NEWS YOU CAN USE ~ JANUARY 14, 2019
A monthly collection of recent news, upcoming events, and articles of interest
|
|
Two Big Alliance Soil Health Meeting Scheduled
The Alliance will host two Soil Health Meetings in February, one in western PA (Clarion) and one in eastern PA (East Earl). Save the dates shown below. Both meetings are FREE if pre-registered using the registration form, located below the save the date flyers.
|
|
Western PA Meeting
February 25
|
|
Eastern PA Meeting
February 26
|
|
Alliance a Partner in Popular Farm Show Conservation and Stewardship Display
At the recent 2019 PA Farm Show, Jay Howes, Alliance administrative coordinator, facilitated, on behalf of the Alliance and other partners a nearly 5,000 sq. ft. display focused on conservation practices. Included were live growing cover, row and produce crops, full-size machinery and a properly buffered flowing stream. It attracted considerable attention from agricultural and public attendees, elected officials and even Governor Wolf.
Informational signs explained the "how, what and why" of practices like no-till planting, planting green and the use of cover crops. Two TV stations used it as the backdrop for live broadcasts during the week and Jay had the opportunity to explain the message to numerous other representatives of the press.
|
|
Photo Top Right:
An overview of the display. Note the “pull-up” panels (located on the far right) describing no-till, cover crops and soil health.
|
|
The “stream” with forest and grass buffers and fencing.
|
|
Harrisburg CBS Channel 21 reporter reporting live from the back of the no-till drill with cover. Crops in the fore ground.
|
|
Leroy Bupp's Demonstration Featured on Farm Show Stage
Also during the Farm Show, Leroy Bupp had two opportunities to present his soil health demonstration on the Ag 101 stage, near the conservation display. He had an attentive audience and generated numerous good questions.
|
|
Alliance Board Members in the Spotlight at National No-Till Conference
Alliance president Jim Hershey and board member Steve Groff both had the opportunity to be part of the program at the National No-Till Conference in Indianapolis, January 8-11.
Steve did a special 'early arrival' two hour session on “Training the Trainers on Cover Crop Adoption," while Jim led a workshop on “Using Advanced No-Till Seeding Methods to Protect Soils and Improve Soil Health.” We are very fortunate to have nationally recognized experts such as Jim and Steve helping to lead our own PA No-Till Alliance.
|
|
PA Agronomic Education Conference - January 17-18
Registration is currently open for the 2019 Pennsylvania Agronomic Education Conference, to be held this week, January 17-18. Back in State College for 2019, the event will be held at Wyndham Garden Hotel at Mountain View Country Club in Boalsburg.
(Walk-ins welcome.)
Two ways to register:
1.
Online (with Credit Card) - Simply log onto
http://www.cvent.com/d/rbqczm
to enter your contact information, registration preferences and credit card information for immediate registration, credit card processinging and confirmation/payment receipt.
2.
Via Fax/Email/Mail - Those requesting an invoice or paying by check may complete a
registration form
.
Click here
to view the agenda information for this great two-day meeting of Pennsylvania's agronomic industry, offering networking and educational sessions so you can hear the latest in agronomic research, products, equipment and tools for helping you serve your farmer customers and clients. This year's conference will offer the opportunity to obtain numerous CCA CEUs over the two days, as well as PA Nutrient Management and Pesticide Program CECs.
|
|
2019 Pennsylvania in the Balance Conference - February 6-8
Impacts to water quality from excess nutrients and sediment are among the most complex and pervasive environmental problems faced today, not only in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania but across the nation and the globe.
In the Chesapeake Bay watershed, Pennsylvania is faced with finding a path forward to meet requirements of the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for nutrients and sediment.
Pennsylvania agriculture plays a critical role in solving these challenges. Any solution must balance the Commonwealth’s interests in a vibrant agricultural sector, local water quality, and finite state and federal resources.
The goal of the 2019 conference is to provide a collaborative forum to provide input into the WIP and identify innovative implementation strategies that can help us ensure vibrant, productive agriculture while meeting water quality goals for the Commonwealth’s rivers and streams and the Chesapeake Bay.
|
|
Changes Proposed to Ag Erosion & Sedimentation Manual
DEP has worked with stakeholders from the private sector as well as conservation districts, PA Farm Bureau and PennAg to revamp the Erosion and Sedimentation Manual for Agriculture Operations. You are asked to review the manual and provide comments to DEP.
Click here
to view the entire manual.
Click Here
for a DEP presentation on the new manual (DEP ID: 383-4200-002).
Comments are due March 6 and can be submitted online through
DEP’s eComment webpage
, by email to
ecomment@pa.gov
or in writing to: Technical Guidance Coordinator, Department of Environmental Protection, Policy Office, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063.
|
|
Reminder: It's Time to Renew Your Membership for 2019
If you have not yet done so, please take time to renew your membership in the PA No-Till Alliance. Notices were mailed in November and many of you have responded. If you have not yet sent in your renewal, there’s still time!
Click here
for a copy of the renewal form, or see below.
|
|
Thank You Alliance Sponsors
|
|
Each year, a number of sponsors step-up to partner with the Alliance in fulfilling our mission to promote the successful application of no-till through shared ideas, experiences, education, and new technology. Without their invaluable support, the Alliance would not be able to have the success it enjoys.
Interested in becoming a new sponsor or renewing a sponsorship?
Contact Jay Howes (
jhowes@pennag.com
) today!
Thank you to those who have renewed or initiated new sponsorships for 2019:
Gold Sponsors
MM Weaver, Inc.
Silver Sponsors
Gro-Mor Plant Food Co.
Melvin Weaver & Sons
Bronze Sponsors
American Dairy Association North East
King's AgriSeeds
|
|
Pennsylvania No-Till Alliance
2215 Forest Hills Drive, Suite 39, Harrisburg, PA 17112
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
