HARRISBURG, Pa. – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) invites Ag Progress Days (APD) visitors to participate in interactive demonstrations, displays, and tours to learn how conservation practices can benefit ag operations and the environment.

Located nine miles south of State College, the APD grounds are in Rock Springs, PA. The three-day event will take place from Aug. 12-15^th, beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning. The exhibit hours will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 12, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Aug. 13, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 14. Parking and admission are free to all.

“Ag Progress Days is our premier outreach event of the year,” said PA NRCS APD Coordinator, Ashley Lenig. “It’s a great opportunity for PA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to highlight our technical expertise and the types of assistance we provide. We are excited to showcase our new Livestock Management Practices Exhibit which features a concrete heavy use area and roofed waste storage facility. We will also have a soil tunnel this year to educate attendees on the importance of what is under their feet,” said Lenig.

PA NRCS will have a large presence at the event. The home booth in the Harrington Building will include a cover crop display, soil health demonstrations, and a live web soil survey activity. Outside the Harrington Building, visitors can learn about soils by going through the soil health tunnel and check out our Livestock Management Practices Demonstration which adds a concrete heavy use area and roofed manure stacking pad alongside our Solar Watering Systems display. In addition, NRCS will be leading the Managing Pastures Tour and co-leading the Riparian Buffer Tour. 

USDA NRCS provides both free technical assistance as well as financial assistance programs to assist private landowners with meeting their goals while conserving our resources for future generations.

The following descriptions include more details about each activity presented by NRCS during APD:

Exhibits & Demonstrations

Cover Crop Display – Discover the Cover! 

See over 20 legume, grass and forb cover crop species and mixtures on display at the USDA-NRCS “Unlock the Secrets in the Soil” exhibit. Location: J.D. Harrington Building.

Healthy Soil Demonstration – What is Healthy Soil?
Soil Health is achieved when management mimics nature. See the differences between soils managed conventionally and healthy soils managed with a diverse rotation, very little disturbance, soil cover, and living roots growing throughout the year. Infiltration, runoff, and soil aggregation stability are demonstrated. Location: J.D. Harrington Building.

Livestock Management Systems
Check out the NRCS solar-powered watering system for some ideas for your farm, whether you are grazing your animals or just supplying a watering source for your herd while out in the field. NRCS staff will be available to talk about your specific conservation needs for your livestock operation. Location: Conservation Exhibit Area (beside the J.D. Harrington Building).

Heavy Use Area
A demo roofed manure storage and concrete heavy use area shows options for handling stackable manure and lot runoff when confining animals. Test your knowledge of building materials and see inside a concrete wall. Location: Conservation Exhibit Area (beside the J.D. Harrington Building).

Soil Health Tunnel– Feed Your Underground Herd! Mini Monolith Card
Walk into an open inflatable tunnel to learn about the soil beneath your feet and how its beneficial properties can impact your operation. Participants can also make a mini monolith card to take home. Location: Conservation Exhibit Area (in front of the J.D. Harrington Building).

Tours

Managing Equine Pastures & Dry Lots

This tour features hands-on activities in equine pastures at the demonstration site located on the hillside. Walk through the paddocks with grazing specialists who will discuss grass and weed identification, and provide recommendations on proper equine pasture management. Examine and discuss the construction specifications and design of the on-site equine dry lot, an essential component of equine systems with limited acreage. This interactive tour will allow you the chance to ask questions and learn more about grazing horses on your farm! Location: Bus departs from Corn Crib.

Tour times: Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.; Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.; Thursday: 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Note: walking/standing involved. If you miss the bus, feel free to walk up and join us!

Managing Livestock Pastures with Alternative Forages
Watch a small herd of Angus beef rotate paddocks through a rotational grazing system!  Grazing specialists will discuss the benefits of high stock density grazing and the advantages of using alternate forages, from warm season grasses to cover crops to transform mediocre fields into productive pastures. Learn and ask questions about proper fencing and watering facilities that work best in a rotational grazing system. This interactive tour features a discussion of soil health principles and a live demonstration of a rainfall simulator!
Location: Bus departs from Corn Crib.

Tour times: Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.; Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.; Thursday: 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Note: walking/standing involved. If you miss the bus, feel free to walk up and join us! 

Multifunctional Stream Buffers & Native Grass Field Tour
This tour focuses on the importance of planting and maintaining trees and shrubs to create a stream buffer that will improve water quality, wildlife habitat, livestock health, property value, and provide edible or medicinal plants. Participants will also learn how to plant native grass fields to increase sustainability and help declining pollinators and beneficial insects. Location: Bus departs from corn crib daily at 11:30.