Location: NAZARETH, Pennsylvania
Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences is working with the Penn State Extension to provide educational and practical services to owners of horse farms. The Penn State Extension Environmentally Friendly Farm Program is designed to recognize farms that adopt environmentally sound management practices that protect the environment and water quality.
Keeping horse farms environmentally friendly
The Penn State Extension Environmentally Friendly Farm Program is designed to recognize farms that adopt environmentally sound management practices that protect the environment and water quality.
An Environmentally Friendly Farm implements Best Management Practices (BMPs) to maintain healthy pastures, reduce soil erosion, limit nutrient runoff from animal facilities and barnyards, and properly store and handle manure (nutrients).
Farm managers who practice environmental stewardship maintain healthy environments for their animals, their families, and their community.
What is the Environmentally Friendly Farm Program?
- The Environmentally Friendly Farm Program has been developed by Penn State Extension Equine and is designed to recognize farms that adopt environmentally sound management practices that protect water quality and the environment.
- The program is supported by funds from the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) - Conservation Innovation Grant.
- Strategies are employed on Environmentally Friendly Farms to maintain productive pastures, reduce soil erosion, limit nutrient runoff from animal facilities and barnyards, safely store manure, recycle nutrients, and control animal access to surface waters.
- Excess sediment and nutrient runoff from manure poses health threats not only to the environment, but also to animals and people.
- Farm managers who practice environmental stewardship maintain healthy environments for their animals, their families, and their community.
Who can participate in the program?
- The Environmentally Friendly Farm Program is designed to recognize equine and livestock operations that practice environmental stewardship. All commercial and non-commercial farms, regardless of size, are eligible to apply for the program.
- There is no cost to apply for the program or for the individual assistance that you will receive. Environmentally Friendly Farm recipients will receive an Environmentally Friendly Farm sign and other marketing materials free of charge.
How can I benefit from being included in the program?
- Farm managers that apply for the program will benefit by engaging in an ongoing partnership with representatives of Penn State Extension and other agencies that provide on-farm education and individual assistance.
- The farm will be recognized by the public, conservation and agricultural agencies, and other farm managers as an operation that is committed to clean water and a healthy environment.
- Each farm manager will receive an Environmentally Friendly Farm sign that can be displayed on the farmstead. Farms that qualify will also be given permission to use the Environmentally Friendly Farm artwork on their website, brochure, and other marketing materials.
- Approved farms will be listed on the Penn State Extension Equine website. This recognition will reflect the commitment of the farm manager to environmental stewardship and can serve as a marketing tool for the farm.
Learn more about Penn State Extensions Environmentally Friendly Farm Program