answer session with EPA representatives led by Adam Ortiz, EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator. Topics ranged from legacy sediment to today’s agricultural regulations. Franklin County’s water quality trends and successful BMP Verification Program were highlighted during discussions about the Chesapeake Bay’s nutrient reduction progress.

In addition to the meeting, FCCD facilitated a focus group with local farmers, a stream tour to spotlight a recent success story, and a focus group with municipal leaders.

On September 27, 2022, Washington County Conservation District (WCCD) hosted an evening crop walk at the Carter Family Farm. Various cover crop strips were planted in August to serve as a demonstration plot for the event. In addition, a soil pit was dug so participants could see how cover crops improve infiltration and break up compaction. The farmer demonstrated how a cover crop roller works and discussed planting green.

WCCD also held two pasture walks and an agricultural winter meeting as part of the grant.

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.

Juniata County Conservation District held two soil health workshops. The first workshop was held at Chip Spatz’s Farm in Richfield on October 13, 2022.  Twenty-eight people attended the workshop. The highlight of this workshop was the opportunity to view an actively growing multi-species cover crop mix.

The second workshop was held on February 1, 2023, in Mifflintown. Thirty-two people attended. Attendees discussed the cost-effectiveness and benefits of soil health to production and water quality and the importance of soil health best management practices.

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.

In December, the Tioga County Conservation District held a Women in Agriculture meeting in Wellsboro. Eighty attendees learned about managing livestock to improve pastures, manure management and agricultural erosion and sedimentation plans, and lawn conversion.

After the workshop, attendees better understood different best management practices and how they can improve their farm and benefit downstream water quality.

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.

On December 12, 2022, the Perry County Conservation District Board hosted the Farmland Preservation 10,000 Acre Celebration and Annual Banquet at the Perry Mennonite Reception Center in Elliottsburg, where a delicious dinner was served to 114 attendees.

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On January 24, 2023, the Cumberland County Conservation District held its annual cooperating agency luncheon and board meeting. PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh attended the event and provided a report.

On December 14, 2022, the 11th Annual Corn Planter Clinic was held at the Shippensburg Auction Center. The Clinic is the largest agricultural education event in Cumberland County. Cumberland County Conservation District staff worked with Cumberland Planter to organize this event. The event benefits the farming community by coming together to share ideas and gather valuable information from knowledgeable speakers.

Click here to read the entire article. 

 

Huntingdon County Conservation District planted 16 acres of multi-functional riparian forest buffer along a tributary to Crooked Creek at a farm in Huntingdon County. The project cost $59,630 and was paid for through PACD’s multi-functional buffer sub-grant program. Funding is still available. Click here to learn more about the program. 

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.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced $33.8 million in grant awards to support the restoration and conservation of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The 104 grants will leverage more than $30 million in matching contributions to generate a total conservation impact of more than $64 million.

Awards for Pennsylvania’s Conservation Districts:

• Accelerating Agricultural Pollution Reduction in the Mahantango Watershed
  Grantee: Snyder County Conservation District Grant, $414,000. Reduce agricultural runoff in the West and North Branches of Mahantango Creek through farmer outreach, developing agricultural conservation plans, and implementing conservation practices on beef and poultry operations. The project will result in the development of 30 agricultural conservation plans to guide future farm management for improved water quality.
• Advancing Conservation Practice Implementation Through Planning
  Grantee: Lebanon County Conservation District Grant, $61,200. Provide additional technical assistance support to assist with the significant requests for conservation plans within the Little Swatara and Swatara Creek watersheds in Lebanon County. The project will result in the development of more than 50 agricultural conservation plans that will allow the advancement of future implementation of pollutant reduction best management practices on farms in these watersheds.
• Enhancing Resilience of the Cowanesque Watershed through Collaboration
  Grantee: Potter County Conservation District Grant, $500,000. Implement more than 11,000 acres of soil health practices across the headwaters of the Cowanesque River in Potter and Tioga counties, including cover crops, no-till, prescribed grazing, and nutrient management. The project will enhance eastern brook trout populations in a high-priority patch by restoring connectivity to upstream cold-water habitat by replacing an existing stream culvert.
• Helping Farmers Accomplish Conservation Goals in the West Branch Susquehanna River Watershed
  Grantee: Union County Conservation District Grant, $500,000. Implement agricultural conservation practices on four Turtle Creek watershed farms within the Susquehanna River’s broader West Branch. The project will complete whole farm conservation plans by strategically leveraging federal conservation program funding to fulfill farm-level funding needs.
• Middle Creek Strategic Watershed Restoration Plan
  Grantee: Schuylkill Conservation District Grant, $50,000. Conduct an assessment of the Middle Creek watershed and develop a restoration plan that addresses sources of stormwater, flooding, sediment, and habitat fragmentation to build environmental and community resiliency. The project will rank pollution sources and watershed stressors and identify specific restoration solutions with the highest impact and lowest cost and risk.

Click here to read more.