A diverse set of agriculture and conservation partners has launched a project in the Chiques, Conoy and Conewago watersheds in Lancaster, Dauphin and Lebanon counties to provide sampling and data collection, outreach, technical assistance, and funding assistance to interested farmers.

The Chiques-Conoy-Conewago Regional Partnership, or C3RP, organized by the Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center, is funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and builds upon over a decade of local watershed collaborative efforts facilitated by the Center in this region.

A “muddy boots” outreach team has been formed, with partners from private sector, conservation districts, NGOs, and Penn State Extension joining the AEC in conducting outreach to farmers in the region.

Farmers interested in working with the partnership can take advantage of tools developed by Penn State researchers and Extension to improve soil health, water quality and farm productivity.

The grant also supports technical assistance and funding administered by the Lancaster County Conservation District to implement priority conservation practices highlighted in the Phase 3 WIP, including riparian buffers, manure storages, cover crops, no-till transition, stream and wetland restoration, grazing management, barnyard improvements, and 4Rs nutrient management.

Outreach partners are beginning to get their boots muddy, and funding for the first farm conservation project under the grant was awarded in December.

The Chiques-Conoy-Conewago Regional Partnership includes Penn State University, Lancaster, Lebanon and Dauphin County Conservation Districts, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA, USDA ARS, Lancaster Farmland Trust, Stroud Water Research Center, PA No-Till Alliance, TeamAg, Inc., Red Barn Consulting, Rosetree Consulting, Susquehanna River Basin Commission, Chesapeake Conservancy, Londonderry Township and other local municipalities, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay.

And, most importantly, our local farmers.

For more information, contact Lauren Shaffer, AEC Agricultural Outreach Specialist, at las6435@psu.edu. 

[Posted: February 1, 2021]

2/8/2021