We’ve gathered some information and opportunities below to assist agricultural producers in implementing conservation on their farms.
Soil Health Enhancement Reimbursement Program:
The Columbia, Montour, and Luzerne Conservation Districts are offering a soil health improvement reimbursement program. The goal of the program is to improve overall soil health through the use of cover crops, planting green, and other practices while decreasing production costs and outputs. Soil health will be improved through a systems approach including no-till and diverse species cover cropping.
Click here for more information.
Soil Test Incentive Program:
Soil testing is a cost effective way to reduce the potential of pollution to local waterways while increasing the overall health and productivity of your crop land. The Luzerne Conservation District’s Soil Testing Incentive Program offers reimbursement of soil testing kit costs to Luzerne County crop farm owners or operation managers (with owner’s consent).
This program is designed as a soil-management program for farmers. Penn State samples each for water pH, Mehlich buffer lime requirement, and for phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and calcium by the Mehlich 3 (ICP) test. Once the district receives the results from Penn State Extension the costs of the kit(s) may be reimbursed to the landowner.
A consultation is necessary to determine eligibility. Please contact Jen Lauri at 570-674-7991 ext. 7 for more information.
Available No-till Equipment List:
Although the Luzerne Conservation District doesn’t own or rent any no-till planting equipment, we have compiled a list of equipment options that are available for rent to Luzerne County ag producers.
Please click here for contact information for equipment rental options.
REAP Application Assistance:
The district can assist farmers with applications to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Resource Enhancement and Protection Program, a program that grants tax credits in exchange for the implementation of certain best management practices.
Click here to visit PDA’s website for more information on REAP.
Manure Management Plan Writing Online Course:
Penn State Extension has developed an online course called “Writing a Manure Management Plan for Pennsylvania Farmers and Property Owners”. The purpose of the course is to help farmers and animal owners understand and meet the Manure Management Plan requirements. As they work through the course materials, they will have the opportunity and guidance to write a manure management plan for their farm. The course is available on the Penn State Extension website. The cost to register for the online course is $59.00*. Click here for more information about the online course.
*Luzerne County agricultural producers who complete the course and develop a Manure Management Plan for their operation may be eligible for reimbursement of the course registration fee by the conservation district. Please contact Jen (570-674-7991 ext. 7) or Mike (570-938-3018) for more information on this reimbursement.