El2-Ag Progress Section, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 16, 2003
Ag Progress Days Natural Resource Conservation
Partnership Area Has Something For Everyone
ROCKSPRING (Centre Co.)
From nutrient management,
sustainable agriculture, forested
buffers, conservation practices,
and grazing management to
worms, backyard composting, fly
casting, and tattoos to snakes,
soil monoliths, and backyard gar
dens; the Natural Resource Con
servation Partnership Area of Ag
Progress Days has something for
everyone.
Encompassing about five acres
ot the 200-acre Ag Progress Days
site, the Conservation Partner
ship area, formerly known as the
Conservation Education Tent, is
full of demonstrations, presenta
tions, tours, and exhibits. Located
at the end of West 11th Street,
partnerships are apparent when
vou see that many of the exhibi
tors have worked together on
projects putting conservation
piactices on the land.
It's all about conserving and
improving the resources,” said
oik state exhibitor. And that
.eems to be echoed by all of the
federal, state, and local agencies
and private entities represented.
Tours will include a forestry
tour that leads you on an easy
walking trail through parts of
“Penn’s Woods.” A grazing tour
will present facts on grazing as
sistance programs for producers,
native warm-season grasses for
biofuels and carbon sequestra
tion, wildlife and warm-season
grasses. A tour will also be of
fered to see what forested ripari
an buffers can do for a stream
and why they are important.
The presentation tent will be
busy as usual. Federal, state, and
local partners will present in
formation on their Conservation
Reserve Enhancement Program,
an opportunity for farmers to
protect the soil, improve water
quality, and provide wildlife hab
itat. There will be a grazing
forum where farmers can ques
tion NRCS Project Grass coordi
nators on what is working for
most Pennsylvanians. The Dirt
and Gravel Road Program,
which is reducing sediment in
streams as well as making neigh
borhoods cleaner, and a one-day
PennAg Democrats
Schedule Ag Progress
Days Reception
STATE COLLEGE (Centre Co.) The
PennAg Democrats, Pennsylvania’s Democratic
farming organization, announced that Pennsyl
vania Secretary of Agriculture Dennis C. Wolff
will be a featured guest at their Ag Progress
Days reception, Tuesday, Aug. 19, from 7 p.m.-9
p.m. in the Board Room here at the Nittany
Lion Inn.
“Since his recent appointment, Secretary
Wolff is already well into a long and ambitious
agenda to advance Pennsylvania agriculture. We
look forward to an informal discussion with him
about the plans and progress,” said Doug Kil
gore, PennAg Democrats president. “Ag Pro
gress Days is a great gathering point for our in
dustry during August and we invite visitors to
drop by our reception.”
The annual reception at Ag Progress Days
also serves as a fundraiser. Proceeds are donated
to Democratic candidates with a history of sup
porting agriculture. The cost is $25 per person to
be paid at the door. The event includes appetiz
ers, beverages, and a cash bar.
For more information, contact Doug Kilgore,
PennAg Democrats president, at (717) 862-3117
or kilmcfarm@supernet.com.
V-*---*>-'N--***i*~.** v *. ». - 1 *■ **-»<»******l******
presentation featuring the
“Snakes of Pennsylvania” will
round out the programs.
There will be a special presen
tation on Wednesday from 10
a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Alumni
Pavilion. Federal, state, and pri
vate partners will present inform
ation on the specifics and benefits
of the Conservation Reserve En
hancement Program (CREP).
Landowners will have an oppor
tunity to ask questions of pro
gram managers and farmers who
have participated in the program
and found it beneficial on their
land.
The main exhibition tent is full
of federal, state, and local agen
cies as well as private organiza
tions and they all have something
for kids and adults. The Fish and
Boat Commission will have a fish
tank and will offer fly casting ex
hibitions. They are also sponsor
ing the “Snakes of Pennsylvania”
presentation on Wednesday at
11:00 a.m.
The Natural Resources Con
servation Service will have worm
containers, touch boxes, tattoos,
and special displays on grazing
and CREP. Children can make
soil profiles and teachers can
learn how to make soil monoliths
for use in science curriculums.
Conservation professionals will
be on hand to answer questions
on Farm Bill programs.
The Pennsylvania departments
of environmental protection, con
servation and natural resources,
and agriculture will have exhibits
on nutrient management, farm
energy, and forestry. The Penn
sylvania Association of Conser
vation Dis
will
have an ex
hibit featur-
ing fencing
and water
shed con-
servation.
The Chesa-
Visit CONESTOGA Buildings
Model Building on West 9th
peake Bay
Foundation
will focus
on buffers
and the
at AG Progress Days •
. Agburn,.NY o. .New Holland, PA □ Harrisonburg, VA
14********************** ******* ******* ******************************* *o***********^
benefits they provide all Pennsyl
vanians. The Pennsylvania Asso
ciation for Sustainable Agricul
ture, Pennsylvania Certified
Organic, Pennsylvania Ground
water Association, Penn State
Extension Service, Farm Service
Agency, and others will also be
part of the area.
Additional demonstration
areas will show conservation
practices on the ground. Looking
like an outdoor shower, the
USDA Ag Research Service will
National A»ai d Winning ( omtruction 2003
1-800-544-9464
Tillage demonstrations drew crowds at last year’s Ag Progress Days.
Agricultural
Horse/Equine
Garages
Commercial
C B Structures, Inc. producers of
CONESTOGA
Buildings
have a rainfall simulator to dem
onstrate the benefits of analyzing
field and pasture runoff, particu
larly as it pertains to nutrient
management. Check at the exhib
it for times. Several grass plant
ings are available to show how
native plantings can help your
soil health and water conserva
tion efforts. Livestock watering
equipment and fencing types are
also demonstrated as well as no
till planting, injection systems,
and several native grass plots.
Stop by the information booth
on the main grounds or at the
Natural Resource Conservation
Partnership for times and details
of the tours and presentations.
Exhibits and demonstrations are
ongoing. There is truly something
for everyone.
For more information on part
ners or activities in the Natural
Resource Conservation Partner
ship Area, contact Stacy Mitchell,
USDA Natural Resources Con
servation Service, (717) 237-2208.
Buildings
at our
Street
piOiDfw.wnits,
% pa
** Od.kl.MMt, MD "
FAPRAL
AOf* AT lON
r K
**/