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On September 21, PASA Sustainable Agriculture, along with 16 Pennsylvania-based farmers, organizations, and businesses, released a letter to Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson of Pennsylvania’s 15th district highlighting the importance of agroforestry practices for the state and urging the House Agriculture Committee’s support for agroforestry in the upcoming Farm Bill.
The letter highlights the growing importance of agroforestry, which is a group of land management practices that incorporate trees and shrubs into agricultural operations and are implemented to diversify income and build resilience.
Some examples of these practices include silvopasture, windbreaks, riparian buffers, alley cropping and forest farming.
“We’re hopeful that the strength of our voice will move Chairman Thompson and the House Agriculture Committee to elevate and expand policy support for agroforestry in the upcoming Farm Bill,” said Hannah Smith-Brubaker, Executive Director of Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.
Pennsylvania agricultural producers are leading the movement to scale this innovative, conservation-focused approach to farming and ranching, and through this letter are calling on lawmakers to strengthen agroforestry’s role across multiple titles of the Farm Bill.
Signatories include PASA Sustainable Agriculture, Pennsylvania Farmers Union, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Nature Conservancy Pennsylvania-Delaware Chapter, and multiple agroforestry operations and technical service providers.
By integrating trees and shrubs into agricultural operations, agroforestry provides multiple benefits to economies, communities, and landscapes.
These practices can build profitability by diversifying producer revenue streams and introducing high value tree crops, filter agricultural runoff before it reaches local waterways, and provide habitat for native birds and pollinators.
Farms and ranches that leverage agroforestry can sequester more carbon for longer periods of time, improving overall soil health, building resilience to extreme weather, and protecting against erosion.
Click Here for a copy of the letter.
Related Articles:
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-- DCNR Conducting AgroForestry Survey Of Practices Combining Raising Trees With Crops, Livestock, Ecological Benefits [PaEN]
-- Penn State: Agroforestry Systems May Play Vital Role In Mitigating Climate Change [PaEN]
Upcoming Penn State Extension Educational Opportunities:
-- September 28: Dive Deeper Water Education Summit - Harrisburg
-- September 30: Riparian Buffer Maintenance - Dauphin County
-- October 4: Webinar - On-Lot Septic Systems and Groundwater Quality
-- October 28: Water Ways On Wheels - A Bike Tour In Lancaster County
-- October 30: Safe Drinking Water Clinic - Private Water Wells - Forest County
-- November 8: Webinar - Nitrogen In Groundwater, Where It Comes From, Health Risks
-- Penn State Extension Online Water Courses
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-- Master Watershed Stewards Celebrate 10 Years Of Making A Difference [PaEN]
-- Penn State Master Watershed Steward Coordinator Erin Frederick Honored By Lehigh Valley Business Council [PaEN]
-- Penn State Extension Future Master Watershed Steward Program Scaling Up [PaEN]
-- Introduce Students Ages 8-10 On How They Can Be Stream Doctors In The New Book -- Brooke Meets A Stream Doctor [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Williamsport Sun: Locals Help Give Hellbenders A Voice
-- PA Council Of Trout Unlimited: 2022-23 Annual Report: Trout In The Classroom; STREAM Girls/Keepers; Inclusion; Coldwater Heritage Partnership; Much More!
-- Tribune-Democrat: DEP Awards Funds For Mine Reclamation Projects In Cambria, Somerset Counties
-- Shenandoah Sentinel: DEP Awards $38 Million For Abandoned Mine Reclamation, $0 Awarded In Schuylkill County
-- Republican Herald: DEP To Conduct Air Monitoring In Greater Tremont Area Over Flyash Concerns
-- Erie Times - Brian Whipkey: Study Finding Rampant PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Leads To Increased Water Monitoring Across PA
-- Altoona Mirror: Martinsburg Files Federal Lawsuit Against Chemical Companies For PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Contamination Of Borough’s Water Supply
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-- WITF/AP: Firefighters Fear PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Their Gear Could Be Contributing To Rising Cancer Cases
-- EPA Awards Carnegie Mellon $1.8 Million Grant To Study Protecting Water Quality During Enhanced Aquifer Recharge
-- Rodale Institute: Apply Now For Training On How To Be A Regenerative Organic Farmer
-- Brodhead Watershed Assn. Annual Members & Friends Celebration Oct. 19, Monroe County
-- EPA Kicks Off 11th Annual SepticSmart Week On How To Maintain Septic Systems
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-- DEP: York County Moved To Drought Warning; 19 Counties Still In Drought Watch [PaEN]
-- DEP Announced $38.76 Million In Funding For 6 Abandoned Mine Reclamation Projects In 5 Counties; Next Round Of Applications Due Dec. 2 [PaEN]
-- DEP Blog: Abandoned Coal Mine Reforestation Initiatives Healing The Land [PaEN]
-- DEP Starts Air Monitoring Study Near Rausch Creek Coal Waste-fired Electric Generation Facility, Schuylkill County In Response To Citizen Concerns In An EJ Area [PaEN]
-- DEP Hears Concerns, Some Support From Water Resources Committee On Draft Reg. On Reporting Unauthorized Spills, Releases [PaEN]
-- ClearWater Conservancy’s Deb Nardone Resigns As Executive Director To Step Into The Role Of Executive Director For Foundation For PA Watersheds [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments At Oct. 25 Hearings On NPDES Stormwater Permits For Two Warehouse Projects In Lowhill Twp., Lehigh County [PaEN]
-- 17 PA Farmers, Organizations, Businesses Call On Congress To Expand Support For Agroforestry [PaEN]
-- Penn State Research: 87% Of Rivers, Streams Rapidly Warming, 70% Losing Oxygen; Aquatic Life May Be At Risk, Study Finds [PaEN]
-- DEP To Increase Monitoring, Develop Surface Water Standard For PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' After Study Shows 76% Of Streams, Rivers Contained At Least One Of These Chemicals [PaEN]
-- DEP: Widespread Presence Of PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Fresh Water Leading Shale Gas Operators To Use Contaminated Water In Fracking Operations; DEP Doesn’t Require Routine PFAS Testing [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approves 8 Shale Gas Drilling Water Withdrawals - 1 In Exceptional Value Loyalsock Creek, Home To The Hellbender [PaEN]
-- Game Commission Board OKs More Shale Gas Drilling In Lycoming County, Home To The Hellbender, And Sullivan County [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approves 34 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga Counties [PaEN]
-- Forbes Trail Chapter Trout Unlimited Host Military Veterans And First Responders At Trout Fishing Event In Westmoreland County [PaEN]
-- In Memoriam: Thomas Hoffmaster - A Friend To Fly Anglers And Fish [PaEN]
[Posted: September 21, 2023]
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