Conservation District accepting applications for program
WAYNESBURG – The Greene County Conservation District’s board of directors are accepting applications until Aug. 31 for a newly expanded program.
Greene County’s Reinvestment in Agriculture: Cost-share Enhancement (GRACE) Program is a successful conservation-based program designed to enhance soil health within the agriculture community.
The GRACE program, first introduced in 2017, provides guidance to farmers and forest landowners through technical assistance and cost share to help promote soil and water conservation practices. When practices are implemented correctly, value and profit will be added to the land. Landowners and farmers also have better animal production, and gain healthier soils and forest stands.
“It is the goal of the district to offer a program that is easy to navigate and has a quick turnaround,” said Lisa Snider, district manager, in a release recently issued by the district office. “However, landowners and farmers are encouraged to begin the application process soon as some simple preparation time is necessary.”
Farmers may apply for livestock conservation fencing, lime, water development projects and fertilizer. The program expanded in 2018 to include forest landowners practicing forestry conservation and stewardship for invasive species management, forest stand improvement, tree establishment and riparian forest buffers.
Funds for the program are a direct result of PA Act 13 Oil and Gas Impact Fee that the district receives annually to foster conservation efforts within Greene County.
Snider emphasized, “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.”
For more information or to apply, call the District at 724-852-5278, e-mail gccd@co.greene. pa.us, or visit during office hours at 22 W. High St., Waynesburg. Office hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.