Ag. Conservation Assistance

The SCCD is gathering a list of farmers, agricultural operators, livestock and equine owners and farm landowners interested in best management practices (BMPs) as described above in the “Technical Assistance” section. Potential BMPs to be funded may include riparian and vegetative buffers, streambank fencing, improved barnyards, manure storages and pasture watering systems. Contact us for more information by calling 570-837-3000.

Interested persons may also check with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) at 401 West Market Street, Middleburg, (570-600-4031) for possible financial assistance.

The PA State Conservation Commission (SCC) typically offers a tax credit program (REAP Program: Resource Enhancement and Protection Program) for farmers who recently installed or plan to install best management practices (BMPs), have planted/will plant cover crops, or have purchased or will purchase no-till planting or specialized manure handling equipment. Farmers can also receive tax credits for nutrient management plans (NMPs), manure management plans (MMPs), conservation plans and agricultural erosion & sedimentation (Ag. E&S) plans. If approved, tax credits are awarded by the PA Department of Revenue.

Please note that the applicant must have:

1. An MMP or NMP (if produce or receive manure),
2. An up-to-date conservation or Ag. E&S plans on all land they own and rent, and
3. If the applicant has animal concentrated areas (ACAs), that BMPs are in place to treat runoff from the ACA,

to qualify for BMP and equipment tax credits. If not, tax credits can only go towards the development of MMPs, NMPs, conservation and Ag. E&S plans.

Contact the Snyder County Conservation District office, or Nicole Bloom, SCC REAP Program Administrator in Harrisburg, PA, at 717-783-9636 for information.

A set of REAP guidelines and application are available on the SCC’s website. Please note that the SCC is currently not accepting new applications. Stay tuned for next fiscal year’s guidelines and applications when they are released.

Any Snyder County farmer (who is within Middle Creek Watershed) interested in having necessary plans to follow PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regulations can sign up at the Snyder County Conservation District.  Eligible plans are as follows:

• Manure management plan (MMP)
• Nutrient management plan (NMP, Act 38 or NRCS “590”)
  • CAOs (concentrated animal operations) and CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations) are not eligible.
• Agricultural erosion & sedimentation (Ag. E&S) plan
• Conservation plan (NRCS style)

The pressure is on farmers to comply with agricultural environmental regulations enforced by DEP and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  This will also help farmers thinking of seeking financial assistance from programs such as the PA Chesapeake Bay Program Countywide Action Plan (CAP) Implementation Grants to install or improve their operations.

Questions may be forwarded to Barry Spangler, Ag. Conservation Technician, at 570-837-3000 x5.

To see a map of Middle Creek Watershed within Snyder County, click here .

Program funding statement: The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and its funding sources. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government, or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or its funding sources.

For those who do not qualify for the Middle Creek Watershed planning program (listed above), farmers may hire a qualified consultant to develop or update their MMPs, Ag. E&S plans, nutrient management plans (NMPs) and conservation plans offered through the PA Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. (PACD). CAOs and CAFOs may participate. The only stipulation is that the operation cannot have participated in a similar program recently offered by DEP.

Interested farmers must complete an application with the Conservation District. Additional information is available at the SCCD office by reaching out to Barry Spangler, Ag. Technician at 570-837-3000 x5.

Financial and other support for the Ag Plan Reimbursement Program is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation. Some staffing for this project promoting agricultural environmental compliance was financed by in part by an U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant provided by the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of EPA, DEP, or any of its subagencies.

The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) also has many programs such as:

• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
• Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA)
• Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
• and others.

You can reach the NRCS Middleburg Field Office at 570-600-4031 for additional information.

The USDA-Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers conservation cost-share and loan programs as well. For example:

• Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
• Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)

To reach the Snyder-Union Counties FSA Office in Middleburg, call 570-600-4018.

The PA DEP’s Small Business Ombudsman’s Office has a grant program   in which small businesses, including agricultural operations, can apply for grant to fund natural resource conservation best management practices (BMPs) that  prevent sediment and nutrient pollution. Possible projects include forested/grass riparian buffer plantings, streambank fencing and barnyard runoff controls.

The maximum grant award allowed is $9,500.00 and a match up to 50% of equipment/material costs is possible. This is a first-come, first-serve award basis.

For more information, contact the DEP Small Business Ombudsman’s Office at 717-772-5160 or epadvantagegrant@pa.gov.