The 2017 Chesapeake Bay Program Conservation District and PA Agency Staff Meeting was held on Monday, March 13, 2017 at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA. Over one-hundred, seventy-five people attended the meeting to hear about current topics related to the Bay and to network with colleagues.

Presenters from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and various conservation districts, discussed topics such as best management practice (BMP) verification, the Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan, and PracticeKeeper software. A lot of discussion focused on the current farm inspections with an open forum session that encouraged questions on the topic. Three conservation districts also shared their experiences and lessons learned about the farm inspection. Maybe the most popular session, however, was one that provided a completely different perspective on some of the topics. During this session, three farmers from Bradford County talked about how they view the inspections and what district and DEP support would be helpful to them.

Close to 4,000 township officials and guests from all over Pennsylvania will attend the annual Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS) Conference and Trade Show. Once again there will be a Conservation District Booth at the show.

Trade Show dates and times are

• Sunday 4/23 Noon – 5:00 pm
• Monday 4/24 7:30 am – 4:00 pm
• Tuesday 4/25 7:30 am – 1:30 pm

Please consider volunteering for a morning or afternoon shift at the conservation district booth. It’s a great way for district staff to reinforce existing relationships and start building new ones with local township officials. It’s also an opportunity to promote the districts and explain the type of programs and work they do. Contact Sandy Austin at saustin@pacd.org or 717-238-7223 to volunteer.

Conservation district volunteers had the opportunity to share about the work conservation districts do in their local communities to conserve the state’s natural resources. Five-hundred, forty-six visitors stopped by the Conservation District Farm Show booth during the eight day event that concluded on January 14. The Farm Show attracts people from across Pennsylvania, drawing visitors to the district booth from sixty one different counties, a few from other states, and even one from New Zealand.

Conservation district facts and contact information were handed out. Visitors also had the opportunity to identify and learn about the watershed they live in by marking their home location on a state map and receiving a fact sheet about their watershed. Other information available during the show included Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program materials, agricultural requirements brochures, and Manure Management Manuals.

A huge thank you is extended to each conservation district that donated staff time to make the show a success. A lot of work goes into preparing and staffing the booth and it would not be possible without the district volunteers.

The 2017 Chesapeake Bay Program Conservation District and PA Agency Staff Meeting will be held on March 13, 2017 at the Elaine Langone Center, 2^nd Floor, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA (snow date March 16). To view the day’s schedule, agenda, and to register click here or go to the “Events” tab at www.pacd.org.

Staff from PA state agencies, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, conservation districts, and other organizations working within the Chesapeake Bay are invited to attend. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. Breakfast, break, and lunch are included and will provide ample time to network with other Bay professionals. See the agenda for a complete listing of sessions and topics to be covered.

Contact Terry Fisher at tfisher@pacd.org with any questions.

January 6 is the last day to take advantage of the early bird discount and save up to $20 on registration for the PACD/SCC Winter Meeting. PACD statewide meetings are a great opportunity to network with fellow districts, participate in statewide policy decisions, and take in timely sessions.

Join us in January and learn about potential Growing Greener III legislation, conservation priorities for the next Farm Bill, and how the PACD Legal Advice Program can work for your district.

If you miss the early bird deadline, you can still register for the meeting anytime through January 17. Click here for registration and meeting information. We look forward to seeing you there! 

PACD will once again be hosting a conservation district exhibit at the 2017 Farm Show. Volunteers are needed to help at our booth and to tell visitors about the important work conservation districts do to protect the Commonwealth’s natural resources. The Farm Show will run from Jan. 7 to Jan. 14, 2017 at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. The district booth will have two 4-hour shifts each day, with one or two volunteers per shift. Volunteers will receive a parking pass for the day of their shift. District volunteers are needed to fill the morning shifts from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm and the afternoon shifts from 12:30 pm to 5 pm on all days. We will not be scheduling volunteers for the evening (after 5:00 p.m.) However, ideally, someone would be at the exhibit at all times, so if you are interested in spending an evening at the booth, please let us know. If you have questions or to volunteer, send your name, contact information, and the shifts you are available to Terry Fisher at tfisher@pacd.org or call Terry at 717-238-7223.

Submitted by Heidi Ferber, Nutrient Management Specialist, Wayne County Conservation District The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau held their annual farm tour in Wayne County this year. The tour brings together Farm Bureau members, PA Department of Environmental Protection personnel, and staff from conservation districts. The group visited the farm of Brian Smith, Bill Bryant’s Highland Farm, and the Calkins Creamery. Brian Smith’s farm suffered an incredible tragedy a few years ago when he lost his barn to a fire. The farm has changed its management style with the barn rebuild and features a bedded pack system. Conservation measures include no-till corn, cover cropping, rotational grazing, milkhouse waste water system, and stabilized lanes. The bedded pack is incorporated twice a day and cleaned and rebedded twice a year. Bill Bryant’s Highland Farm is a 6th generation family farm. The farm signed on as a conservation district cooperator in 1962 and has completed an amazing amount of conservation practices. They rotationally graze the dairy cows, have a watering system, stabilized laneways, streambank fencing, heavy use area protection, no-till cropping, and cover crops. Daughter Emily started the Calkins Creamery and it has become very successful. The cheese is sold at the farm, in local stores, at farmers markets, and shipped nationwide. In honor of Bill’s late son, there is an annual 5K race – Herd the Curd – that runs all over the farm pastures and fields. Highland Farm participated in the Four County Interseeder Demo this past June. His interseeded cover crop is germinating in less than one week. There will be a Corn Trials Field Day on September 14^th and all are welcome to attend. Lunch was held at the historic Calkins Grange and prepared by the Calkins 4-H Clubs. This building is completely original and the Articles of Incorporation still hang on the wall over 100 years later.

This Wednesday, July 20, is the last day to pre-register for the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference. Register now and take advantage of sessions about:

• how the new overtime regulations may impact your district;
• why the odor management and manure hauler/broker programs are important to districts with nutrient management delegation;
• how NACD works for Pennsylvania’s conservation districts on the national level;
• and how other districts are working with nominating organizations and using associate director positions to build their boards.

In addition, Wednesday’s banquet will offer a special musical program by educator and entertainer Van Wagner, and a surprise opening act featuring some of our own PACD members! If you miss Wednesday’s deadline, on-site registration will be available at the conference on a space-available basis, but why wait? Click here for more information or to register.