Earlier this spring Leon Eby and his wife Elsie learned that their application for state tax credits through the Resource Enhancement and Protection Act (REAP) had been approved.

The Eby's and over 200 other farmers throughout the Commonwealth are the first to receive tax credits through this new Pennsylvania program.

The Eby's earned REAP tax credits after purchasing a no-till planter which Leon used for the first time in May to plant 10 acres of corn. "It's a start," says Leon. "I'd like to transition to all no-till very soon."

The Eby's own 95 acres of farmland in Lancaster County where they plant crops of corn, barley, and soybeans on approximately 80 acres. The other 15 acres are permanently dedicated to hay, which he uses for the steer he raises.

Leon says he's interested in no-till farming because it will help him keep his soil on the farm, rather than losing it, as was the case with conventional crop planting. "Under the conservation plan an annual soil loss of 4-5 tons is acceptable. I was losing approximately 4 tons of soil but no-till will reduce that to 1 ton."

No-till planting is very different from conventional planting in that the soil is not 'turned over' in order to plant the seeds. Instead, the special design of the no-till planter places the seeds in small rows that are cut through the soil with thin knives or blades, followed by another attachment that tamps the ground overtop all done in one pass with the planter.

Not only does no-till help keep the soil in place, but it maintains plant "residue" from the previous crop. Both work together to prevent erosion and keep moisture in the ground.

Additional benefits of no-till include a savings in time expended for planting, and the amount of fuel used. "With no-till, I make one pass and I'm done. It's not like conventional planting where several passes are needed in the process. Saves me time and money, and my yields are just as good with no-till."

This is not the first conservation practice Leon has implemented on his farm. He has implemented a conservation planting practice, called crop rotation, alternating crops of hay in between corn, soybeans, and barley.

He also protects water quality and prevents soil loss through a grass waterway. a sloping grass-covered channel area where storm water normally flows. By channeling water through the grass, rather than bare soil, the waterway helps to keep soil on the field where it belongs.

Additional conservation efforts include a manure storage bin, a concrete barnyard, and a covered manure and compost area. These practices were implemented through a variety of funding sources. "These programs help me improve my farm, and I find it very worthwhile."

The Eby farm is a positive example of the conservation efforts that can be implemented to help protect water quality while still making a profit.

The REAP program, approved in July 2007, offers landowners state tax credits toward a portion of the costs of a variety of water quality enhancing projects.

The 2008 REAP Guidelines and Applications are now available at the State Conservation Commission website.

County conservation districts and private consultants can help farmers with the necessary planning to qualify for the tax credits.

Applications will be accepted by the Commission on a first-come, first-served basis beginning August 4. Any applications received by the Commission which are postmarked prior to July 30 will be returned.

6/20/2008