Farmers in 14 counties will be surveyed on their use of conservation practices

March 15, 2022

If you're a farm operator in 14 central Pennsylvania counties, you now have a chance to highlight what steps you have taken to protect and enhance water quality for your local streams and the Chesapeake Bay. Several agricultural and governmental organizations have partnered to develop a survey, found at https://farm-bmp.psu.edu, that asks producers in Bedford, Centre, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lebanon, Lycoming, Mifflin, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder and Tioga counties to document conservation practices they have adopted to promote water quality and soil health in the bay watershed.

Hundreds of plants installed along stream in Manheim Township park

June 28, 2021

Ryan Davis took a break, setting down his tools where he worked Friday morning on the grassy banks of a Manheim Township stream that cuts through Overlook Park. There, he pointed to colleagues equipped with shovels and augers they used to dig holes that would soon be planted with hundreds of shrubs and trees.

Overlook Park Action Team Planting

June 3, 2021

In May 2021, the Lancaster Clean Water Partners Action Teams came together for the first time ever to plant 2.5 acres of riparian forest buffer at Overlook Park in Manheim Township.

Chiques Creek, Conewago watershed in Lancaster County to undergo extensive cleanup effort

February 28, 2021

As Dellinger Run wends its way toward Chiques Creek, it stretches through 56 acres of farmland in Rapho Township, where owner Mark Heller enjoys watching the ducks and fish that swim in the stream.

Ambitious Conservation Program Covers Total Costs for Farmland Improvements

February 28, 2021

A million-dollar grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will pay the total costs of riparian buffers and other conservation practices on farms in three contiguous watersheds in Pennsylvania’s Lancaster, Lebanon and Dauphin counties.

Partnership in Action: Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center

February 23, 2021

Conservation Calluses as Silver Linings to a COVID Year: How conservation professionals pivoted to meet the needs of 2020 and strengthen plans for 2021

Diverse Group Of Agriculture, Conservation Partners Launch Project To Help Farmers Install Conservation Practices In 3 Watersheds In Lancaster, Dauphin & Lebanon Counties

February 23, 2021

A diverse set of agriculture and conservation partners has launched a project in the Chiques, Conoy and Conewago watersheds in Lancaster, Dauphin and Lebanon counties to provide sampling and data collection, outreach, technical assistance, and funding assistance to interested farmers.

Feature Spotlight: AEC Buffer Planting Helps Pennsylvania Partners on the Road to Ten Million Trees

May 4, 2018

Learn more about the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership - an initiative of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Research Spotlight: Center for Nutrient Solutions Explores Smart Approaches for Addressing Nutrient Pollution June 12

May 4, 2018

Nutrient pollution of water has often been described is a “wicked” problem, one that involves a complex, multidisciplinary approach to problem solving.

Extension Spotlight: AEC’s Kristen Kyler Certified as Conservation Landscape Professional Trainer

May 4, 2018

Kristen Kyler, the first two conservation professionals in Pennsylvania to be certified as a conservation landscape professional trainer under the new Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professionals (CBLP) certification program.

Student Spotlight: AEC Summer Interns Ready to Hit the Ground Running

May 4, 2018

The Agriculture and Environment Center welcomes four Environmental Resource Management students as full time interns this summer, Sean Bernheisel, Bill Ryan, Ryan Hill and Craig Zemitis.

Bellefonte Residents Learn Green Stormwater Management Tips

May 4, 2018

AEC student interns conducted a homeowner's stormwater workshop in Bellefonte, PA.

AEC Partners with Conservancy, Brewery and Others to Green Lower Swatara

May 4, 2018

Volunteers planted 400 trees along the Swatara Creek.

Stomping in Chiques Creek with Manheim Central Students

May 4, 2018

Manheim Central high school students and their agriculture education instructor explored the health of their local stream.

Clean Up Mother Earth this Mother’s Day Weekend

May 4, 2018

Spend time with Mom and help Mother Earth!

Farmers Encouraged to Add Conservation Practices

May 4, 2018

Improve Water Quality with REAP Tax Credits

Choose Clean Water Conference Comes to Lancaster May 22-23, 2018

May 4, 2018

The Choose Clean Water Conference is coming to Lancaster, Pennsylvania this month.

Conservation Professionals Invited to Participate in Penn State AEC’s Internship Survey

February 5, 2018

The Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center is inviting all Pennsylvania agricultural conservation providers that offer student internships to fill out a survey about those opportunities.

Feature Spotlight: It Starts in the Headwaters: AEC Teams with Landowners on Chiques Creek Restoration Project

November 17, 2017

The AEC and its Chiques Creek partners help horse owners meet their conservation goals.

Research Spotlight: Overcoming Barriers to Green Infrastructure Solutions

November 17, 2017

Over 70 attended a Chesapeake Stormwater Summit on October 27 which highlighted Penn State research exploring the barriers to greater adoption of green infrastructure approaches to stormwater management, and discussed recommendations for overcoming them.

Extension Spotlight: Master Watershed Stewards Help Meet York County’s Clean Water Goals

November 17, 2017

Penn State Extension’s Master Watershed Stewards Program came to York County in 2016 and is educating, training and activating citizens to help meet the county’s clean water goals.

Student Spotlight: The AEC welcomes three new interns for Fall 2017!

November 17, 2017

The AEC brought on board three new interns for the fall semester. Meet Sean, Bill, and Aidan.

Volunteers Green the Lower Susquehanna This Fall

November 17, 2017

From Lititz to Hershey, Greening the Lower Susquehanna volunteers planted hundreds of trees this fall to help improve water quality in priority watersheds in the Lower Susquehanna region.

Farmers, Service Providers Talk Health Soil at Mid-Atlantic Soil Health Conference in Manheim

November 17, 2017

A two day conference last month focused on the foundation for healthy ecosystems and agricultural production: soil health.

Stream Restoration Training Offered December 11 in Mechanicsburg

November 17, 2017

The Center for Watershed Protection and Ecosystem Planning & Restoration is offering a training on stream restoration.

Tis the Season: Attend an Upcoming Penn State Extension Workshop

November 17, 2017

As we finish with fall harvest and head into the holiday season and early winter, Penn State Extension is offering many workshops events for producers.

AEC Fall 2017 Internship Opportunity

August 24, 2017

The Agriculture and Environment Center has an opening for a paid internship for enrolled students for Fall 2017 Semester.

Feature Spotlight: A Vision for the Lost Creek Watershed

July 11, 2017

Since last October, community members in the Lost Creek Watershed in Juniata County have been meeting with the AEC to develop a vision for Lost Creek—what they want to see for their watershed now and into the future. With their dedication and passion for the health of their watershed and a blueprint to guide them, the future is bright.

Research and Extension Spotlight: Over 220 Gather at SEAREC to Explore “Farming for Success”

July 11, 2017

On a warm sunny day in late June, over 220 producers, agriculture industry representatives, conservation professionals, researchers and educators gathered at the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences’ Southeast Research and Education Center (SEAREC) for an agronomic field day to learn the latest in research and practice to help “farm for success.”

Student Spotlight: New Agriculture Stewardship and Conservation Certificate Attracts Next Generation of Conservation Professionals

July 11, 2017

Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences is now offering an undergraduate certificate program to help train the next generation of conservation professionals to help agricultural producers meet soil health and water quality goals.