The Conservation Dialogue
The Conservation Dialogue
POSTPONED! October 9 Event at Masonic Village Farm
Dear Conservation Partner,
After consultation with our project sponsors and partners and after careful consideration we would like to inform you that we will be rescheduling the Legislative Discussion and Farm Tour scheduled for October 9th at Masonic Village Farm.
We greatly appreciate your willingness to participate in this discussion and are working diligently with our partners to reschedule this event for a time that will maximize producer participation and engagement with Federal and State officials. In addition, rescheduling will decrease the legislative uncertainty surrounding reauthorization of the existing Farm Bill.
We will be in contact with you shortly as plans evolve for rescheduling. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact us with any ideas or suggestions you may have for addressing conservation priorities in the next Farm Bill. We hope you will join us on this future date and share the opportunity with other producers and conservation partners who would also benefit from the conversation. Thank you for your willingness to contribute to this important goal.
9/28/2012
Conservation Dialogue - A Pennsylvania Stewardship Engagement Initiative - at Masonic Village Farms
9 AM to 1 PM - Discussion and Lunch with Legislators
1 PM to 3 PM - Conservation Practices Tour of National Award Winning Masonic Village Farms
Key Questions for Pennsylvania's Producers
- How are Farm Bill Conservation Programs currently working for farmers?
Which programs are working best? - Which programs require tweaking to improve outcomes?
- What should the NEXT Farm Bill include to improve conservation outcomes on the farm?
The Conservation Dialogue seeks producer input to the Farm Bill-based conservation programs including priority approaches for geographically targeted conservation like the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative. Farmer perspectives will be sought through a series of roundtable discussions, surveys, and written synthesis. Pennsylvania producers and their conservation partners are invited to participate. With the 2012 Farm Bill just around the corner, this is an excellent time and opportunity for farmers to express their preferences for improving on-farm conservation.
The goal of the Conservation Dialogue is to engage farmers and other agricultural stakeholders in Pennsylvania to evaluate and influence federal farm conservation policy based on developing a dialogue that identifies and articulates sound and proven conservation approaches for Pennsylvania.
A compilation of Pennsylvania producers and conservation partners preferences and priorities for the 2012 Farm Bill Conservation Programs
In October 2011, producers and conservation partners gathered in Harrisburg to map out the opportunities and challenges presented by the current conservation programs that are Farm Bill sponsored. This discussion resulted in priority practices and approaches that the group believed would be critical for consideration in the next Farm Bill (2012). This document has links for the reader to provide input and preferences based on the priorities for conservation as outlined.
Agenda and presentation materials from the October 2011 Farm Bill Forum - on Conservation Programs
This survey is specifically for Pennsylvania farmers and seeks the perspectives of Pennsylvania farmers to identify successful and underutilized programs funded through the conservation title of the Farm Bill. The initiative will use the survey results to guide future discussions with Pennsylvania farmers and agency representatives about how to maximize the environmental benefits from conservation efforts funded through the next Farm Bill.
This survey is intended to obtain input from representatives of an agency/organization that works with Pennsylvania farmers on conservation practices funded through the Farm Bill. The Pennsylvania Conservation Dialogue Initiative seeks the perspectives of Pennsylvania farmers to identify successful and underutilized programs funded through the conservation title of the Farm Bill.
A preliminary look at producer attitudes about the Farm Bill based conservation programs was presented at Ag Progress Days in August 2011
Professionals working across agencies, organizations, and the private sector who support Pennsylvania producers in their efforts to implement conservation across the landscape are also encourage to participate in the Conservation Dialogue.
The Conservation Dialogue seeks input from Pennsylvania's producers on the conservation programs - and what works best on their operations. There are several ways that farmers can participate in the Conservation Dialogue.
You are cordially invited to participate in a free lunch and discussion with State and Federal legislators about conservation programs and the 2012 Farm Bill followed by a tour of the Masonic Village Farm – recipient of the 2012 National Environmental Stewardship Award from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Hosted by Masonic Village Farm and Penn State Cooperative Extension
Over the past year, Penn State Extension in partnership with the Packard Foundation, has sought to bring Pennsylvania’s agricultural producers and conservation partners together to examine conservation programs implemented in the current Farm Bill, how they’re working for Pennsylvania’s producers, and how they could be improved upon to work better with regard to serving producers better to increase conservation practices on the ground.
