Agriculture

Westmoreland County's roots are deep in agriculture and family farms. A major reason the Westmoreland Conservation District was formed in 1949 was to help county farmers conserve soil and water resources on their land.

Farmers who are seeking assistance with nutrient management, cost share programs, and more profitable and efficient ways to run their animal feeding operations are encouraged to talk with the District staff. We can provide technical assistance and information on a vareity of helpful resources.

Contact us for information on...

• Nutrient management plans, commercial planners, and professional engineers who will design the installation of Ag Best Management Practices (BMPs) on farms to protect streams and other waterways. Some of these BMPs include waste-storage structures, stabilized barnyards and alleyways, roof runoff management systems, and vegetated filter strips.
• Streambank stabilization, which may be needed where streams are eroding and threatening permanent structures. Cost share programs are available to assist with funding these efforts.
• Conservation plans.
• Rotational grazing, a conservation alternative to confinement house for animals.

Livestock & Poultry Mortality Disposal in Pennsylvania

Every livestock and poultry operation should have a strategy for properly disposing of dead stock.

Click here to download a PDF of this brochure

1.45 MG

Now available

Pennsylvania Water Quality Action

Packet for Agriculture

A Self Assessment and Planning Tool for Water Quality Protection Under the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law

Downloadable PDF

1.12 MG

New Tax Credits

for Farmers

A new Pennsylvania program offers tax credits ranging from 25 percent to 75 percent of the cost – up to $150,000 per farm or ag operation – to install barnyard improvements, riparian buffers, stream fencing and other conservation practices.

Applications for this REAP (Resource Enhancement and Protection Act) program will be available in June 2009, and farmers are encouraged to apply early during the application period as awards will be made on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, contact Dan Griffith, the District’s nutrient management specialist/agricultural conservation technician, or go to http://www.agriculture.

state.pa.us/agriculture/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=145155&PM=1