On November 10, the U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA announced the award of a $592,911 On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials Program grant on Diversifying Appalachia's Pastures To Improve Soil Health

“Farmers, ranchers and forest landowners play a crucial role in charting the course towards a climate-smart future,” said Denise Coleman, NRCS State Conservationist in Pennsylvania. “On-Farm Trials enable partners to work with producers to test and adopt new climate-smart systems on their operations that support agricultural production and conserve natural resources, while also building climate resilience.”

The grant was awarded to WVU Research Corporation and would benefit Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.

WVU Research Corporation will promote and evaluate pasture diversification through reseeding as an innovative conservation strategy.

The on-farm trials will compare reseeding pasture with a highly diverse mixture to unaltered pasture and conventional reseeding.

This project seeks to demonstrate to producers across Appalachia that reseeding to increase pasture diversity provides a variety of environmental and economic benefits.

On-Farm Trials projects support widespread adoption and evaluation of innovative conservation approaches in partnership with agricultural producers.

This year’s awarded projects increase the adoption of new approaches and technologies to help agricultural producers mitigate the effects of climate change, increase the resilience of their operations and boost soil health. 

Visit the NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants Program webpage for more information.

For more information on financial and technical assistance available to landowners, visit the Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA webpage.

[Posted: November 10, 2021]

11/15/2021