Our agricultural team works with farmers and landowners to institute best management practices aimed at improving water quality, animal health and income. We also provide agricultural protection and easements, assist with nutrient management and conservation planning, including no-till, cover crops, and grazing practices.
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AG TEAM STAFF
Kevin Brown
Agricultural Team Leader 570-485-3105 Patrick Cullen District Engineer 570-485-3127 Glenn Bell Ag Resource Specialist 570-485-3130 Miranda Neville Ag Resource Specialist 570-485-3126 |
Manure Management
All farming operations, regardless of size, that include any barnyards or pastures or that land apply manure whether they generate the manure or import it from another operation, are required to develop and implement a written Manure Management Plan.
All farming operations, regardless of size, that include any barnyards or pastures or that land apply manure whether they generate the manure or import it from another operation, are required to develop and implement a written Manure Management Plan.
*Manure Management Guidelines Update*
On April 27th, 2024, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) published revisions to Land Application of Manure: A Supplement to Manure Management for Environmental Protection, marking the first updates to the guidelines in over a decade. These changes affect all agricultural operation, excluding CAFOs and CAOs, that apply manure or agricultural process wastewater to land. DEP's Land Application of Manure sets the standards for the application of manure and agricultural wastewater in the commonwealth, as well as the development of Manure Management Plans.
If you have any questions on this new revision or need to update your current Manure Management Plan, please contact a member of our Ag Team for further assistance.
On April 27th, 2024, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) published revisions to Land Application of Manure: A Supplement to Manure Management for Environmental Protection, marking the first updates to the guidelines in over a decade. These changes affect all agricultural operation, excluding CAFOs and CAOs, that apply manure or agricultural process wastewater to land. DEP's Land Application of Manure sets the standards for the application of manure and agricultural wastewater in the commonwealth, as well as the development of Manure Management Plans.
If you have any questions on this new revision or need to update your current Manure Management Plan, please contact a member of our Ag Team for further assistance.
Nutrient Management
Nutrient management traditionally has been concerned with optimizing the economic returns from nutrients used to produce a crop. More recently, nutrient management also has begun to address ways to minimize the negative impact of nutrients on the environment.
Nutrient management traditionally has been concerned with optimizing the economic returns from nutrients used to produce a crop. More recently, nutrient management also has begun to address ways to minimize the negative impact of nutrients on the environment.
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
What is the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program?
The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a part of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), the country’s largest private-land conservation program. Administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), CREP targets high-priority conservation concerns identified by a State, and federal funds are supplemented with non-federal funds to address those concerns. In exchange for removing environmentally sensitive land from production and establishing permanent resource conserving plant species, farmers and ranchers are paid an annual rental rate along with other federal and state incentives as applicable per each CREP agreement. Participation is voluntary, and the contract period is typically 10–15 years.
Why Should you Enroll in CREP?
In addition to contributing to improvement of the environment in multiple ways, those enrolled in CREP receive an annual rental payment for their enrolled acres and may be eligible for additional incentives. FSA also provides cost-sharing to help offset the costs associated with installing the conservation practices.
Need help with maintenance of trees planted on CREP ground?
You could schedule some time for a forest technician at your site to walk the planting, helping you get on track with maintenance and improve survival. Cooperating agencies on this project are the County Conservation Districts of Bradford, Sullivan, Tioga and Wyoming Counties. Chesapeake Bay Foundation, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, USDA Farm Service Agency, and PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Also, some funding is provided by the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Outreach Program Office (administered by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc.) Funding will provide a summer forest technician to do this work from May-August 2024. So if you are a landowner in Bradford, Sullivan, Tioga, or Wyoming Counties with trees planted through a CREP contract, make your appointment today by contacting the Farm Service Agency in Bradford County at (570)485-3142 or Kevin Brown at (570)485-3105
What is the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program?
The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a part of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), the country’s largest private-land conservation program. Administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), CREP targets high-priority conservation concerns identified by a State, and federal funds are supplemented with non-federal funds to address those concerns. In exchange for removing environmentally sensitive land from production and establishing permanent resource conserving plant species, farmers and ranchers are paid an annual rental rate along with other federal and state incentives as applicable per each CREP agreement. Participation is voluntary, and the contract period is typically 10–15 years.
Why Should you Enroll in CREP?
In addition to contributing to improvement of the environment in multiple ways, those enrolled in CREP receive an annual rental payment for their enrolled acres and may be eligible for additional incentives. FSA also provides cost-sharing to help offset the costs associated with installing the conservation practices.
Need help with maintenance of trees planted on CREP ground?
You could schedule some time for a forest technician at your site to walk the planting, helping you get on track with maintenance and improve survival. Cooperating agencies on this project are the County Conservation Districts of Bradford, Sullivan, Tioga and Wyoming Counties. Chesapeake Bay Foundation, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, USDA Farm Service Agency, and PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Also, some funding is provided by the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Outreach Program Office (administered by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc.) Funding will provide a summer forest technician to do this work from May-August 2024. So if you are a landowner in Bradford, Sullivan, Tioga, or Wyoming Counties with trees planted through a CREP contract, make your appointment today by contacting the Farm Service Agency in Bradford County at (570)485-3142 or Kevin Brown at (570)485-3105