The Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center and other partners will hold winter farmer meetings focused in the Chiques and Conewago watersheds in Lancaster, Dauphin and Lebanon Counties.

The Chiques farmers meeting will be held February 23 at Acorn Farms in Mt. Joy. Londonderry Township will host the Conewago meeting on March 3 at Sunset Golf Course in Middletown.

The Agriculture and Environment Center is working with other partners to provide two winter farmer meetings focused on conservation issues and opportunities for farmers in priority watersheds in the Lower Susquehanna region. 

All interested farmers in and outside of those watersheds are encouraged to attend.

For the second year in a row, the AEC is offering a winter farmers meeting in the Chiques Creek watershed in Lancaster County.

The meeting, co-sponsored by the Lancaster County Conservation District, PA-No Till Alliance, and Stroud Water Research Center in Chester County, will be held February 23 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Acorn Farms Reception & Conference Center, 3141 Mt. Joy Road, Mt. Joy.

The meeting will focus on recent Pennsylvania efforts to address the Chesapeake Bay and management and practice strategies to improve soil health and stream ecosystems. Information about programs available to farmers will be provided.

The meeting is free and lunch is provided, but registration is required. Contact Kristen at 717-948-6609 or send email to: klk343@psu.edu by February 15 to register.

Since 2010, the AEC has helped to facilitate the Conewago Creek Initiative, a conservation partnership in the Conewago Creek watershed. For the last 6 years, the AEC has hosted a winter farmers meeting in the watershed.  ‘

This year, the AEC is partnering with Londonderry Township in Dauphin County to offer the “Tri-County Farmer’s Resource Meeting” on March 3 from 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Sunset Golf Course, 2601 Sunset Drive, Middletown.

Speakers will provide information on the Chesapeake Bay Strategy, pesticide application, manure management planning, weed management, riparian buffers, and USDA NRCS conservation programs.

The event is free and included breakfast and lunch. To register, contact Kelsey Schwenk by sending email to: kschwenk@londonderrypa.org  or call 717-944-1803.

For more information on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events, visit the Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center, contact Matt Royer, Director, Agriculture and Environment Center, by calling 814-863-8756 or send email to: mzr154@psu.edu or Click Here to sign up for regular updates.

[Posted: Feb. 10, 2017]

2/13/2017