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Technical Assistance for Farmers Snyder County AG BMP Guide Financial & Other Assistance for Farmers Act 38 - Nutrient Management Grant Implementation Program  EQIP -  Environmental Quality Incentives Program Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative - CBWI - New! CSP - Conservation Stewardship Program - New! Other Programs Chesapeake Bay Special Projects BMPs & Services for Farmers Sign-Up Now!    No-Till Drills & Planters List No-Till Incentive Program   Now Available! Cover Crop Incentive Program   Now Available! Cover Crop Voucher Field Corn Nitrogen Testing Program Late Season Cornstalk Nitrate Testing  Sign-Up Now!     Streambank Fencing Programs Grazing Programs Miscellaneous Programs & Services  REAP

 

 

Much of the work done by the Snyder County Conservation District staff relates to agriculture and protecting our ground and surface waters. Along with our fellow cooperating agency, the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), we have installed many best management practices (BMPs) on farms throughout Snyder County. Examples of agricultural BMPs are: improved barnyards, streambank fencing, manure storages, waste stacking structures, diversions, grass waterways, cattle crossings, milkhouse wastewater treatment systems and no-till crop planting incentives.

 

 

For more information about what technical assistance farmers can receive, please call the Conservation District (570-837-3000) or the NRCS-Middleburg Field Office (570-837-0007, x3).

 

 

 

There are several programs that farmers can seek technical and financial assistance from the Conservation District and NRCS. They are as follows:

 

This program can cost share 80% up to $75,000 in installing agricultural BMPs required to satisfy the requirements of an approved Act 38 nutrient management plan (NMP).  Farmers with an approved NMP may secure an application from the Conservation District. It is administered by the PA Department of Agriculture and the PA State Conservation Commission.

 

Application submission deadlines to PDA and SCC vary from year to year. Tax, loan and other financial information are required on the grant application. Contact the Conservation District for more information.

 

Since 2001, $590,000 have been spent within Snyder County to help farmers install BMPs under this program.

 

Click here for more information regarding Act 38 and nutrient management.

 

Note: At this time, no funds are available for BMP installation. 

 

 

This program can cost share up to 75% in installing agricultural BMPs on farms. Reimbursement rates vary depending on the specific BMP. A nutrient management plan will be needed for most projects. It is administered by NRCS.

 

Project types include:

Farmers may apply through the NRCS Field Office in Middleburg, next to the Conservation District office. (Address information is listed below.) Sign-ups run throughout the year. If a farmer ranks high enough, a contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is completed with needed BMPs or nutrient management planning.

 

Natural Resources Conservation Service Middleburg Field Office 401 West Market Street Middleburg, PA 17842 Phone: 570-837-0007, x3 FAX: 570-837-1038

 

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative - CBWI - New!

Under the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative (CBWI) from NRCS, eligible farm landowners can use available technical and financial assistance to address soil erosion, sedimentation, and excess nutrients in streams and waterways, as well as other related natural resource concerns such as air quality, wetlands, wildlife habitat, and forestry. Pennsylvania agricultural producers located within the Chesapeake Bay watershed may apply. (All of Snyder County lies within the Chesapeake Bay watershed.)

Eligible practices eligible for CBWI are as follows:

• Conservation Cover & Conservation Crop Rotation
• No-Till, Mulch Till and Cover Crops
• Nutrient Management
• Feed Management
• Streambank Fencing
• Tree Plantings, Riparian Forest Buffers & Herbaceous Cover
• Waterways, Terraces and Diversions

Applications for CBWI will be accepted continuously throughout the year to be evaluated, ranked, and prioritized based on their potential to control erosion and reduce sediment and nutrient levels in local waters and the Chesapeake Bay. To apply, you will need to contact the Middleburg NRCS Field Office and fill out an application form. (Address information listed below.)

Some watersheds in PA will be designated as high priority watersheds in 2010's initiative because they have high yields of nitrogen and phosphorus, intense agricultural operations, and local water quality impairments due to excess nutrients or dissolved oxygen.

Note: If preliminary reports are correct, all land within Snyder County is within these "high priority watersheds."

Natural Resources Conservation Service Middleburg Field Office 401 West Market Street Middleburg, PA 17842 Phone: 570-837-0007, x3 FAX: 570-837-1038

 

 

 

NRCS also is accepting applications from agricultural and forestry producers for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The goal is for these people to maintain existing conservation activities and adopt new practices on their operations. CSP is a new USDA Farm Bill program that provides financial and technical assistance to conserve and improve soil, water, air and other natural resources on their land.

 

In other words, this program will give a payment to those who have been doing their part now as being good stewards of the land. For more details, contact the NRCS Middleburg Field Office and go to the PA NRCS's CSP website. Applications will be accepted throughout the year. Producers interested in applying are encouraged to complete a "self-screening" checklist first. Other eligibility criteria also exist.

 

Natural Resources Conservation Service Middleburg Field Office 401 West Market Street Middleburg, PA 17842 Phone: 570-837-0007, x3 FAX: 570-837-1038

 

 

 

 

Although no funds exist at this time, farmers interested may apply to seek funding from the PA Department of Environmental Protection to install best management practices (BMPs) on their farms. These BMPs may include items such as improved barnyards and pasture improvement projects. Farmers can also check if they can hire a private consultant to develop a nutrient management plan or hire a crop consultant.

 

Generally, it is recommended that a farmer apply with other funding sources since these funds are scarce. Multiple funding sources are usually needed. Contact Barry Spangler at 570-837-3000, x118, for details.

 

UPDATE: Interested farmers can complete an application for potential cost share funds to help pay for a certified nutrient management specialist to write an Act 38 nutrient management plan. The deadline is September 17, 2010. Contact Barry Spangler at 570-837-3000, x118, for details.

 

 

 

Streambank fencing not only protects the streams and stream banks from cattle traffic and manure, but also help cattle health with decreases in mastitis infections and hoof problems.

 

PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has a streambank fencing program available for farmers. Eligible farmers can have there stream fenced off, along with cattle crossings or accesses, for little or no charge. DEP has recently worked with local farmers to install the free streambank fences. Contact Barry Spangler, Ag. Conservation Technician, for more information about this DEP program.

 

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) and NRCS also can cost share streambank fencing under certain circumstances. Contact the Conservation District or NRCS (570-837-0007, x3) about the availability of these fencing programs.

 

 

The Conservation District has participated in the South Central Chapter of Project Grass and their cost share program encouraging rotational/intensive grazing on farms the last several years. Funding was through grants from PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

 

 

South Central Project Grass, in conjunction with Capital Resource Conservation & Development (Capital RC&D), has been awarded a grant (Grass Roots 21) from the National Fish & Wildlife Federation. These funds are helping farmers install grazing best management practices (BMPs).

 

The Grass Roots 21 grant has hired grazing specialists that will assist farmers with technical advice related to grazing. Contact the Conservation District's Barry Spangler for more information (570-837-3000, x118) regarding this service.

 

Financial assistance may also be available. Stay tuned for updates.

 

UPDATE: South Central Project Grass is accepting applications from interested farmers seeking financial assistance for grazing BMPs. The deadline is September 10, 2010. Contact Barry Spangler for details.

 

 

 

 

The Conservation District occasionally has meetings, workshops and field days geared toward farmers. Check our Home Page for updates. Information from prior events can be found in our Conservation Snapshots and Meetings & Workshops web pages.

 

 

Many programs mentioned above requires farmers to have a conservation plan updated. Farmers may ask for technical assistance on ways they can reduce soil erosions on their farms with the help of NRCS and the Conservation District.

 

A partial list of NRCS programs available for farmers and landowners:

Middleburg Field Office

401 West Market Street

Middleburg, PA 17842

Phone: 570-837-0007, x3

FAX: 570-837-1038

Website: www.pa.nrcs.usda.gov

 

 

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) , an agency with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), also has some financial conservation related programs available for landowners.

 

A partial list of FSA programs available for farmers and landowners:

• CREP: Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
• CRP: Conservation Reserve Program

Click here to connect to PA's FSA program web page for additional information on these and other programs.

 

You can also visit or contact the Snyder/Union Counties FSA office listed below.

 

 

 

 

 

REAP Update

What is it?   Act 55 of 2007 created the Resource Enhancement and Protection Program (REAP). REAP  allows farmers and businesses to earn tax credits in exchange for best management practices (BMPs) on agricultural operations that will enhance farm production and protect natural resources.   The program is administered by the State Conservation Commission (SCC) and the tax credits will be granted by the PA Department of Revenue.    Eligible applicants may receive between 25% and 75% of project costs as state tax credits for up to $150,000 per agricultural operation. The amount of tax credit available to a recipient is dependent on the type of BMP implemented.   There are three ways for farmers to participate in the REAP program. A farmer may use the tax credits to reduce state income tax bills, sell the tax credits to another PA taxpayer or work with a sponsor who agrees to help finance BMP installation in order to receive the tax credit from the farmer.   More information can be found on the SCC’s REAP Web Site. You can also contact Mary Bender, REAP Administrator, at the SCC's Harrisburg office at 717-787-8821.   News for 2010:   The SCC has approved guidelines and applications for the upcoming REAP program for fiscal year 2010-2011. For this coming round, applications which were received in 2009 and not funded will be considered by SCC before accepting new applications. These applicants were notified by SCC and had to reactivate their application by July 16. New applications were accepted beginning August 2, but are not accepting any more at this time. =======   Note #1: Information supplied by SCC's REAP Web Site and William Kahler, DEP NCRO Conservation Program Specialist.   Note #2: SCC predicts that there will be about $4.5 million in tax credits for the next fiscal year.