Mark your calendars for the 2024 Section 319 Virtual Watershed Planning and Implementation Meeting from 9:00 a.m. to Noon May 28-29, 2024. The event is open to entities involved in Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management projects, including conservation district staff, DEP and EPA staff, incorporated watershed associations, counties, municipalities, councils of governments, 501(c)(3) non-profits, educational institutions, and municipal authorities. Look for a registration announcement in an upcoming edition of Front Page.
Clarion Conservation District Holds Grazing Field Day
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.
Snyder County Conservation District Holds Farming for the Future Day Event
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.
Montgomery County Conservation District Holds Native Meadow and Riparian Buffer Showcase
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.
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