- South East Region: Barclay Hoopes (Chester County)
- South West Region: James A. & Billie Cowell, Jr. of Frosty Springs Farm (Greene County)
- North West Region: Elder Farms – Loren & Darren Elder (Lawrence County)
- North Central Region: Allen & Linda Wehr Farm (Union County)
- South Central Region: Randall & Sarah Patterson (York County)
PACD presented the operators of five farms with the Clean Water Farm Award during its annual conference on July 27, 2016 in State College, 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.
This year’s award recipients are:
PACD Honors Award Recipients during Annual Meeting
Conservation district staffs, state officials, and legislative partners convened in State College to honor conservationists during the PACD and State Conservation Commission’s 69th Joint Annual Conference. The awards luncheon took place July 27 at the Ramada Conference Center in State College, PA.
The 2016 PACD honorees are as follows:
- Legislator Leadership Award
Representative Tommy Sankey (Clearfield)
- President’s Award
Christopher Thompson (Lancaster)
- Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation District Director Excellence Award
Kenneth Meck (Lancaster)
- Conservation District Employee Excellence Award
Karl Kerchner (Lebanon)
- Auxiliary Scholarship
Leah Wenhold (Lehigh)
Conservation District Employee Service Recognition Program Awards- 30 Years of Service
Donna Fisher, District Manager, Blair
Maryruth Wagner, District Manager, Columbia
- 35 Years of Service
Ed Magargee, District Manager, Delaware
Greg Phillips, District Manager, Westmoreland
- 40 Years of Service
Barry Travelpiece, P.E., Resource Conservationist, Columbia
Click here to read the entire press release.New Round of CREP Mini-grants Now Accepting Applications
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. Due to limited funds, only 5-10 projects will be funded this round.
The deadline to apply is August 19, 2016. Click here for the guidelines.
The application for the new CREP mini-grant program for conservation districts is 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. |
Allegheny, Blair, Lycoming & Montgomery Counties Receive Urban Agriculture Conservation Grants
The National Association of Conservation Districts, in partnership with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, has awarded $2 million in grants to 42 conservation districts in 25 states to boost technical assistance capacity for urban agriculture and conservation projects.
The 2016 grants will help urban farmers, community gardens, and other local agricultural partnerships implement conservation practices that support local food production, provide opportunities for education and stewardship, and protect natural resources.
Congratulations to Allegheny, Blair, Lycoming and Montgomery County Conservation Districts on their grant awards! Click here for the full list of recipients.
Berks Holds CREP Maintenance Workshop
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. |
Farm Bureau Holds Annual Tour in Wayne County
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 14th 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.
Conservation Districts in North East Hold Interseeder Demonstration
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. |
Water Quality Improving on Warrior Run
Last Chance to Pre-register for the Joint Annual Conference
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.
Greene County Holds Rain Barrel Workshop
Financial and other support for this project was 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. |