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THINKING FARM FORWARD PDE’s Partners Focus on Better Agriculture Practices

THINKING FARM FORWARD: PDE’s Partners Focus on Better Agriculture Practices

By Meghan Rogalus, PDE’s Schuylkill Action Network Manager

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What can we do together that none of us can do alone? This question lies at the heart of PDE’s collaborative work with source water protection in Pennsylvania. The answer: think “Farm Forward.”

Farm Forward is a newly formed agricultural working group for the Lower Delaware River Watershed. In collaboration with the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), PDE hosted the group’s inaugural meeting on February 24.

The group’s primary objectives are to leverage funds, enhance outreach and training opportunities, and facilitate mutual support among its diverse member organizations. Recognizing the significance of nurturing relationships with farmers and meeting community outreach needs, the group aims to address challenges that arise from limited funding and increasing development pressure. Farm Forward additionally seeks to pave the way for impactful change by fostering more robust stakeholder connections.

Farm Forward is comprised of dedicated professionals from county conservation districts, state and federal agencies, water utilities, and local and regional non-profits for the purpose of improving farm conservation in the Lehigh Valley/Lower Delaware River watershed. Currently, the group does not include farmers, but farmers are welcome to join if they’re interested.

Promoting sound farm management protects our waterways and sustains our communities by reducing soil erosion and minimizing the transport of nutrients and bacteria to water sources. For example, proper manure storage and timing of field application protects the health of local waterways, improves a farm’s economic viability, and protects our drinking water.

Farm Forward is seeking members! Environmental organizations, utilities, nonprofits, or farmers in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Lehigh, or Northampton counties are welcome to join and work with PDE and other partners to improve agricultural conservation in the Delaware River Watershed.

For more information, contact Meghan Rogalus at mrogalus@delawareestuary.org.

CLEAN WATERS/ STRATEGY W1.2 SUPPORT INNOVATIVE PLANNING AND DESIGN PRACTICES TO REDUCE NUTRIENTS FROM STORMWATER AND AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF THROUGH PROMOTION, EDUCATION, AND IMPLEMENTATION

STRATEGY W3.4: PROVIDE OUTREACH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PROMOTE WATER CONSERVATION AND INFILTRATION BY RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL USERS AND COMMUNITIES

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