Front Page Newsletter June 13, 2022

Please mark your calendar and plan to attend your fall PACD region meeting! The meetings will be held both in-person and virtually.

PACD North West Region Meeting

September 21, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon

Kinzua Bridge State Park, Mount Jewett, PA

PACD South West Region Meeting

September 28, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon

Westmoreland Conservation District, Greensburg, PA

PACD South East Region Meeting

September 29, 2022 | 9:30 a.m. to Noon

Henning’s Market, Harleysville, PA

PACD South Central Region Meeting

October 5, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon

Cumberland Conservation District, Carlisle, PA

PACD North Central Region Meeting

October 18, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon

Clinton Conservation District, Mill Hall, PA

PACD North East Region Meeting

October 25, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. to Noon

Schuylkill Conservation District, Pottsville, PA

Connie Zimmerman is the new Administrative and Program Assistant for our Harrisburg Office. She has worn "many hats" over the years, working in state government and private industry. A Harrisburg native, she holds a bachelor's degree in Public Policy from Penn State (Go Lions!).

In her free time, she enjoys music, dancing, gardening, and doting on her 4-legged sidekick, Petey. Her downtime also includes spending time with her nephews and niece. Connie said, “I look forward to working with the PACD team!” 

The Lebanon County Conservation District staff met with local legislators on June 3, 2022. The meeting included a staff discussion on conservation programs in Lebanon County. These include agricultural land preservation, erosion and sedimentation control, Envirothon, mosquito-borne disease control, and agricultural programs. Conservation district funding, urban/suburban sprawl in the county, and the countywide Conservation Action Plan (CAP) were also discussed.

PACD Executive Director Brenda Shambaugh also attended the event. Click here to read a news article about the event. 

Photo caption (left to right): Taylor Wade, Administrative Assistant; Randall Leisure, Board Chairperson; Jo Ellen Litz, Commissioner; Craig Zemitis, Agricultural Preservation Specialist; Katie Doster, District Manager; Jim Tomanelli, Associate Director; Maranda Smith, CAP Technician; Dan Bost, Representative for Senator Christopher Gebhard; Brenda Shambaugh, PACD Executive Director; Robert Arnold, Director; Karl Kerchner, Assistant Manager; Stephanie Harmon, Watershed Specialist; MaryKate Gallagher, CAP Coordinator; Nate Weaver, Erosion & Sedimentation Technician; and Representative Russ Diamond.

Chester County Conservation District (CCCD) planned to host agricultural field days with farm tours displaying exceptional best management practices (BMPs). However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the scope of the project was changed, and the district opted to create a series of educational videos highlighting agricultural BMPs.

CCCD filmed and edited a video series featuring barnyard, cropland, pasture, and operational best management practices. This educational video series features the practices implemented at Walmoore Holsteins and includes video footage of daily operations and an interview with the landowner/operator.

Click here to view “The Basics of Agricultural Conservation: In the Field and Around the Barn Part 1” and here to view “The Basics of Agricultural Conservation: In the Field and Around the Barn Part 2.” 

Photo caption: Screenshot from the “The Basics of Agricultural Conservation: In the Field and Around the Barn Part 2” video.

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.

Cumberland County’s cover crop incentive program has become a model for other Pennsylvania counties and farmers looking to improve soil health and reduce polluted agricultural runoff.

The Cumberland County Conservation District's cover crops program is 15 years old and provides some funding and technical assistance for planting cover crops to roughly 66 farmers. The district has helped farmers plant 8,500 acres of cover crops and estimates there may be at least that many acres not enlisted in its program.

Click here to read the entire article. 

Photo caption: CBF Photo. In a field in Cumberland County, dairy farmer Zane Garber checks on how cover crops improve the soil's health.

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Annual Awards Program recognizes individuals and organizations for their outstanding work and leadership in soil and water conservation. NACD is accepting nominations for the 2022 NACD Distinguished Service Award and NACD Friend of Conservation Award through August 31, 2022.

Please submit nomination forms and any questions to awards@email.nacdnet.org. Learn more about each award here.

Do you know a Pennsylvania farmer or forestland owner who goes above and beyond in caring for and managing natural resources? Consider nominating them for the 2022 Pennsylvania Leopold Conservation Award!

Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 23 states for extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. The $10,000 award is given in Pennsylvania with state partners The Heinz Endowments and Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes landowners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water, and wildlife habitat management on private, working land. In his influential 1949 book, "A Sand County Almanac," Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.

Nominations may be submitted on behalf of a landowner, or landowners may nominate themselves. The application can be found at www.sandcountyfoundation.org/ApplyLCA.

The application deadline date is August 1, 2022. Applications must be emailed to award@sandcountyfoundation.org.

The Leopold Conservation Award will be presented at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in January.

Bucks:

Muddy Waters Ahead as Core Creek Park's Lake Luxembourg will be Lower Over the Summer. Here's Why

Clinton:

Jodun Addresses Environmental Issues at CCATO Convention

Lebanon:

Local Officials Attend Conservation District 2022 Legislative Roundtable

Warren:

Time Explorers is Theme of Summer Camp

Other News:

Identify and Report Spotted Lanternfly and Tree-of-Heaven (Webinar)

USDA Advances Food System Transformation with $43 Million for Urban Agriculture and Innovation, Adds New Urban County Committees

June 15, 2022 | 12:00pm – 2:00pm

Building for Tomorrow 2022 Spring Leadership Webinar Series: Deep Dives for Directors Part 2 (DEP Programs)

June 28, 2022 at 10 a.m.

iMapInvasives Training Webinar