USDA/FSA Agents Tour Lancaster Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Farms
ANDY ANDREWS afternoon at several Lan-
Editor caster County sites.
NEW PROVIDENCE The agents took a bus
(Lancaster Co.) There tour of CREP-participating
aren’t many programs that farms in the New Provi
allow farm landowners a dence area during a seg
chance to install an envi- ment of a regional meeting
ronmentally protective sys- conducted mid-week at the
tem with a return of 165 Eden Resort Inn in Lancas
percent of cost. ter.
And that return can be Foose noted the Pennsyl
on marginal cropland or vania CREP began in 1998.
streamside pasture and is About 20 counties in the
not affected by dismal lower Susquehanna River
growing seasons. basin are now participating
What is this program? in the program, designed
It’s called the Conserva- primarily to protect water
tion Reserve Enhancement quality for the Chesapeake
Program, or CREP. Bay watershed. CREP also
In the past, participation improves wildlife and fish
has been slow for conserva- cries’ habitat, reduces soil
tion reserve programs for erosion, and increases farm
Lancaster County. From a income on marginal land,
few acres, the CREP pro- There are various part
gram for the county now ners in the effort, funded
encompasses 1,000 acres, through USDA, including
and “for Lancaster county, Farm Bureau, wildlife
that’s quite a lot,” said Bill agencies, and other organi-
Foose, conservation chief zations.
with the USDA Farm Serv- Riparian buffers protect
ice Agency (FSA) in about 6,700 miles of
Harrisburg. streams in the region. The
Foose spoke to more program also includes a
than two dozen FSA agents land set-aside payment
from the Northeast and 14 with a rate of $l7O-$lBO
other states Wednesday per acre in Lancaster
If you’re looking for a true local, farmer owned & controlled market,
you need to contact Mt. Joy. Mt. Joy remains committed to its
members by providing some of the highest premiums available, as
well as hauling our own milk. Based in Lancaster Co., we serve
9 surrounding counties. Why not give us a call today?
County alone. That pay
ment far exceeds the coun
ty’s typical land lease rate
of $lOO-SISO per acre. The
“only way to get partici
pants is by offering those
kinds of incentives,” Foose
said.
In the county alone,
Foose noted, since CREP’s
inception, Lancaster went
from two to 180 contracts.
The program includes a
buffer and a wildlife com
ponent to be successful,
with an average contract
acreage in Lancaster of
about 21.
The state contributes
about 20 percent to the
$219 million, 20-county
program.
Statewide, about 37,000
acres are enrolled in con
tracts, ranging from 10-15
years duration, with an ad
ditional 60,000 acres in set
aside.
At the Eric and Amy
Feilmeire farm near New
Providence, 12 acres are
under CREP, with about
11 acres in switchgrass and
wildflower mixes, and rest
in conifers/hardwoods. The
switchgrass/wildflower mix
was planted in April 2001.
Also, native maple trees
were planted in the fall of
last year, using biodegrada
ble plastic tubes with nets
to keep birds out.
Josh Horayack, Lancas
ter CREP contact and Nat
ural Resource Conserva
tion Service (NRCS)
habitat specialist, spoke
about the work of the Feil
meire farm. After speaking,
observers noticed two
pheasants exit from the
growth, despite the windy,
cold rain that fell.
USDA/FSA agents and others took part in a special CREP tour to Lan
caster County farms after meeting at the Eden Resort Inn, Lancaster,
Wednesday.
Josh Homyack, in center with ball cap, spoke about the CREP program
at the Feilmeire Farm near New Providence. Photo by Andy Andrews, editor
Under CREP, landown- Other farms on the tour Chester counties, contact
ers can’t harvest the warm- included Larry Mylin, Lan- Homyack at (717)
season grasses. The grasses, caster and Roxanne Todd, 396-9423. For additional
however, can be mowed Lancaster. statewide contact informa
after nesting season but For more information tion, call the Pennsylvania
early enough for winter about CREP, for those who FSA, Harrisburg, at (717)
cover regrowth. live in Lancaster and 237-2114.
WOUNT
FARMERS
1-800-860-6569 • 717-653-5431
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 6, 2002-A3l
Maryland Sheep, Wool Festival
May 4-5 In Howard County
WEST FRIENDSHIP, Md. Members of the
Maryland Sheep Breeders Association (MSBA)
are busy planning for their 2002 Maryland Sheep
and Wool Festival May 4-5 at the Howard County
Fairgrounds.
Admission and parking is free. The public is in
vited to observe sheep shearing, sheep shows,
spinning, weaving, working sheepdogs, gourmet
lamb cooking, and demonstrations, and take part
in workshops concerning all facets of the sheep in
dustry.
Visitors are welcomed to stop and chat with ex
hibitors, vendors, and committee members. There
will be lots of food, live music, and craft booths for
shopping.
Chairman of this year’s festival is Gwen Han
dler. Tommy Mullinix is MSBA president.
<2mtfifty . /M f/^Hu/ace/*#
Emails MtJoyMlLK@supernet,com
Joy -
CO-OP