The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. (PACD) in conjunction with the award sponsor, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), presented the operators of four farms with the Clean Water Farm Award during its annual conference on July 18, 2018 in Lancaster.
The honor is awarded annually to farmers who manage their daily farm operations in an environmentally conscious manner that helps to protect Pennsylvania’s water quality.
The Pennsylvania 2018 Clean Water Farm Award Recipients are from Susquehanna, Franklin, Berks and Indiana Counties.
Ed Chianese (Susquehanna County) Ed and Gwen Chianese own, Windcrest Farm, a 50 cow/calf beef farm in Jackson Twp. just south of Susquehanna. The farm has 92 acres: 55 of cropland/hayland, 25 acres of pasture and 10+ acres of forestland.
Best Management Practices (BMP’s) also known as soil and water conservation practice include 9,500’ of diversions, 15,000’ of subsurface drainage, several grassed waterways, one stone lined waterway, 14 acres of contour strip-cropping, 7.1 acres of riparian buffers, three spring development systems installed with watering troughs for his beef herd, 450’ of animal trail and walkway, a concreted barnyard and a manure storage facility and 3100 feet of streambank fencing.
Chianese’s farming operations have been awarded with the Cooperator of the Year Award (1985), and twice he was presented with the No-Till Farmer of the Year award (2006 & 2017) by the Susquehanna County Conservation District (SCCD).
Chianese has worked with the USDA Soil Conservation Service, now the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), since 1969 when his first farm conservation plan was written.
He and the USDA NRCS have updated the farm conservation plan three times since then. Chianese has worked with the USDA NRCS for 48+ years receiving their technical (engineering) assistance and program help. In addition, he has also had a Nutrient Management plan written for his operation and a grazing plan.
Future conservation projects include more pasture work by installing subsurface drainage to collect water for two water troughs, underground outlets, and livestock water pipeline.
Chianese noted that, “I am extremely pleased with all of the soil and water conservation technical assistance that I have received over the years from the USDA NRCS and the Farm Services Agency’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) plus the help from the Susquehanna Conservation District and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. I know and have seen a pronounced improvement of my soil and the water drainage and water holding capabilities of my cropland soils.”
Other recipients of the award included:
Justin and Doreen Geisinger, owners of Air Hill Acres Farm in Chambersburg, operating a farm that has 70 beef and 40 dairy cows on 135 acres of pasture. Air Hill Acres is an organic, 100% grazing dairy that also custom raises steers. Best management practices include rotational grazing, concrete manure storage, stream crossings, livestock fencing, and a grassed waterway. The Geisinger’s host many farm tours and pasture walks and were featured in a YouTube video on soil health.
*Will and Kelly Smith own Deep Roots Valley Farm in Mohrsville. The beef, hog, and poultry farm have 95 acres of pasture. Best management practices include animal walkways, rotational grazing, and riparian buffers. The conservation district said, “The Smiths have shown their hard work, dedication, and willingness to research. They have gone above and beyond, creating a sustainable farm for their family, their community, and the environment.”
*Dave Pounds and family own a 101-acre beef cattle farm in Marion Center. The farm has 16 acres of rotational grazing pasture, with 35 acres of mostly hayland, and over 20 acres of Conservation Reserve Program land. Best management practices (BMPs) include grassed diversions, contour farming, stream crossings, and over 35 feet of riparian buffer on all stream corridors.
The conservation district said, “Dave Pounds has allowed many local and regional farmers, agency personnel, and elected officials to tour his farm for educational purposes. He is an incredible wealth of knowledge and takes the lead when explaining the management of his operation, as well as, explaining how the BMPs on his operations function to improve water quality.”
The Clean Water Farm award was initiated in 1986. Recipients of the award are nominated by their local county conservation districts. Financial support for this award is provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) through the Chesapeake Bay Regulatory and Accountability Program and the Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay Education Office (administered by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc.).
For more information, visit www.pacd.org.
DEP has sponsored this award for the past thirty-two years. Recipients receive a certificate signed by the DEP Secretary and a large Clean Water Farm Award sign to erect on their property.
The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. (PACD) is a non-profit organization whose guiding values include: Sustainable Resource Conservation; Integrity, Local; Education and Outreach; and Partnerships. PACD primarily serves as the collective voice for Pennsylvania’s 66 county conservation districts. For more information about PACD, visit www.pacd.org.
Written by Brenda Shambaugh, Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, with additional local information provided by
Robert J. Wagner, USDA NRCS.
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