Penn Soil Rc & D Council

NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

TOURISM: TO INCREASE TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR REGION, WE WORKED ON PLANNING THE 6TH ANNUAL NATURE ART SHOWCASE, TO RECRUIT 47 ARTISTS AND DISPLAY 87 ART PIECES REPRESENTING THE NATURAL AND RECREATIONAL ASSETS OF NORTHWESTERN PA, THROUGH DIVERSE MEDIA, WHICH WERE DISPLAYED AND AVAILABLE FOR SALE. WE ALSO HELPED PLAN THE WARREN COUNTY WINTERFEST EVENT, A FAMILY FRIENDLY WINTER FESTIVAL TO PROVIDE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES WITH WINTER SPORTS AND HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR THE SALVATION ARMY. WE ACCEPTED A PROJECT TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STORYWALK TRAIL ALONG A POPULAR HIKING TRAIL IN CHAPMAN STATE PARK. WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE ALLEGHENY OUTDOOR CLUB TO HOST A GROUP OF FOREIGN REFUGEES TO VISIT AND LEARN ABOUT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES. THE PURPOSE OF OUR WORK IS TO UTILIZE AVAILABLE NATURAL AND HISTORIC RESOURCES WITHIN OUR REGION TO IMPROVE TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES AND THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION: WE WORKED TO IMPROVE PLANNING AND INSTALLATION OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION PRACTICES TO BENEFIT WATER QUALITY, CONTROL EROSION, IMPROVE CROP AND FORAGE PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT, AND IMPROVE NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT APPLICATION BY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS. WE ALSO PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LAND USERS INTERESTED IN ENROLLING LANDS IN THE WETLAND RESERVE PROGRAM TO CREATE ADDITIONAL WILDLIFE HABITAT AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY MANAGEMENT. WE HOSTED A PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL MEETING FOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS TO HELP THEM MANAGE THEIR GRASSLANDS MORE EFFECTIVELY TO IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH AND PROFITABILITY OF THEIR FARMING OPERATIONS. WE ALSO APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED FUNDING TO EVALUATE WATER QUALITY AND DEVELOP A COLDWATER HERITAGE CONSERVATION PLAN FOR PITHOLE CREEK, A TRIBUTARY OF THE ALLEGHENY RIVER, A FEDERALLY DESIGNATED NATIONAL RECREATION AND SCENIC RIVER. WE ALSO PROVIDED ONE ON ONE CONSULTIVE ASSISTANCE WITH LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS FROM A PAID CONSULTANT AND NUMEROUS EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS TO HELP PRODUCERS BETTER UNDERSTAND MANAGEMENT OF STOCKPILED GRAZING FORAGES AND MANAGEMENT OF THEIR ANIMALS. THE RESULTS OF THIS EFFORT WILL INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRIVATE LANDOWNERS TO MANAGE THEIR LANDS BETTER, PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, IMPROVE WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT, AND INCREASE ECONOMIC RETURNS FROM THEIR LANDS. WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE PA FISH & BOAT COMMISSION AND THE FOREST COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT TO STABILIZE A SECTION OF AN ERODING STREAMBANK ALONG TUBBS RUN AND REHABILITATED TWO WATER WELLS PROVIDING WATER FOR FISH PRODUCTION AT THE TIONESTA STATE FISH HATCHERY. WE PARTNERED WITH THE CENTRAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO IMPROVING RURAL FIRE PROTECTION NETWORK THROUGH INSTALLATION OF TWO DRY HYDRANTS IN PONDS FOR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN OUR AREA.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: WE PARTNERED WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF WARM SEASON GRASS PRODUCERS TO CONDUCT A MARKETING CAMPAIGN THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS FROM USINGWARM SEASON GRASS AND HOW USING THESE ALTERNATIVE CROPS ADDS TO THE SUSTAINABILITY AND PROFITABILITY OFPENNSYLVANIA'S FARMS AND FARM COMMUNITIES. WARM SEASON GRASS PERFORMS BETTER THAN TRADITIONALLY USEDMATERIALS SUCH AS BEDDING STRAW OR SAWDUST FOR EXAMPLE. THE ASSOCIATION OF WARM SEASON GRASS PRODUCERS LAUNCHED A MARKETING CAMPAIGN THROUGHOUT PENNSYLVANIA'S FARMING COMMUNITY TO EDUCATE AND PROMOTE THE MANY ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF WARM SEASON GRASS USAGE, WILL HELP FARMERS BEGIN USING WARM SEASON GRASS IN THEIR FARMING OPERATIONS, WILL DEVELOP A CATALOGUE OF GROWERS AND SELLERS IN EACH COUNTY IN PENNSYLVANIA, AND WILL PRESENT THE PROJECT'S MARKETING RESULTS AND GRASS PRODUCER'S CATALOGUE TO THE FARM COMMUNITY. THE PROJECT WAS SO SUCCESSFUL THAT WE DEVELOPED A SECOND PHASE OF THE PROJECT TO DESIGN AND BUILD A MOBILE POULTRY BEDDING PROCESSING MACHINE THAT COULD BE DEMONSTRATED AND USED ON MULTIPLE FARMS FOR PRODUCERS TO HARVEST AND PRODUCE RETAIL PACKAGES OF POULTRY BEDDING FOR SMALL SCALE PRODUCERS. WE ALSO SERVED AS A FISCAL AGENT FOR THE TOY SHOPPE OF WARREN, PA SENIOR CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS WHO PRODUCED 1400 HANDMADE WOODEN TOYS AND DISTRIBUTED THEM FREE OF CHARGE TO DISADVANTAGED FAMILIES AND CHILDREN'S SERVICE PROVIDERS IN OUR REGION WITH FUNDING SUPPORT THROUGH GRANTS AND DONATIONS WE RECEIVED FOR THE PROJECT. WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE AND THE PA FISH & BOAT COMMISSION TO REHABILITATE A WATER WELL THAT PROVIDES FRESH WATER USED FOR FISH PRODUCTION AT THE TIONESTA STATE FISH HATCHERY.