Agricultural Conservation
Our Agricultural Resource Technician
The goals of our Agricultural Resource Technician are to assist farmers in Warren County with agriculture conservation activities including technical assistance related to the administration of the Nutrient Management Law (Act 38) and Manure Management (Chapter 91), as well as assisting with funding procurement for implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) on farms to minimize nonpoint source pollution. Additionally, education and outreach related to agriculture conservation are also performed.
For questions or to request technical assistance, please contact:
Patches Hendrickson
Agricultural Resource Technician
(814) 726-1441
Agricultural Conservation
Agriculture is a major contributor to the economy of Warren County. The county’s farms produce a variety of crops and livestock. According to the USDA 2022 Census of Agriculture, Warren County has 380 farms. The land usage in farms is 66,377 acres. Crops are 30%, and livestock, poultry and other products are 70%.
The agricultural team in Warren County includes the Warren County Conservation District (WCCD) and the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). This unique partnership enhances the conservation of the county’s soil and water resources. Together they can assist landowners & farmers with Nutrient Management and Conservation Planning, best management practices (BMPs) and technical assistance, as well as funding resources to assist in installing conservation practices.
The Agriculture Conservation program in Warren County can assist landowners and farmers, owners and operators with Manure Management, Nutrient Management, and Ag Erosion and Sediment Control Plans. Whether you have a herd of cows, one horse, or a brood of backyard chickens, it is necessary to have a Manure Management Plan on site to properly handle animal waste. The Warren County Conservation District is available to assist with these plans and to help make sure we are properly managing our land, farms and livestock.
Agricultural BMP's are measures that producers can take to help reduce the amount of fertilizers, pesticides, animal waste, sediment, and other environmental pollutants from entering surface and ground water sources. Examples of BMP's include but are not limited to: cover crops, animal heavy use areas (AHUA), manure storage systems, streambank stabilization, streambank fencing, off-stream watering facilities, and much more.
If you have questions or would like more information about the services we can offer you, please contact our Agricultural Resource Technician.
Manure Management
Every farm in Pennsylvania that land applies manure or agricultural process wastewater (generated on the farm or received from an importer), regardless of size, is required to have and implement a written Manure Management Plan. This includes manure and agricultural process wastewater application by various types of equipment and/or direct application of manure by animals on pastures and in Animal Concentration Areas (ACAs). In other words, farms that do not mechanically apply manure but do have pastures or ACAs still need a Manure Management Plan.
Farms defined as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) and Concentrated Animal Operations (CAOs) are required to develop written plans as well. The Nutrient Management Plans for these animal operations are required to follow a different more detailed process and must be developed by a Certified Nutrient Management Specialist (see below).
Nutrient Management
The basic concept of nutrient management is to balance the nutrient application to crop fields (typically nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), whether from spreading manure or chemical fertilizers, with the amount necessary for optimum crop growth and production. If this balance is achieved, there is a two-fold benefit:
- Economics - It is important to properly account for the nutrient benefit of manure application. For many years, agricultural producers applied chemical fertilizers based upon crop needs in addition to spreading manure. In some cases, manure application may be enough to meet crop requirements. Money spent on chemical fertilizers could be saved! It is important to realize and test for the nutrient value of manure, to account for it prior to application.
- Environment - Nutrients, from both manure and chemical fertilizers, are essential to a farm. Excess application, however, not only wastes money, but can also have harmful effects on the environment. Runoff carrying excess nutrients generated from farm fields can cause serious water quality problems. Applying only the needed amounts of nutrients can reduce the threat of water pollution.
The goal of the program is to encourage farmers to develop Nutrient Management Plans for their operations and provide assistance to those who wish to participate. In some cases across the state, farms are considered Concentrated Animal Operations (CAO's) or those operations that have an animal density that exceeds two animal equivalency units (AEU) per spreadable acre (i.e. cropland, hayland, pasture). An AEU is 1000 pounds of live weight of any animal. CAO's are required by law to develop and maintain a nutrient management plan. Most farms are considered volunteer operations that wish to balance nutrient applications.
What Plan is Right for You?
All animal operations in Pennsylvania that generate or land apply manure, regardless of scale, are required to have one of two types of plans:
Chapter 91 Manure Management Plan
Act 38 Nutrient Management Plan
Download the Plan Flowchart below to help you determine the right plan for you.
If your operation involves a large quantity of animals, it could be a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation. Below, download “Is My Operation a CAFO” below to see if it meets the requirements.
Is your farm a Concentrated Animal Operation (CAO)? Complete the worksheet below to find out.
Contact our Agricultural Resource Technician for assistance related to these plans.
Technical Assistance Resources
Technical Assistance
Our Agricultural Resource Technician can give you assistance with the activities mentioned below. Please reach out if you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment.
Assistance with Manure Spreader Calibration
Manure spreader calibration is an essential and valuable nutrient management tool for maximizing the efficient use of available manure nutrients. Planned manure application rates listed in nutrient management plans must correlate with actual application rates. Calibrating the manure spreader is the only way to know actual manure application rates. Manure spreader calibration combined with soil test recommendations and manure analysis results enable the determination of nutrient application rates that meet crop nutrient needs.
Why calibrate?
- To know how to better distribute nutrients and to reduce over applying or underapplying
- Is or may be required for Manure/Nutrient Management Plans
- To help assess supplemental fertilizer needs
Soil Testing Available
Testing your soil allows you to understand changes in nutrient content in order to be more efficient and save money on fertilizer, lime, and manure applications. Our Agricultural Resource Technician can assist Warren County farmers with soil testing. After assisting you with collecting samples, the soil is sent to Penn State for testing, and you will receive a report detailing the results and recommendations for nutrient amendments.
Funding Resources
If you would like to apply for any of these programs, please contact our office for assistance.
Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP)
The Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP) was created through the Clean Streams Fund established by the 2022-2023 Pennsylvania State Budget. ACAP provides financial and technical assistance for the implementation of best management practices (BMPs) on agricultural operations within the Commonwealth.
Warren County is home to about 380 farms. With total croplands growing to over 66,000 acres in the County according to the 2022 Ag Census, farmers can now take advantage of the new ACAP funding to grow their farms even more. We are here to help farmers implement BMPs and provide technical and financial assistance for farm projects big and small.
Click the logo to go to the ACAP website for more details
Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Program
REAP is a first-come, first-served program that enables farmers, businesses, and landowners to earn PA income tax credits to offset the cost of implementing conservation practices. Tax credits provided by the REAP program helps farmers off-set the costs of implementing best management practices (BMPs) that benefit their farms and work to protect water quality at the same time.
To be eligible, a farm must have up-to-date Agricultural Erosion and Sedimentation (E&S) Plans and Manure/Nutrient Management Plans for all acres farmed. REAP provides tax credits at levels of 50%, 75%, or 90% of costs incurred in the implementation of BMPs that reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution. 2024-25 applications are accepted by the State Conservation Commission until September 1, 2024. Contact our Agriculture Conservation Technician for more information.
Nutrient Management Grants
The WCCD coordinates two grant programs to help agriculture producers participate in the nutrient management program.
- The Plan Development Incentives Program (PDIP) is an opportunity for cost-share funding to aid a farmer in developing a nutrient management plan.
- The second is the Nutrient Management Plan Implementation Grant Program (NMPIGP), which is an opportunity for cost-share funding to aid a farmer in completing on-the-ground practices recommended in their nutrient management plan.
Click the logo to go to the REAP website for more details
More Resources
