U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and U.S. Senator Rick Santorum visited Hershey farm in Elizabethtown this week to honor the cooperative efforts of the Pennsylvania no-till partnership to conserve natural resources by increasing the use of no-till systems.

The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service hosted the morning ceremony which included messages about conservation, no-till farming, and the Pennsylvania No-Till Alliance.

A $1 Million check was presented, representing the financial contributions made to date from public no-till partners NRCS, Penn State University, Department of Environmental Protection, State Conservation Commission, and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

“Some of the best environmental protections result when farmers, communities, and organizations all work together and the Pennsylvania no-till partnership is a fine example,” said Craig Derickson, State Conservationist. “NRCS is pleased to be one of the many partners that are helping farmers improve our environment while increasing their productivity.”

Because of the cooperative support of public partners, no-till farmers, and private organizations (such as Capital Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Council, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, PennAg Industries Association, Lancaster County Conservation District, and Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts), several milestones have been made over the past year.

The Pennsylvania No-Till Alliance was formed to serve as a network for farmers interested in no-till practices and to provide the most recent resources available regarding no-till research, technology and funding.

A new Pennsylvania No-Till Alliance Coordinator position has been created to coordinate no-till activities state-wide among the agencies, institutions, and associations with existing and aspiring no-till farmers.

A no-till Best Management Practice has been adopted by the Chesapeake Bay Commission officially recognizing major and significant reductions of phosphorus and sediment into tributaries of the Bay when farmers adopt no-till management of their crops.

And, a “Park The Plow” initiative was funded with grants that provide technical assistance to farmers who want to transition to no-till.

No-till systems aim to keep soil covered and reduce soil disturbance. This environmentally-friendly practice can lead to dramatically reduced erosion, increased soil quality, and improved water quality. Farmers with large and small operations are adopting no-till to increase their efficiency and profitability and to improve their environmental stewardship.

For more information, visit the USDA PA No-Till webpage.

Links: Attendance Nearly Doubles for the Second PA No-Till Alliance Conference

No-Till Economics Can Brighten Bottom Line

Growing No-Till Farming in PA Through the No-Till Alliance

4/28/2006