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Front Page: Your Weekly News & Updates
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| Training for district staff wraps-up, manure plan writing resource, state technical committee meeting, SWCS conference, NACD webinar, and grazing training. |
Technical Training Draws 46 Conservation Districts to Boalsburg, PA
Close to 130 staff from 46 conservation districts and the PA Department of Environmental Protection attended 102/105 Topic-based Technical Training April 2-4, 2019, at the Wyndham Garden State College in Boalsburg, PA. Participants received training on Chapter 105, erosion and sedimentation control (E&S) on Chapter 105 permitted sites, delegation agreement levels and responsibilities, and a range of compliance and enforcement topics.
This training was funded through a grant from the PA Department of Environmental Protection and made possible through the cooperation of the PA Association of Conservation Districts and Pennsylvania's conservation districts.
Photo caption: Eric Konzelmann, Assistant Manager for the Montgomery County Conservation District, presents to a full house during Topic-based Technical Training on April 3, 2019.
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Thirty-Four Students Attend Agricultural Conservation Technical Training Basic Level
Thirty-four individuals attended Agricultural Conservation Technical Boot Camp Training - Basic Level April 1-5, 2019, at Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County. Attendees included staff from conservation districts, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and affiliates, farmland preservation, and the PA Department of Environmental Protection.
The training is sponsored by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the State Conservation Commission. PACD works with these partners to coordinate the training.
Photo caption: Participants in the Basic Level of Agricultural Conservation Technical Training pose for a group photo on the first day of training.
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Manure Management Plan Writing Workshop Facilitator Training Now Available as a Web-based Course
The course, entitled "Conducting a Farmer Plan Writing Workshop - Facilitator Training" is provided on the Pennsylvania Clean Water Academy so that conservation district staff, Penn State Extension educators, and industry representatives have the resources to plan and conduct manure management plan writing workshops for farmers.
This training is designed for staff who provide outreach and assistance to farmers and agricultural consultants, particularly regarding Manure Management Planning, and is intended to complement conservation districts' new staff training plan for agricultural technicians.
All materials, previously available only at in-person trainings, are now available for review at the convenience of the learner on the Pennsylvania Clean Water Academy.
Once an account has been created, approved, and the learner has taken "How to Use Clean Water Academy," the learner can access the Manure Management Plan Writing Workshop Facilitator Training course at
https://pacleanwateracademy.remote-learner.net/course/view.php?id=33
or by searching for the course name in the search bar on the home page.
Please contact Jay Braund at
[email protected]
or 717-772-5636 with any questions related to the Pennsylvania Clean Water Academy.
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Districts Encouraged to Attend PA State Technical Committee Meeting April 18
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) invites the public to attend the Pennsylvania State Technical Committee meeting on April 18, 2019, at the USDA State Office in Harrisburg, PA.
Quarterly State Technical Committee Meetings are held to discuss natural resources conservation in Pennsylvania and provide recommendations to NRCS on the implementation of Farm Bill programs.
April's meeting will feature guest speaker Bill Chain of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation who, accompanied by Scott Heckman of NRCS, will present an overview of an RCPP Project for soil health. Updates on FY 2019 conservation programs will be given and an update on two Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) projects in Bradford County will be provided by Nate Dewing of the Bradford County Conservation District and Mike Hanawalt of NRCS.
The public is invited to attend the meeting, which will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, 2019, at the USDA State Office Conference Room at 359 East Park Drive in Harrisburg, PA. To attend via teleconference, call 1-888-844-9904 with access code 6941559.
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Registration is Open for the 74th SWCS Annual Conference
Join us in Pittsburgh, PA, as we celebrate past conservation accomplishments and share science-based knowledge on critical and current issues facing soil, water, and environmental sustainability. The Soil and Water Conservation Society's 74th International Annual Conference will be held July 28, through July 31, 2019, at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown in Pittsburgh, PA.
The conference includes workshops, breakout sessions, symposia sessions, poster presentations, plenary sessions, and tours designed to raise the awareness of recent developments in the science and art of natural resource conservation and environmental management.
For complete conference details and to register, visit
www.swcs.org/19AC
.
The early registration cut-off is June 19, 2019, and online registration cut-off is July 17, 2019.
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April Urban and Community Webinar
The next National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Urban and Community (U&C) Conservation webinar, scheduled for Thursday, April 18, 2019, at Noon, will spotlight pollinator conservation practices.
The Pollinator Stewardship Council will report on an ongoing project, "Pollinator Habitat on Three Different Types of Corporate Properties." The West Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District in Oregon has incorporated pollinator habitat into opportune projects throughout the area and trained volunteers to monitor them for pollinators over the past three seasons. Information about this community science model will be shared, including the program's model, results, lessons learned, and resources.
There is no cost to participate, but space is limited. To register, email Debra Bogar at
[email protected]
. Information to access the webinar will be sent by email.
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PA GLC and PASA Organize Pasture Walk and Grazing Plan Training
The Pennsylvania Grazing Lands Coalition (PA GLC) and the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) are partnering to hold a pasture walk and rotational grazing planning training from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 2, 2019, in Belleville PA. This event is open to all and will be held rain or shine at Hameau Farm in the Big Valley, at 6364 State Route 655, thanks to the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship Program.
Click here for more information and to RSVP
by April 25, 2019, or contact PASA by phone at 814-349-9856. This event is free of charge, with lunch included. Pre-registration is requested.
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Conservation Districts in the News
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Upcoming Events
April 29-May 3, 2019
Ft. Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA (Lebanon County)
June 18-20, 2019
2019 New Manager Bootcamp Training
Toftrees Golf Resort, State College, PA
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