(Carlisle, PA) – Planting cover crops for livestock grazing can result in multiple benefits for soil health and livestock nutrition when implemented as part of regular crop rotation or during pasture establishment. Key elements needed for successful cover crop grazing on a livestock farm, include infrastructure such as fencing (either temporary or permanent) watering systems, cover crop selection, and selection of appropriate livestock breeds. These elements and an overview of onsite research will be the focus of two pasture walks hosted by Capital RC&D in South Central Pennsylvania on September 29, 2020 in Adams County and October 20, 2020 in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. 

• Sept. 29, 2020, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Josh Ramsburg, owner of Rock Creek Farms in Adams County, uses permanent pasture to graze his beef herd. He saw the potential benefit of cover crop grazing and installed perimeter fencing and water lines to incorporate that practice as part of his existing field crop rotation. The Sept. 29th event will feature the current cover crop mix, discuss infrastructure options, and address the impacts of weather-related issues during installation and cover crop seeding. 
• Oct. 20, 2020, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Ben Peckman, owner of Slate Ridge Dairy Farm in Franklin County, has used cover crops and no-till techniques in his fields for many years but recently incorporated a small beef herd into the rotation on a portion of his acreage. The Oct. 20th pasture walk will focus on infrastructure and paddock design, issues experienced adopting a new practice and with incorporating a new herd, as well as rotation and cover crop species selection. 

Technical advisors will be onsite during each event to help address specific questions. Registration is requested to meet appropriate physical distancing requirements and can be made online at www.capitalrcd.org, by email, or by calling 717-241-4361- please leave a message for extension 15. 
These and two additional farms in Adams and Franklin Counties are participating in Capital RC&D’s Promoting Grazing and Cover Cropping by Developing Better Practice Information, Outreach and Cost-sharing project, a collaboration between researchers from Penn State University, grazing specialists from USDA-NRCS, grazing advisors from Capital RC&D, and researchers from USDA-ARS, that is funded through a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed grant. 

For more information contact Cheryl Burns at Capital RC&D at 717-241-4361 or via email.  

Video Series Explores Benefits of On-Farm Composting
4-video case-study offers local farmers solutions

(Carlisle, PA) – Successful, on-farm composting is showcased in four videos available free on the Capital RC&D website, www.capitalrcd.org.  These videos were created by Capital RC&D staff with the help of five Pennsylvania farmers and researchers at Rodale Institute. The video case studies exhibit successful examples of on-farm composting and provide insight about each farm’s methods. 

The videos, along with a corresponding written overview and bibliography, showcase five composting techniques including turned windrows, static aerated piles, in-vessel, vermicomposting, and bedded pack composting. In addition to the benefits of each system, the videos provide detail about the inputs used by each farmer featured and how they use the finished compost. Viewers can also learn about research undertaken at Rodale Institute focused on using compost to increase disease and pest control.

Farmers and researchers featured in the videos include John Shenk, Shenk’s Berry Farm in Lancaster County, PA; Mike Brownback, Spiral Path Farm in Perry County, PA; Ned Foley, Two Particular Acres in Montgomery County, PA; Kenny and Cyrus Gehringer, Four Springs Farm in Lehigh County, PA; Rick Carr and Dr. Gladis Zinati, Rodale Institute, Berks County, PA.  

 Producing and Marketing Non-Timber Forest Products  
Valuable webinar series for woodland and agricultural land owners
Four consecutive Tuesdays beginning January 23, 2018

(Carlisle) – Capital RC&D will be holding a series of four webinars focused on opportunities and ideas for producing and marketing forest products. The one-hour webinars will be available free of charge beginning January 23, 2018 at noon and will be presented by top experts who each have significant hands-on experience in non-timber forest product production.The one-hour webinars will enable participants to learn from and ask questions of the presenter without leaving home. Scheduled topics and presenters include:

• January 23, 2018 – Small Scale Mushroom Production presented by Steve Gabriel, Wellspring Farm and Cornell Cooperative Extension
• January 30, 2018 – Biochar Production and Marketing presented by Gary Gilmore, DCNR Forester and biochar pioneer
  
• February 6, 2018 – Small Scale Chestnut Production presented by Tracey Couther, DCNR Forest Program Specialist
  
• February 13, 2018 – Agroforestry Practices in the Farm Bill, presented by Kate McFarland, National Agroforestry Center
  

To register visit the Capital RC&D website and click on Producing and Marketing Non-Timber Forest Products. For more information contact Capital RC&D at 717-241-4361 or via email at [email protected].
This event is sponsored by Capital RC&D with support from USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service.

The Capital Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Area Council is a seven-county, non-profit that provides leadership to promote responsible use and conservation of our natural, community, and economic resources. The Capital RC&D serves Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York. 
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