Conservation District offering cost-share GRACE program
The Greene County Conservation District’s board of directors are accepting 2022 applications for a program designed to enhance soil health within the agriculture community.
Greene County’s Reinvestment in Agriculture: Cost-share Enhancement (GRACE) Program is a conservation-based program that provides guidance and financial assistance to farmers and forest landowners.
Technical assistance and cost-share practices are designed to promote soil and water conservation practices that will improve soil health in pastures and woodlands. These practices can lead to better animal production as well as healthier soils and forest stands. When the practices are implemented correctly, value and profit can be added to the land.
Practices include lime, fertilizer, fencing, watering systems and forestry practices.
“It is the goal of the district to offer a program that supports the mission of ensuring healthy soils for viable farming, while maintaining a program that is easy to navigate and has a quick turnaround,” said Lisa Snider, district manager.
GRACE does have some requirements. For example, anyone wishing to apply must become a cooperator with the Conservation District. Also, if a landowner is interested in assistance with lime or fertilizer, they must obtain a soil test kit from Penn State Extension that Conservation District staff will administer during a farm visit.
The final requirement is for appropriate farm conservation-based planning, which could include manure management plans at a minimum and in some cases conservation plans. The Conservation District will work with first-time applicants to offer assistance in plan development so that they may continue in the program.
Returning applicants are required to have plans in place at the time of application. For forestry conservation practices, the landowner must have a forest management stewardship plan, American tree farm plan or CAP 106 plan in place at the time of application. The program can assist landowners with costs associated with forestry plan development.
Funds for the program are a direct result of PA Act 13 which the district receives annually to foster conservation efforts within Greene County.
“These funds are obtained through an ‘impact’ fee and the district believes that the money received should be used on the ground where the impacts were made,” Snider said.
Applications must be submitted by Aug. 31. Application approvals are made in September by the GCCD board and approved practices must be completed the following year by Dec. 31.
For more information or to apply, call 724-852-5278, email gccd@co.greene.pa.us, or visit during office hours at 22 West High Street, Waynesburg.
Office hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The application can also be found online at www.co.greene.pa.us/department-conservation-district.