Dennis Eby, Outreach Coordinator at the Lancaster County Conservation District (LCCD), participated in the “Working with Plain Sect” training that USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service recently held at Elizabethtown College. In his presentation, he mentioned that Lancaster County has success doing Manure Management Plans one-on-one with farmers. He used a PowerPoint that he adapted from the Penn State trainer presentations. The conservation district agricultural technicians that attended the training asked if that PowerPoint could be available for them to use. LCCD uploaded the resource to its website where it is accessible for anyone.

The PowerPoint can be download at https://lancasterconservation.org/wp-content/uploads/MMP-Manual-Web-Compressed-Final.pptx.

PACD is partnering with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the State Conservation Commission (SCC) to deliver a three-day Introduction to Conservation Planning course. This free training will take place November 12-14, 2019 at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg (Hershey area) in Grantville, PA.

The event is for entry-level employees of all organizations in Pennsylvania delivering conservation planning technical assistance, including but not limited to, NRCS, conservation districts, SCC, farmland preservation entities, non-profits, and private consultants. The training is free, and lunch will be provided.

The online pre-requisite will be waived this year. Click here to apply by October 4. Questions? Contact Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org.

Mark your calendars for the Agricultural Conservation Technical Training (“Boot Camp” Basic Level and Level II). Conservation district staff are encouraged to take advantage of these free, week-long training opportunities which include both classroom learning and experience in the field.

• Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training – Basic Level
  April 6-10, 2020
  Keystone Conference Center, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County)
• Agricultural Conservation Technical “Boot Camp” Training – Level II
  April 27-May 1, 2020
  Keystone Conference Center, Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County)

The application period will open in January. Questions? Contact Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org.

These training opportunities are made possible by the following sponsors: Natural Resources Conservation Service, State Conservation Commission, and the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc.

Agenda Now Available

PACD is partnering with the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to facilitate Chapter 102 Fall Regional Sessions. These free sessions are for conservation district and DEP staff. Click here to view the agenda. Registration will be from 9:00 a.m–9:30 a.m., and the sessions will conclude by 4:00 p.m..

Click here for directions on how to register for these sessions.

Due to limited space, please limit registrations to 3-4 staff per office.

Northwest Chapter 102 Fall Regional Session
October 1, 2019 (deadline to register is September 20)
DEP Northwest Regional Office, Meadville, PA

Southwest Chapter 102 Fall Regional Session
October 2, 2019 (deadline to register is September 20)
Westmoreland Conservation District, Greensburg, PA

Northcentral Chapter 102 Fall Regional Session
October 15, 2019 (deadline to register is October 4)
DEP Northcentral Regional Office, Williamsport, PA

Northeast Chapter 102 Fall Regional Session
October 22, 2019 (deadline to register is October 11)
Back Mountain Regional Emergency Services, Dallas, PA

Southeast Chapter 102 Fall Regional Session
October 29, 2019 (deadline to register is October 18)
DEP Southeast Regional Office, Norristown, PA

Southcentral Chapter 102 Fall Regional Session
October 31, 2019 (deadline to register is October 21)
Dauphin County Agriculture and Natural Resources Center, Dauphin, PA

For questions related to the Clean Water Academy, contact Jay Braund at jbraund@pa.gov.

Contact Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org with questions about the fall sessions.

Conservation district watershed specialists from across the state are registering for the 19th Annual Conservation District Watershed Specialist Meeting, which will take place at Toftrees Golf Resort and Conference Center in State College, PA, October 2-4, 2019. This year’s event features two days of educational sessions, plus an optional third-day tour of watershed restoration and riparian buffer projects hosted by the Penn State Ag and Environment Center.

Registration is open to all conservation district watershed specialists and to staff from the PA Department of Environmental Protection by invitation. Click here for more information or to register.

The deadline for the Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC) training and test being held September 3 and 4, 2019, is August 22, 2019. Both the review course and exam will take place at the Lebanon County Conservation District Office, 2120 Cornwall Rd., Lebanon, PA. If you have not yet started the CPESC certification process, we recommend you go to the Envirocert International, Inc. website (https://envirocertintl.org) and review the requirements and process now. There are a limited number of seats available.

The review course is designed to ensure CPESC applicants understand what concepts will be covered by the exam, and acts as a review for most of those concepts. Note that there is special pricing for PA conservation district staff for the review course. The cost is $175 for conservation district employees and $365 for everyone else. The exam fee is $150. Before registering, contact Amy Brown at abrown@pacd.org or 717-238-7223 x104 for a district staff discount code or with any questions.

Click here for the registration link.

Click here for instruction on how to register.

The review course is open to anyone actively pursuing a CPESC certification through EnviroCert International, Inc., including conservation districts, agency staff, and private companies. Please pass this information along to anyone who may be interested.

PACD is partnering with the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to facilitate Chapter 102 Fall Regional Sessions. These free sessions are for conservation district and DEP staff.

Click here for directions on how to register for these sessions.

Due to limited space, please limit registrations to 3-4 staff per office.

Northwest Chapter 102 Fall Regional Session
October 1, 2019 (deadline to register is September 20)
DEP Northwest Regional Office, Meadville, PA

Southwest Chapter 102 Fall Regional Session
October 2, 2019 (deadline to register is September 20)
Westmoreland Conservation District, Greensburg, PA

Northcentral Chapter 102 Fall Regional Session
October 15, 2019 (deadline to register is October 4)
DEP Northcentral Regional Office, Williamsport, PA

Northeast Chapter 102 Fall Regional Session
October 22, 2019 (deadline to register is October 11)
Back Mountain Regional Emergency Services, Dallas, PA

Southeast Chapter 102 Fall Regional Session
October 29, 2019 (deadline to register is October 18)
DEP Southeast Regional Office, Norristown, PA

Southcentral Chapter 102 Fall Regional Session
October 31, 2019 (deadline to register is October 21)
Dauphin County Agriculture and Natural Resources Center, Dauphin, PA

For questions related to the Clean Water Academy, contact Jay Braund at jbraund@pa.gov.

Contact Shannon Wehinger swehinger@pacd.org with questions about the fall sessions.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will hold Chapter 102 Fall Regional Sessions for conservation districts and DEP staff in October. Registration will be required, but attendance is free and lunch will be provided. Please save the date for the meeting closest to you! Registration will open in July.

Northwest: October 1, 2019, DEP Northwest Regional Office, Meadville, PA

Southwest: October 2, 2019, Westmoreland Conservation District, Greensburg, PA

Northcentral: October 15, 2019, DEP Northcentral Regional Office, Williamsport, PA

Northeast: October 22, 2019, Back Mountain Regional Emergency Services, Dallas, PA

Southeast: October 29, 2019, DEP Southeast Regional Office, Norristown, PA

Southcentral: October 31, 2019, Dauphin County Agriculture and Natural Resources Center, Dauphin, PA

Travel stipends available

The Grow More training series is specifically designed to help agricultural outreach staff reach beyond the choir of those farmers already using soil health practices. This training consists of two half-days and will explore farmer behavior, messaging strategies, and event planning. Training will focus on hands-on learning and activities specific to YOUR outreach.

Event Timing: Two days. 1st Day Noon–5:00 p.m. and 2nd Day 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Space is limited.

June 11 & 12, 2019
Franklin County
Chambersburg, PA: Wilson College

June 13 & 14, 2019
Lancaster County
Lancaster, PA: Shady Maple

July 9 & 10, 2019
Wyoming County
Tunkhannock, PA: Comfort Inn and Suites

July 11 & 12, 2019
Northumberland County
Sunbury, PA: Northumberland Conservation District Office

July 23 & 24, 2019
Clinton County
Mill Hall, PA: Clinton County Conservation District Office

July 25 & 26, 2019
Blair County
Duncansville, PA: Comfort Inn

Click here for the event flyer and here for the registration link.

Please contact Jessica Espenshade at espenshadej@nwf.org or 734-887-7114 with questions.

Thirty individuals attended Agricultural Conservation Technical Boot Camp Training – Level II, April 29-May 3, 2019, at Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County. Attendees included staff from conservation districts, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and affiliates, and the PA Departments of Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources.

The Level II annual training consists of two learning tracks: agronomy and engineering. The two tracks allow participants to focus more deeply on their area of study. The event features a balance of classroom work and field work to give participants hands-on experience.

The training is sponsored by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the State Conservation Commission. PACD works with these partners to coordinate the training.