PA Environment Digest

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Dept. Of Agriculture, Land O'Lakes Farmer Cooperative, National Hemp Assn. Receive $40 Million In USDA Funding To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Improve Water Quality

On October 25, US Senator Bob Casey announced $40 million in funding to the Department of Agriculture and Land O'Lakes Farmer Cooperative-- $21.2 million-- to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve water quality on more than 50 farms and the National Hemp Association-- $19.6 million-- to implement conservation measure to prevent water quality degradation in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

The investments are from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), which was funded by Senator Casey’s votes for the federal Farm Bill and the federal Inflation Reduction Act.

“Pennsylvania’s constitution guarantees our people clean air, pure water, and the preservation of our state’s natural beauty, and our farmers play a critical role in upholding this constitutional right,” said Senator Casey. “I fought for this funding to provide farmers the resources they need to implement conservation practices while simultaneously improving their bottom line. I will always fight to protect Pennsylvania’s environment and uplift our farming communities.”

Senator Casey has long supported Pennsylvania farmers and their efforts to feed the Commonwealth.

In 2018, Casey championed provisions in the Farm Bill to increase funding for the RCPP, expand dairy margin coverage, protect crop coverage, strengthen the community safety net, and make conservation programs more accessible.

Senator Casey also established the Farm to Food Bank program to ensure farmers are able to recover some of the costs that would be lost otherwise from food waste.

This program reimburses farmers for the costs to produce, harvest, process, and transport agricultural products that are donated to food banks.

Since then, Casey has delivered investments to Pennsylvania farmers to support everything from climate-smart agriculture to reducing operational costs.

Earlier this year, Casey introduced the Farm to Food Bank Reauthorization Act, to reauthorize a program he authored in the 2018 Farm Bill that reimburses farmers for their production when donating to local food banks.

Related Articles - Watersheds:

-- US Dept. Of Interior Announces Approval Of Another $244 Million In Funding To Pennsylvania For Cleaning Up Legacy Pollution From Abandoned Mine Lands; Local Mine Reclamation Grants Due To DEP Nov. 8 [PaEN]

-- Dept. Of Agriculture, Land O'Lakes Farmer Cooperative, National Hemp Assn. Receive $40 Million In USDA Funding To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Improve Water Quality [PaEN]

-- ClearWater Conservancy Celebrates $2 Million Federal Grant For New Community Conservation Center To Enhance Environmental Stewardship, Local Economy [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Total Maximum Daily Nutrient Load Plans For Muddy Run, Union County; Deer Creek, York County [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Hosts 9-Part Woods In Your Backyard Webinar Series Starting Jan. 15 [PaEN]

-- Delaware River Basin Commission To Hold Nov. 6 Hearing, Dec. 5 Business Meeting [PaEN]

-- Penn State PA Technical Assistance Program Hosting 2-Part Food Manufacturing Pollution Prevention Training Series [PaEN]

-- Help Wanted: Berks Conservation District - Agricultural Engineer, Administrative Assistant [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- EPA Announces Over $132 Million For Clean Water, Drinking Water Revolving Water Infrastructure Funding In PA

-- US Forest Service Announces $34 Million Available To Support Sustainable Forestry Industry, Healthy Forest Landscapes, Applications Due Dec. 11