2007 Southwest PA CREP Forum in Greensburg
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
Helps Landowners and Farmers with Their Property

     (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  January 12, 2007)  Rural landowners and farmers are invited to the 2007 Southwest PA Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Forum.  The forum will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Giannilli’s II in Greensburg, Pa. on Friday, February 9, 2007. 

     CREP is a voluntary federal program designed to improve water quality and wildlife habitat by financially rewarding landowners for implementing conservation practices on their land.  Enrollment is open to any producer or landowner with eligible marginal cropland, pastureland, or non-forested streams.

     The program is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) and implemented by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in conjunction with a host of local partners, including the Department of Environmental Protection, Ducks Unlimited, Inc., the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. 

     The 2007 Southwest PA CREP Forum provides information for those who have never participated as well as those who are under contract.  The forum will provide information about herd health; environmental and financial benefits of CREP; practice installation and maintenance questions.  Farmers and landowners will share personal experiences in the CREP program and vendors and contractors and suppliers will be on hand to provide information about their products. Local conservation agencies and experts will also be available to answer questions and provide information. 

     Registration is $12 and includes morning snacks, coffee breaks and lunch. Registration forms must be postmarked by February 2, 2007.  For information about the 2007 Southwest PA CREP Forum, contact Leanne Griffith at the Westmoreland Conservation District at 724-837-5271, extension. 211 or via email leanne@wcdpa.com.

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About the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy:
Since its founding in 1932, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy has protected more than 212,000 acres of natural lands in Pennsylvania, restored watersheds and saved natural habitats for a diversity of life and uses.  The Conservancy has been responsible for the founding of six state parks, including Ohiopyle, Laurel Ridge, McConnell’s Mill, Moraine, Oil Creek and Erie Bluffs.  In addition, WPC created the 300-acre Wildflower Reserve at Raccoon Creek State Park, and added land to Blue Knob State Park.

The WPC also preserves Fallingwater®, the masterpiece home designed in 1935 by Frank Lloyd Wright for Edgar J. Kaufmann in Mill Run, Pennsylvania.  In 1963, Edgar Kaufmann jr. (sic) entrusted Fallingwater to the Conservancy.  Today, WPC continues its award winning preservation efforts and offers a wide variety of educational programs to more than 135,000 annual visitors.  The preservation of Fallingwater is a symbol of living in harmony with nature. 

Each year, WPC also partners with 5,000 volunteers and dozens of community organizations and businesses to plant and maintain more than 135 gardens and greening projects in 20 western Pennsylvania counties.