CBF - Helping Farmers Help the Environment. A new, innovative proposal would give farmers tax credits of up to $150.000 for installing best management practices which reduce stormwater runoff, sediments going into streams and nutrients running off fields. Tax credits would also be available to other landowners who install forested riparian buffers. Lamonte Garber, Senior Agriculture Consultant with CBF, talks about the Resource Enhancement and Protection Act (REAP) at the Keystone Farm Show in York. The Resource Enhancement and Protection Act was introduced last year as House Bill 2878 by Rep. Stern (R-Blair), Rep. Hershey (R-Chester) and Rep. Daley (D-Washington) and as Senate Bill 1286 by Sen. Wenger (R-Lancaster, now retired), Sen. Waugh (R-York), Sen. O'Pake (D-Berks) and others. It is expected to be reintroduced shortly in the new legislative session. For more information, visit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation REAP webpage. Issue NoteBook: Resource Enhancement and Protection Act

John Varner, from the Department of Environmental Protection’s Moshannon District Mining Office, takes you on a tour of DEP’s Riverwalk Environmental Trail exhibit at the 2007 Farm Show. One side of the display shows agricultural, mining and development practices that often degrade the environment and the second half shows good best management practices that can protect the environment. For more information, visit the DEP website at: www.depweb.state.pa.us

Alternative Fuels Council. Pennsylvania is a national leader in encouraging the development of renewable energy resources from wind, solar, agricultural and forestry products. The Alternative Fuels Renewable Energies Council brings together producers, suppliers, manufacturers, developers and distributors of renewable energy resources in many forms with the objective of encouraging the development and investment in renewable energy businesses in Pennsylvania. Rosemary McAvoy, President of the Council, talks about the goals of the Council, its development and future from their exhibit at the 2007 Farm Show. The Council was part of an extensive exhibit at the 2007 Farm Show educating farmers and the public on the potential of renewable sources of energy that could be developed from agricultural and forestry producers. For more information, visit the Alternative Fuels Renewable Energies Council website.

Biomass Opportunities in PA. Large-scale production of bioenergy will require development of new crops and appropriate production and harvest, and storage strategies. Penn State has active research programs in woody biomass crops, feedstock management technologies, basic plant biotechnology, and biomass characterization. Sources of biomass energy include forests, agricultural products like corn, soybeans, switch grass and agricultural wastes like manure. The focus of the Biomass Energy Center is to coordinate and facilitate research and outreach across the university, building teams to address the complete value chain of biomass energy systems. This value chain can be classified into four categories: 1. Improved production of biomass feedstocks; 2. Integration of biomass production into sustainable agrosystems; 3. Conversion of biomass into energy; and 4. Technology transfer to companies, state agencies, NGOs, and citizens throughout the Commonwealth and beyond. Dr. Greg Roth, a Grain Crops Specialist from the Penn State Extension Service talks about the Center, its activities and the potential for biomass in Pennsylvania. The Center was part of an extensive exhibit at the 2007 Farm Show educating farmers and the public on the potential of renewable sources of energy that could be developed from agricultural and forestry producers. For more information, visit the Penn State Biomass Energy Center online.

Bluebirds suffered a dramatic decline in their numbers due to pesticides, competition with other species for nesting areas and destruction of their habitat because of development. The Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania is dedicated to educating the public about this valuable resource and promoting the recovery of the species. Nancy Putt, President of the Society, talks about bluebirds from their display at the 2007 Farm Show. More information is available at the Bluebird Society website.

Good stream corridor management has a variety of benefits to farmers and the environment, including providing wildlife habitat, preventing erosion and sedimentation into streams helping aquatic life, improving property values and aesthetics, and improving the health of livestock and dairy cattle. Dave Keller, from the Fish and Boat Commission, talks about these benefits to farmers attending the 2007 Farm Show. The Commission’s display features before and after photos of a farm along the Little Lehigh Creek in Berks County and the positive benefits of proper stream corridor management. A recent article in the Commission’s Angler & Boater magazine chronicles these benefits. For more information, visit the Trees for Streams Programs of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Follow the progress of the proposed Resource Enhancement and Protection Act proposal in the General Assembly that would provide tax credits to farmers and other landowners who install forested stream buffers and other best management practices.

Quecreek Mine Rescue. The rescue of nine miners trapped in the flooded Quecreek Mine in Somerset County, PA was a miracle that captured the world’s attention in 2002. Lori and Bill Arnold did not hesitate to open their dairy farm to rescuers to drill the rescue shaft that became the way out of the mine. PA Environment Digest editor David Hess caught up with Lori Arnold at the 2007 Farm Show where they had a display about the rescue. Lori talks about the rescue, all the public attention the rescue site still generates and plans for building a visitors center on the farm to accommodate the over 300 busloads of visitors that come from all over the country and around the world. The Arnolds formed the non-profit Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation after the rescue to undertake projects on the site to accommodate visitors to what is still a working, and now, an organic certified dairy farm. .For more information, visit the Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation website.

Master Well Owner Network. There are over 978,000 wells providing over 3 million people with their drinking water in Pennsylvania. More than 10,000 new wells are drilled every year. Unlike public water systems, there are no regulations that establish standards for the construction or operation and maintenance of wells. There are no requirements for testing water that comes from wells to make sure it is safe to drink. These responsibilities fall on the owner of the well. The Master Well Owner Network was created by the Penn State Extension Service to provide well owners with advice on how to keep their wells safe from contamination and maintain them properly. Rick Grant, is a member of the Master Well Owner Network is one of more than 240 volunteers that have taken on the task of educating well owners. He talks about the Network and how you can protect your well against contamination at the 2007 Farm Show. For copies of informative publications on wells or to contact a member of the Master Well Owner Network in your area, visit the Master Well Owner Newtork webpage.

Dr. Keith L. Bildstein, Director of Conservation Science at the Sarkis Acopian Center at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Kempton, Berks County, talks about the history of the Sanctuary and current programs, including its international internship program. Dr. Bildstein background includes a 30-year academic and research career focusing on long-term ecological studies of animal populations and behavior and is the author of more than 85 refereed publications. He is a member of 21 professional organizations and was elected Fellow, American Ornithologists' Union. Watch these Hawk Mountain related video blog postings-- Lale Aktay, an intern from Turkey, talks about her experience Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Visitors Center Acopian Center at Hawk Mountain Hike to North Lookout at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Hike to South Lookout at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Visit: www.HawkMountain.org for more information. Contact Dr. Bildstein by sending email to: bildstein@hawkmtn.org

Lale Aktay is an international intern at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Kempton, Berks County. She talks about how her background, her projects at Hawk Mountain and what she plans to do with her experience when she returns to her native Turkey. Lale has a background in biology and recently graduated from college. She’s been active in the Society for Nature in Turkey which is a nationwide group of young people interested in educating students and the public about issues affecting birds and raptors. Watch these other Hawk Mountain related video postings-- Dr. Keith L. Bildstein talks about its history and programs Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Visitors Center Acopian Center at Hawk Mountain Hike to North Lookout at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Hike to South Lookout at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Visit: www.HawkMountain.org for more information. Contact Lale by sending email to: Lale.Aktay@gmail.com