By Christine Griesemer, Agricultural Resource Conservationist, Berks County Conservation District

Berks County Conservation District recently held a Forested Riparian Buffer Showcase on April 26, 2019, at the Berks County 4H Center in Leesport, PA. This project was made possible by a $3,000 mini-grant provided through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Outreach Program Office (administered by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts).

Thanks to funding from this grant, a 0.5 acre demonstration Forested Riparian Buffer was established near the Berks County 4-H Center.

Click here to read the entire article.

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.

The Columbia County Conservation District used a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) mini-grant, administered by PACD, to host a CREP Workshop at the Montour Preserve in Danville, PA on March 28, 2019. Forty-five people attended the workshop and heard presentations from the Farm Service Agency, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and PA Game Commission about the new mid-contract management rules and how landowners can use CREP to improve wildlife habitat and water quality. A demonstration on how to use the Game Commission’s no-till seed drill was also part of the workshop.

Financial support for the CREP 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.

PACD is now accepting mini-grant applications for up to $2,500 to implement educational and outreach activities that support and extend the work of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). Projects should focus on CREP enrollment, re-enrollment, and/or CREP maintenance.

The guidelines and application for the new CREP mini-grant program for conservation districts are posted here. Questions should be directed to Amy Brown at abrown@pacd.org.

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.

By: Judy Becker, District Manager, Northumberland County Conservation District

The Northumberland County Conservation District (NCCD), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Schuylkill Conservation District held a joint Soil and Water Quality Field Day on August 29, 2018, at the Agricultural Research Service Lab in Klingerstown, PA. The meeting was free for attendees.

The Field Day was offered in two sessions. Session 1 covered new information about the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). Session 2 covered important research that occurred in the Mahantongo Creek Watershed. Attendees had the option to sign up for one session or both.

Topics for both sessions were provided by representatives of the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Pheasants Forever, the ARS Lab, The Pennsylvania State University, NRCS, NCCD, and the Pennsylvania No-Till Alliance. Time was also provided for questions during both sessions. Approximately 100 people were in attendance. The meeting was paid for by the CREP Outreach Program Office Mini-grant Program and grant funding that was available from the Schuylkill Conservation District.

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.

Pennsylvania’s county conservation districts were awarded $39,390 for fourteen projects in fourteen counties. The funds were provided by the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Mini-grant Program. Conservation districts will use these grants to work with landowners to prevent pollution in our streams, lakes, and rivers. Projects will take place over the next twelve months.

The following projects were awarded up to $3,000 each as a part of the 2018–2019 CREP Mini-grant round:

County Conservation District	Amount Awarded
Berks	$3,000
Bradford	$3,000
Centre	$2,995
Clarion	$2,000
Columbia	$3,000
Cumberland	$2,440
Greene	$3,000
Jefferson	$2,555
Lancaster	$3,000
Northumberland	$3,000
Perry	$3,000
Sullivan	$2,400
Tioga	$3,000
Wyoming	$3,000

 

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.

Click here to read more about CREP. 

PACD is now accepting mini-grant applications for up to $3,000 to implement educational and outreach activities that support and extend the work of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). Projects should focus on CREP enrollment, re-enrollment and/or CREP maintenance.

The guidelines and application for the new CREP mini-grant program for conservation districts are posted here. Questions should be directed to Shannon Wehinger at swehinger@pacd.org.

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.

 

The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) recently opened in the Delaware River Basin (DRB). To ensure staff at CREP partner agencies and organizations in the DRB are knowledgeable about the program, the CREP Outreach Program Office of the PA Association of Conservation Districts sponsored a workshop on August 22, 2017. Thirty-six people attended the workshop at Penn State Lehigh Valley Campus and are now able to assist interested landowners and to encourage the installation CREP conservation practices.

Those attending heard from the Farm Service Agency, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, PA Department of Environmental Protection, the PA Game Commission, and the CREP Outreach Program Office. They are now able to explain the benefits and responsibilities of the program and identify landowners who may be a good candidate for CREP. They are also prepared to answer inquiries about the program and to direct potential enrollees to the appropriate agency or individual. 

For more information about CREP, email info@CREPPA.org or go to www.CREPPA.org.

Financial and other support for the CREP Outreach Program Office and this project is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a Growing Greener Watershed Protection Grant from the PA Department of Environmental Protection and with additional support from the USDA.

 

The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Outreach Program Office (hosted by PACD) is hosting a series of workshops in the Delaware River Basin (DRB). The purpose of the workshops is to ensure CREP partners, associates, and district staff understand the program and to introduce CREP to landowners and producers. The workshops are focused on introducing CREP in the seven PA DRB counties; however, they are open to partners and producers outside those counties.

CREP Partners and Associates Workshop
Attendees will leave with a basic understanding of CREP, including eligibility, benefits, and responsibilities. They will be able to respond to inquiries about CREP, direct potential applicants to the proper agencies, and identify producers and sites that may be eligible for CREP. Click the link below for more information or to register.

• Lehigh County – August 22, 2017

CREP Landowner/Producer Workshops

These workshops are open to all landowners who would like to learn about CREP and see if it is a good fit for their situation. Farmers can register online or by calling the Montgomery or Monroe Conservation District offices. See the links below for more information, district contacts, or to register online.

• Montgomery County – September 7, 2017
• Monroe County – September 19, 2017

Please feel free to share this information with interested contacts and partners, and to invite any producers in the DRB who may be interested in the CREP program. Contact Terry Fisher at PACD with any questions or for additional information at 717-238-7223 or tfisher@pacd.org.

The 2016-17 round of Pennsylvania Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) mini-grants for conservation districts concluded in June.

Some of the outcomes include:

• 8 projects were conducted
• 2,000 farmers and landowners were reached
• 3 field days/walkabouts were held
• 6 workshops were held
• 31 one-on-one visits were held
• 29 participants indicated they plan to enroll in CREP In the future
• 31 participants indicated they plan to re-enroll in CREP when their contract expires

PACD has applied for grant funding to continue this program. If funding is granted, a new grant round will be opened. Questions about the mini-grant program should be directed to swehinger@pacd.org.

 

The Jefferson Conservation District held a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Workshop on April 4, 2017. This meeting, coordinated by Megan Whitlatch, Agricultural Conservation Technician/Nutrient Management Specialist, was held at the Jefferson Conservation Center in Brookville, PA.

CREP pays farmers and other landowners to conserve and enhance their land. In this workshop, participants learned about the benefits of CREP, riparian forest buffers, how to identify and control the spread of noxious and invasive weeds on your land, and safe herbicide use.

Financial and other support for the CREP Outreach Program Office Mini-grant Program was 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.