Agriculture/Nutrient Management

Quick contact: Charlie Miller, 570-281-9495, miller@lccd.net

Chesapeake Bay Program

The Lackawanna Conservation District has participated in the Chesapeake Bay Program for the past 16 years. Over this time, twenty-four landowners have volunteered to identify non-point source pollution and addressed these problems with best management practices (BMP’s).  The Nutrient Management Act 6 Program is also available for landowners through the Conservation District.  This program was intended to fund best management practices on concentrated animal operations (C.A.O.).  A CAO is more than two animal units per acre of land, which can receive manure.  This year with nutrient management, the District focused on grazing programs for cattle farmers.  We have held 3 pasture walks on farms. Participants found the walks well attended and very informative. Discussions included soil, plant & animal health, plant & animal production, fertility, fencing, water, irrigation and several other topics. Meetings are planned to continue each month thru December, when we will show how grazing turnips can be profitable

No-till Program

The Lackawanna Conservation District provides a 4 row no-till corn planter and a Vermeer no-till drill for renovating pasture, seeding small grains, hay, summer forages, and wildlife food plots. In 2003 the planters were rented to plant 265 acres of corn, and 138 acres of small grain, grass, and legumes.  No-till planting eliminates expensive tillage, reduces soil erosion, increase soil organic matter, and has proven to increase yields after several years.  The rental fee is $15.00/acre up to 30 acres and $12.00 for acreage over 30.  The No-Till program was expanded this year due to increased acreage of wildlife habitat.  The planting included corn for deer and turkeys, perennial/annual forages as well as sunflowers.  Most of this was planted on highly erodable land throughout the county.  We also worked with 4 new farm clients with the corn planter.  The weather and additional acreage made for a busy planting season.  We are following up with some of the new clients to educate & review the results of the no-till program