New PACD President Charles Duritsa presents outgoing President Glenn Seidel with a plaque during the PACD Executive Council.
During the PACD Executive Council meeting on Thursday, July 13, new officers were elected.
They are:
Please welcome these board members to their new positions!
(left to right): Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding accepting the PACD President’s Award, PACD Outgoing President Glenn Seidel, Secretary of Environmental Protection Patrick McDonnell, and PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh.
The annual PACD/SCC awards luncheon took place July 12, 2017 at the Red Lion Hotel, Harrisburg, PA.
Among those recognized were:
Click here to read a press release on the award recipients and here to see photos of the awards luncheon.
Beth and Dave Rice (center) accept the Clean Water Farm Award from (left to right) Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, Secretary of Environmental Protection Patrick McDonnell, PACD Outgoing President Glenn Seidel, and PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh.
PACD in conjunction with the award sponsor, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), presented the operators of five farms with the Clean Water Farm Award during its annual conference on July 12, 2017 in Harrisburg, PA. The honor is awarded annually to farmers who manage their daily farm operations in an environmentally conscious manner that helps to protect Pennsylvania’s water quality.
DEP has sponsored this award for the past thirty-one years. Recipients receive a certificate signed by the DEP Secretary and a large Clean Water Farm Award sign to erect on their property.
The 2017 Clean Water Farm Award Recipients are:
Click here to read a press release on the recipients and here to see photos of the award recipients.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service State Soil Scientist Joe Kraft shows the group the soil from a cover crop field.
During the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference, a soil health tour was held. The group visited Hershey Farms in Elizabethtown, PA. The farm is owned by Jim Hershey, President of the No-Till Alliance of Pennsylvania.
The tour was led by Joe Kraft, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Soil Scientist. Joe highlighted cover cropping, interseeding, and no-till as methods to encourage and maintain soil health.
PACD and the SCC would like to extend special thanks to Jim Hershey and NRCS for making this tour possible.
Click here to see photos of the tour.
Contestants play the Newly Misled Game during the Hospitality Suite.
During the Hospitality Suite at the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference, several brave individuals participated in a new PACD game show, the “Newly Misled Game.” Friends paired up to see how well they knew each other.
Congratulations to Karen Books and Fred Fiscus for winning the game.
Thanks to Allegheny, Armstrong, Susquehanna, and York Counties for providing the snacks for our hospitality suite!
Attending the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference, but didn’t sign up for the soil health tour? It’s not too late! Stop by conference registration to purchase your ticket. The tour will take place on July 13 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $10/person which includes bus transportation, the tour, and bottled water.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Health Scientist Joe Kraft will demonstrate how the farm’s practices affect the soil as participants tour beautiful Hershey Farms. Owned and operated by Jim Hershey, President of the No-Till Alliance of Pennsylvania, the farm uses cover cropping, interseeding, and no-till methods to encourage and maintain soil health.
A new game show will debut during the hospitality suite at the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference on July 12, 2017. PACD will present the “Newly Misled Game” where friends and colleagues will see how well they know each other!
Volunteers are still needed to participate in the game. Contact Sandy Austin at saustin@pacd.org if you are interested in joining the fun.
In addition to the game show, the hospitality suite will feature snacks and drinks from around the state. See you there!
On June 27, PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh visited the Luzerne County Conservation District (LCCD). Brenda met with members of the board to discuss PACD and its services to the membership. They also discussed the state budget. LCCD spoke about their great relationship with their elected officials.
Mike Kerr from the USDA Farm Service Agency explains the CREP program during a CREP workshop in Jefferson County. Photo provided by the Jefferson County Conservation District.
The 2016-17 round of Pennsylvania Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) mini-grants for conservation districts concluded in June.
Some of the outcomes include:
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.
Those who control water pollution in our local streams, rivers, and lakes are facing funding cuts under the House of Representative’s budget. The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. (PACD) is urging the general assembly to restore $1.1 million in funding to the county conservation districts.
The staff at your local county conservation district office work directly with community members to prevent pollution and ensure enough clean water for future generations. They know the local area and what causes the biggest pollution problems. Their goal is to address these problems by working together with community members to make sure drinking water is safe, streams are clean, and nature is protected.
However, the House proposed budget for fiscal year 2017-18 significantly cuts conservation district funding from current levels. The cuts are as follows:
House Department of Agriculture Budget
House Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Budget
PACD asks the General Assembly to restore this “pass through funding” to the conservation district line items through the PA Department of Agriculture and the PA Department of Environmental Protection to the levels in the current 2016-17 budget.