The Capital Resource Conservation & Development Area Council (RC&D) is hosting three field days in June, July and August in Franklin and York counties designed to give farmers and other landowners a look at successful maintenance and management techniques for acreage enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).

The first walk will highlight a warm season grass planting on June 20 from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. in Stewartstown, PA (York County) then followed by a riparian buffer tour on July 7 in Dillsburg. The series will conclude with a riparian buffer and native grass planting tour in Spring Run (Franklin) on August 6. 

The warm season grasses Dan Wolf planted as part of CREP over ten years ago are the focus of the June 20th event. Prior to enrolling in the program, the areas were difficult to farm and often too wet to plant in the spring, but now that they are established the acreage provides needed erosion control and allows him to focus on production using his top acreage.

Mr. Wolf will lead the tour of his grass plantings and Kristopher Goetz, CREP Biologist in Adams and York Counties, will join him to talk about beneficial plants and wildlife benefits as well as weed identification and maintenance issues.

Rick Csutoras, County Executive Director for the USDA-York County Farm Service Agency, will also be available to share reminders about CREP requirements and answer program questions.

Kris Goetz will also lead discussion during the July 7 evening event (6-8:00 p.m.) in Dillsburg that will begin with a buffer walk through a two year old riparian buffer with site owner Steve West. 

Session highlights include issues commonly noticed during the establishment period, such as tree shelter damage, weed identification, weed control and pest management. Beneficial plants and wildlife will also be highlighted.

This free workshops series concludes on the morning of August 6 (9-11:00 a.m.) with a tour of two CREP practices including native grass plantings and riparian buffer acreage. This site in Spring Run, northern Franklin County, will feature discussion about practice benefits including wildlife and beneficial plants, but also share weed identification and maintenance tips.

For more information or to register, contact Cheryl Burns at Capital RC&D at 717-241-4361 or via email to: cburns@capitalrcd.org 

Visit the Capital Resource Conservation & Development Area Council website for additional upcoming workshops and field days.

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