This program provides financial and technical assistance for conservation practices if landowners are also willing to install forested buffers along streams on their property. A minimum of 35 feet of forested buffer is required. For every acre of forested buffer installed, landowners can receive $4,000 to help pay for other conservation practices, for example waterways, manure BMPs, barnyards, fencing, stream crossings, watering systems or for Conservation Plans and Nutrient/Manure Management Plans.
Depending on a farmer’s needs, this program can also provide professional help for planning, help with applications to other programs, and funds to reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Farmers can participate in the Farm Stewardship Program in addition to other programs like CREP, EQIP, RCPP. For more information, contact the Berks County Conservation District 610-372-4657 or contact Lamonte Garber (Stroud Water Research Center) at 717-576-3287, www.stroudcenter.org.
For additional resources, click on the links below:
Farm Stewardship Program brochure
CREP Enrollment Process (overview)
NRCS Application (for EQIP, RCPP)
Barnyard before improvement (Photo: TeamAg Inc.)
Barnyard after improvement (Photo: TeamAg Inc.)
