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Conservation Districts in the News
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Pike:
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| Upcoming Events |
Fall Region Meetings
Annual 102-105 Training
October 29-31, 2013
Ramada Conference Center, State College, PA
Manure Management "Train the Trainer" Event in Clearfield County
November 12, 2013
Brady Township Community Center, Luthersburg, PA
Manure Management "Train the Trainer" Event in Lancaster County
November 14, 2013
Lancaster Farm and Home Center, Lancaster, PA
PACD/SCC Winter Meeting
January 28-29, 2014
Ramada Conference Center, State College, PA
Intro to Conservation Planning
March 4-6, 2014
Holiday Inn Harrisburg-Hershey, Grantville, PA
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Save the Date: Intro to Conservation Planning
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 Several conservation district managers indicated a need for the Intro to Conservation Planning course. As a result, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will host the course in 2014.
PACD has partnered with the NRCS to deliver this three-day training. The event will take place at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg-Hershey in Grantville, PA from March 4-6, 2014. The free training will consist of both classroom and field training.
The event is for entry-level employees of all organizations in Pennsylvania delivering conservation planning technical assistance, including but not limited to, NRCS, State Conservation Commission, conservation districts, farmland preservation entities, non-profits, and private consultants.
However, priority will be given to conservation district, NRCS and SCC staff. Space is limited to 30 seats. The application period will open in December. Contact Shannon Wehinger with any questions.
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Save the Date for the 2014 Winter Meeting
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We've barely entered the holiday season and it's already time to start thinking about the 2014 Winter Meeting!
Mark your calendars and hold Jan. 28-29, 2014 for our next winter meeting! We'll be at the Ramada Conference Center in State College.
Registration information and a full agenda will be forthcoming. In the meantime, questions can be directed to Molly Burns at molly-burns@pacd.org.
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PACD Team Participates in York Clay Shoot
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On Saturday, October 5, York County Conservation District held a clay shoot fundraiser at Central Penn Sporting Clays. PACD's five member team included Executive Director Robert Maiden and his wife Mily, and members of Director of Communications Shannon Wehinger's family, Chuck Wehinger, Shane Eberly, and Donetta Eberly. The event raised more than $4,800 for the York County Envirothon. Click here to view photos from the event.
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Conservation Districts Invited to Cover Crop Field Days in Lancaster
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 There are two events coming up in Lancaster County that may be of interest to Conservation Districts. Cover Crop Solutions, with help from USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service is holding a "Unlocking the Key to Soil Health by Training Cover Crop Champions" on October 29, 2013 from 10am-2pm. This event is free. Bring your own lunch. Click here for the agenda. Register by sending an e-mail to tmartin@covercropsolutions.com.
The second event is October 30, 2013 from 8:30am-4:30pm. This will be a "Cover Crop and Soil Health Field Day." Registration is $95 per person. Speakers include Dr. Ray Weil, Jay Fuhrer, and Steve Groff. Register online here. CEUs are available for those attending both days.
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York County Envirothon Receives Long-standing Legislative Support
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 | | Coach Sheri Picone, Michael Renga, Mariah Henry, Senator Michael Waugh, Rebecca Picone, Morgan Staub, Collin Inners, and Coach Jill Oles. Photo provided by York County Conservation District. |
The Envirothon in York County has always been well-supported by the county's 12 Senators and Representatives. They provide sponsorship donations, study resources for students, and regularly attend the district's four Envirothon competitions to help hand out awards. York is in their sixth season of their annual Clay Shoot competition and one of the draws of the fall event is that participants can mingle with legislators.
When York's winning senior high team recently placed first overall at the Pennsylvania State Envirothon, the students, coaches and our staff, were invited to the State Capital in Harrisburg at the requests of Senator Michael Waugh and Representative Stan Saylor to be recognized on both the Senate Floor and the House Floor. The students were enthusiastically greeted by Senator Waugh and Representative Ron Miller upon arrival and had photos taken with the Senator, Representatives Miller, Saylor, Will Tallman and Sam Smith. At the recognition ceremonies each team member and the District was presented with a citation from the Senate and provided with a private tour of the Capital. This was a great send off to the team as they prepared to represent Pennsylvania at the North American Envirothon at Montana State University, in Bozeman, this past August where the team earned 9th place.
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Stormwater Practices Implemented in Ellwood City, Lawrence County
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By Jo Ann McCready and Lauren Anderson
 | | Borough Manager Bob Villella, Lawrence County Tourist Promotion Agency representatives Jo Ann McBride and Janet Falotico, and Lawrence County Conservation District's Jo Ann McCready and Lauren Anderson unveil the new kiosk in Ewing Park, Ellwood City, PA. |
Ellwood City Borough and the Lawrence Conservation District have been working closely since 2008 to implement stormwater best management practices to help protect the Connoqunessing Creek Watershed. Through funding from a PA Department of Environmental Protection County Conservation District mini- grant and a Growing Greener grant, rain barrel workshops were conducted, storm drain markers installed, and most recently, a 2,000 square foot Biomix-Osorb raingarden was completed in Ewing Park, near the banks of Connequennessing Creek. Click here to read more.
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Grazing and Management Field Event Takes Place in Susquehanna
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 | | Attendees listen to discussion led by Hepler Farm owners and local USDA NRCS staff. Photo courtesy of SCCD. |
The Susquehanna County Conservation District (SCCD), in cooperation with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), recently hosted a grazing and nutrient management evening field day at Hepler Beef Farm in New Milford Township.
The Hepler Beef operation has been in business since 1980 when Curt Hepler bought his first beef cows. The operation now has almost 150 animals which graze more than 100 acres of pasture land. Curt's son, Brian, and grandsons Ben and Brett (both who own part of the herd), are active in the haymaking, feeding, pasture rotation decisions, cow moving and fence maintenance. The beef herd features, Angus, Devon, Red Polls and a mixed Herford beef cows.
The first half hour of the evening session covered the new nutrient (manure and fertilizer) management rules. Later, the group took a guided walking tour. During the tour, discussion topics included rotational grazing and pasture management, touching on how the efficiency and effectiveness of these practices were beneficial to the farmer's operation and the environment.
During the last part of the evening session, the group shared conversation and ideas while enjoying locally-made ice cream. Bob Wagner, USDA NRCS Soil Conservation Technician and Laura Holbrook, the district's Chesapeake Bay Technician was pleased with the outcome and attendance of this event. "The pasture walk served as a great opportunity for the public and local cooperators to come together and learn from one another," Holbrook said.
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Funding Opportunity for Restoration Projects
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 The Appalachian Coal County Team and the Harris and Frances Block Foundation will award select projects for an unrestricted cash award of up to $1,000 to conduct site preparation or plantings for Fall 2013 or Spring 2014
reforestation projects. For grant specifics, including eligibility and requirements, click here. Applications are due Oct. 23, 2013 at 5 p.m. All grant submissions should be sent to reforest@coalcountryteam.org.
Contact Brantley Kirkland with any questions or concerns at 304-252-4848 x. 306 or osmvistaleader1@coalcountryteam.org. For information about additional funding opportunities, visit www.susquehannagreenway.org/project-funding.
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