Data collection for a survey of cropland, in the Chesapeake Bay watershed of Pennsylvania, to determine the extent of conservation tillage practices, is almost complete.

The survey conducted by Capital Resource Conservation & Development Area Council, in partnership with the Department of Environmental Protection and 25 county conservation districts, will result in tillage information for 28 Pennsylvania counties in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The transect survey uses methods established by the Conservation Technology Information Center  to estimate, within a 90 percent confidence level, the tillage methods used for crops grown by agricultural producers in each county.

The CTIC method uses roadside observations to develop the estimate.  Capital RC&D successfully used the CTIC method in two previous surveys conducted in 2007 and 2010.

The current survey has taken place over two years and in each county within the focus area with more than 50,000 acres in crop land. 

The first phase conducted in 2012 surveyed PA counties primarily located in the southern portion of the watershed and the second phase focused on Bradford, Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming counties.  Survey crews conducted the 2013 portion during May and June 2013.

Survey results will be supplied to the CTIC to update their national database. The data will also be used by DEP to update their conservation tillage estimates for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Additionally, data generated by the survey will provide information to local partners about the extent of conservation tillage in their counties to help inform their program goals.

For additional information contact Cheryl Burns at Capital RC&D at 717-241-4361 or send  email to: cburns@capitalrcd.org.

7/1/2013