UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Extension recently was lauded by the Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals for a publication on conservation funding for farmers and conservation professionals.
The authors — Dana Flowers and Genevieve Christ, extension educators at Penn State Extension’s Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training, and Eric Cromer, conservation program specialist with the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission, received a Bronze Award-Long Publication in the Outstanding Educational Materials Awards category for their publication, “Agricultural Conservation Funding Guide for Pennsylvania: A Resource Guide for Best Management Practices (BMPs).”
Erin Trouba, extension educator at Penn State Extension, accepted the award on behalf of the team.
The award recognizes outstanding extension natural resources educational materials, featuring innovative presentation, usefulness and impact. It was presented during the national association’s annual conference, held May 12-15 in Wilmington, North Carolina.
According to the team, the guide demystifies the complex landscape of conservation funding for farmers and conservation professionals across Pennsylvania, equipping them with a tool to navigate funding opportunities effectively.
“The guide is a practical way to quickly reference a variety of different funding sources,” Christ said. “This helps farmers, landowners and conservation professionals gain a more thorough understanding of the available funding sources.”
The publication, available online and in print, consolidates state, federal and nonprofit funding programs into a user-friendly reference, empowering farmers to implement practices that improve soil health and water quality.
“Our hope is that users come away with a clearer understanding of the conservation funding landscape in Pennsylvania and greater confidence in pursuing projects that benefit both their farms and natural resources,” Flowers said.
Funding to develop and print the guide was made available through the Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program, or ACAP, administered by the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission.
The Agricultural Conservation Funding Guide for Pennsylvania is available at no charge on the Penn State Extension website and in print by special request by contacting agconservation@psu.edu.