Agriculture took center stage this week in Harrisburg with the annual State Farm Show and at the Keystone Farm Show in York, but a major theme was the contribution of farming to renewable energy and conservation practices.

This Video Blog feature provides just a quick sampling of the variety of educational displays available at the Farm Shows both for farmers and the public.

CBF - Helping Farmers Help the Environment

A new, invovative proposal would give farmers tax credits for installing best management practices which reduce stormwater runoff, sediments going into streams and nutrients running off fields of up to $150,000 and to other landowners who install forested riparian buffers.

Lamonte Garber, Senior Agriculture Consultant with CBF, talks about the Resource Enhancement and Protection Act (REAP) at the Keystone Farm Show in York.

The Resource Enhancement and Protection Act was introduced last year as House Bill 2878 by Rep. Stern (R-Blair), Rep. Hershey (R-Chester) and Rep. Daley (D-Washington) and as Senate Bill 1286 by Sen. Wenger (R-Lancaster, now retired), Sen. Waugh (R-York), Sen. O'Pake (D-Berks) and others. It is expected to be reintroduced shortly in the new legislative session.

For more information, visit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation REAP webpage.

Issue NoteBook: Resource Enhancement and Protection Act

Good Stream Corridor Management

Good stream corridor management has a variety of benefits to farmers and the environment, including providing wildlife habitat, preventing erosion and sedimentation into streams helping aquatic life, improving property values and aesthetics and improving the health of livestock and dairy cattle.

Dave Keller, from the Fish and Boat Commission, talks about these benefits to farmers attending the 2007 Farm Show.

The Commission’s display features before and after photos of a farm along the Little Lehigh Creek in Berks County and the positive benefits of proper stream corridor management. A recent article in the Commission’s Angler & Boater magazine chronicles these benefits.

For more information, visit the Trees for Streams Programs of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Master Well Owner Networ

There are over 978,000 wells providing over 3 million people with their drinking water in Pennsylvania. More than 10,000 new wells are drilled every year.

Unlike public water systems, there are no regulations that establish standards for the construction or operation and maintenance of wells. There are no requirements for testing water that comes from wells to make sure it is safe to drink. These responsibilities fall on the owner of the well.

The Master Well Owner Network was created by the Penn State Extension Service to provide well owners with advice on how to keep their wells safe from contamination and maintain them properly.

Rick Grant, a member of the Master Well Owner Network, is one of more than 240 volunteers that have taken on the task of educating well owners. He talks about the Network and how you can protect your well against contamination at the 2007 Farm Show.

For copies of informative publications on wells or to contact a member of the Master Well Owner Network in your area, visit the MWO Network webpage .

Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania

Bluebirds suffered a dramatic decline in their numbers due to pesticides, competition with other species for nesting areas and destruction of their habitat because of development.

The Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania is dedicated to educating the public about this valuable resource and promoting the recovery of the species.

Nancy Putt, President of the Society, talks about bluebirds from their display at the 2007 Farm Show.

More information is available at the Bluebird Society of PA website and the Game Commission Bluebird webpage.

Penn State Biomass Energy Center

Large-scale production of bioenergy will require development of new crops and appropriate production and harvest, and storage strategies. Penn State has active research programs in woody biomass crops, feedstock management technologies, basic plant biotechnology, and biomass characterization.

Sources of biomass energy include forests, agricultural products like corn, soybeans, switch grass and agricultural wastes like manure.

The focus of the Biomass Energy Center is to coordinate and facilitate research and outreach across the university, building teams to address the complete value chain of biomass energy systems.

This value chain can be classified into four categories:

1. Improved production of biomass feedstocks;

2. Integration of biomass production into sustainable agrosystems;

3. Conversion of biomass into energy; and

4. Technology transfer to companies, state agencies, NGOs, and citizens throughout the Commonwealth and beyond.

Dr. Greg Roth, a Grain Crops Specialist from the Penn State Extension Service talks about the Center, its activities and the potential og biomass in Pennsylvania.

The Center was part of an extensive exhibit at the 2007 Farm Show educating farmers and the public on the potential of renewable sources of energy that could be developed from agricultural and forestry producers.

For more information, visit the Penn State Biomass Energy Center online.

Alternative Fuels Renewable Energies Council

Pennsylvania is a national leader in encouraging the development of renewable energy resources from wind, solar, agricultural and forestry products.

The Alternative Fuels Renewable Energies Council brings together producers, suppliers, manufacturers, developers and distributors of renewable energy resources in many forms with the objective of encouraging the development and investment in renewable energy businesses in Pennsylvania.

Rosemary McAvoy, President of the Council, talks about the goals of the Council, its development and future from their exhibit at the 2007 Farm Show.

For more information, visit the Alternative Fuels Renewable Energies Council website.

DEP Highlights Conservation Practices

John Varner, from the Department of Environmental Protection’s Moshannon District Mining Office, takes you on a tour of DEP’s Riverwalk Environmental Trail exhibit at the 2007 Farm Show.

One side of the display shows agricultural, mining and development practices that often degrade the environment and the second half shows good best management practices that can protect the environment.

For more information, visit the DEP website.

Quecreek Mine Rescue on Arnold’s Dairy Farm

The rescue of nine miners trapped in the flooded Quecreek Mine in Somerset County, PA was a miracle that captured the world’s attention in 2002.

Lori and Bill Arnold did not hesitate to open their dairy farm to rescuers to drill the rescue shaft that became the way out of danger for the miners.

Lori Arnold talks about the rescue, all the public attention the rescue site still generates and plans for building a visitors center on the farm to accommodate the over 300 busloads of visitors that come from all over the country and around the world.

The Arnolds formed the non-profit Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation after the rescue to undertake projects on the site to accommodate visitors to what is still a working, and now organic certified dairy farm.

.For more information, visit www.QuecreekRescue.org.

NewsClips: Exhibits on Alternative Fuels Draw Crowd at Farm Show

Session Schedule

The Senate and House will now BOTH return to session on January 16.

On the Hill

· Rep. O’Brien Sponsors Resolution on Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

· Senate Appropriations Sets Budget Hearing Schedule

· House Democrats Name Committee Chairs

· Bills Introduced

Other News

· PA No-Till Alliance Plans Annual Conference for March 13-14

· Comments Requested on Proposed TMDLS for Watersheds in 5 Counties

· DEP Awards Grants for Innovative Water, Wastewater Projects

· Stormwater Subject of Delaware Estuary Partnership Student Drawing Contest

· Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center Winter Water Education Programs

· Rural Water Assn. Announces 2007 Annual Conference, Rate Survey

· Planting a Seed to Eat Better in the Future, Philadelphia Urban Sustainability Forum

· Dr. Lee Davis To Be Featured at Environmental Professionals Conference

· PAEE to Hold “No Child Left Inside Conference April 13-15

· Fundamentals of Geology, Applied Geology Courses in January, February

· Court Throws Out Challenge to Deer Case, Audubon Supports Open Process

· Rate Cap Plans Disapproved, Sustainable Energy Funding Ends for Met-Ed, Penelec

· Fires Fuel Mercury Emissions, University of Michigan Study Finds

· Allegheny Health Department Offers Grants to Retrofit Diesel School Buses

· Labor & Industry Adopts New Online System to Report Hazardous Chemicals

· Help Wanted: Conservation Agronomist Position

Feature

· Give a Little and Get a Flock This Winter, By Joe Kosack, Game Commission

Go To: PA Environment Digest Calendar Page

1/12/2007