The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”) has announced that it will reimburse Pennsylvania farmers in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed for the cost of at least 800, and as many as 2,200, agricultural plans required to manage manure and control soil erosion. Funding is available for plans developed after January 1, 2017.
Depending on the nature of their operations, farmers are required to develop and to implement manure management, nutrient management, and/or erosion and sediment control plans. Farmers frequently need to use technical experts to prepare these plans, with the costs generally ranging from $500 to $1500 per plan.
Pennsylvania is required to make significant reductions in nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, that are discharged into streams and that adversely impact local and Chesapeake Bay water quality. Agriculture is the leading source of these discharges. To date, Pennsylvania is lagging in making the required reductions.
Farmers who wish to participate in this funding program must register by April 1, 2018. Those located in York, Lancaster, Adams, Cumberland, and Dauphin should contact:
Jedd Moncavage, TeamAg Inc.
jeddm@teamaginc.com
717-721-6795
120 Lake Street
Ephrata, PA 17522