Several events designed to educate farmers, agri-businesses and others interested in learning more about the Resource Enhancement and Protection Act (REAP) Tax Credit Program attracted over 400 interested people this week.

The REAP Program provides $10 million this fiscal year for agricultural Best Management Practices in the form of transferable or sponsored tax credits.

The State Conservation Commission, jointly chaired by the state Departments of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, is overseeing the program and anticipates applications will be available by December 1.

Personal and business state tax credits ranging from 50 to 75 percent of the cost to install conservation practices like barnyard improvements, riparian buffers, no-till planting equipment, stream fencing and other practices will be available.

Each farm enrolled in the program is eligible for up to $150,000 in transferable tax credits that can be used over a 15-year period or sold to other taxpayers. A business can earn tax credits by sponsoring projects on an eligible farm.

REAP was included in Senate Bill 97, but received overwhelming bipartisan support. It was sponsored in the House by Representatives Jerry Stern (R-Blair) and Peter Daley (D-Washington) and in the Senate by Senators Mike Waugh (R-York) and Michael O’Pake (D-Berks), along with 79 other co-sponsors.

On November 1, Rep. Jerry Stern (R-Blair) held a public meeting for individuals interested in REAP in Morrison’s Cove Memorial Park, Martinsburg.

Visit the PA Environment Digest Video Blog to watch the remarks made by several speakers at the event, including—

· Rep. Jerry Stern (R-Blair);

· Dennis Wolff, Secretary Department of Agriculture;

· Matt Ehrhart, Pennsylvania Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation;

· Cathy Curran Myers, Deputy Secretary for Water Management, DEP;

· Karl Brown, Executive Secretary, State Conservation Commission; and

· Joe Diamond, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau

At a second event this week, Binkley & Hurst, LP in Lititz, Pa held a two-day “Crops, Soils and Planting Days” farm conservation program that attracted over 300 members of the farm community to learn about REAP, crops, soils and conservation plantings.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation representative Lamonte Garber provided an overview of REAP and answered questions about the new program.

Binkley and Hurst had many farm implements on display, including no-till corn planters and grain drills, which are eligible for a 50 percent REAP tax credit. Used no-till planters are also eligible.

No-till agriculture benefits both the farmer and the environment by reducing erosion, building soil organic matter and reducing fuel requirements at planting time. A representative from the Pennsylvania No-Till Alliance was on hand to answer farmers’ questions and invite others to join this farmer-based educational organization.

For more information visit the State Conservation Commission or the Chesapeake Bay Foundation REAP webpages.

NewsClip: Event Helps Farmers Make Smart Conservation Decisions

Session Schedule

The Senate and House will return to session November 13.

PA Environment Digest Video Blog

On the Hill

· On the Senate/House Agenda

· Senate/House Bills Moving/Bills Introduced

· House Passes PA Climate Change Action Plan, Senate Moves Companion Bill

· Third Hazardous Sites Cleanup Funding Proposal Passes Senate

· Detergent Ban, Energy Efficiency Bills OK’d By House Environmental Committee

· Solobay Introduces Bill To Study Impact of Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards

· Wansacz Introduces Plan to Fund Flood Prevention, Recovery

Other News

· Fayette County Mine Reclamation Project Wins Federal Award

· Pilot Project Encourages Private Firms to Treat Acid Mine Drainage

· Farmers Can Benefit from New USDA Technical Assistance Services

· F&M Professors Present Legacy Sediments Webinar on November 13

· Grants Available to Upgrade Municipal Sewage Facilities, Drinking Water Systems

· Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Dominion Seek Watershed Grant Applications

· Fish and Boat Commission Invites Applications for Sportfishing/Aquatic Ed Grants

· Apply Now for a Schoolyard Wetland Habitat Grants

· Wildlands Conservancy Dinner Celebrates PA’s River of the Year – The Lehigh

· Delaware Estuary Partnership Names Jennifer Adkins New Director

· PA Land Trust Assn. Conservation Leadership Award Nominations Due December 7

· Green Building Alliance Grant, New Directory to Promote Green Building Products

· Mount Carmel Saves Money, Electric With New LED Traffic Lights

· PPL to Give Away 120,000 Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

· Energy Theft Kills, Costs Innocent Pennsylvanians Millions

· Governor Asks U.S. DOE to Reconsider Electric Transmission Corridor Decision

· Erie Insurance Issues Warning on Deer-Vehicle Collisions

· EPA Offering Graduate, Undergraduate Environmental Research Grants

· Hard to Recycle Collection Event Set in Robinson for November 17

· U.S. Composting Council Invites Entries for Composting Poster Contest

· PA Historical and Museum Commission Grant Applications Due December 3

· Thomas Richard to Head Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment

· Help Wanted: McKeever Environmental Learning Center

· Candidate Sought for Game Commission Board in District 6

· Transition: Friends Mourn Passing of Mazie Mohney

Grants & Awards

Go To: PA Environment Digest Calendar Page

11/2/2007