Thursday, March 28, 2024

Agriculture Secretary Highlights New Consumer Labeling Requirements Of Fertilizer Law To Save Money, Protect Environment

On March 28, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding visited Cashman’s Hardware Store in Adams County to promote Pennsylvania’s updated fertilizer law and
educate consumers on best practices to manage their lawn care in a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable way.

The revisions to the Pennsylvania Fertilizer Law, signed by Gov. Shapiro in 2023, brought new responsibilities to homeowners and residents who apply fertilizer to their lawns, ensures clearer fertilizer labels to help homeowners understand fertilizer needs and avoid costly over-application, and keeps Pennsylvania on track to meet our Chesapeake Bay goals.

“The agriculture community has long balanced the need for production with the need for environmental stewardship,” said Secretary Redding. “By expanding this responsibility to all who are using and applying fertilizer, we are creating healthier soils and water in the Commonwealth, while promoting an economic savings that can be realized through reviewing and understanding nutrient management.”

Homeowners and residents are required to be aware of and to follow the nutrient application rate limits, fertilizer application location restrictions, and best management practices as specified in the law and written on the product label. 

Overuse of fertilizer not only harms the environment but can wastes products and can be costly to residents.

The modernized law focuses on educating homeowners on proper application, preventing unnecessary spending and runoff that pollutes rivers and streams.

“Excess nutrient runoff from fertilizers can lead to increased levels of nitrates in drinking water and can harm fish and aquatic life in streams and lakes,” DEP Director of Watershed Restoration and Nonpoint Source Management Jill Whitcomb explained. “These enhancements made to the Fertilizer Law will help residents throughout Pennsylvania improve their local waters, as well as those that flow in the Ohio River, the Delaware River, and the Chesapeake Bay.”

The updates to Pennsylvania’s Fertilizer Law allow the Department of Agriculture to:

-- Empower Consumers: Fertilizer labels will now be clearer, with instructions for proper use, best practices, and guidance on handling, storage, and disposal.

-- Improve Reporting: Enhanced reporting will help track fertilizer use and ensure Pennsylvania meets environmental goals.

The Department has launched a consumer awareness campaign through the Bureau of

Plant Industry, working with partners like Penn State Extension, the State Conservation Commission and the PA Landscape and Nursery Association, to connect residents with education, support, and resources to effectively and efficiently their use of fertilizer and other nutrients.

“Educating consumers on the proper way to apply lawn fertilizer and at appropriate rates will not only protect our water quality in Pennsylvania, but will result in a healthier lawn,” said Gregg Robertson of the Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association. “Research by EPA has shown that a healthy lawn will reduce runoff of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment into our rivers and streams.”

Click Here to watch a video on fertilizing your lawn.

Learn more about the Pennsylvania Fertilizer Law and how we each can be good

stewards of our land by visiting Agriculture’s Homeowners and Residents Fertilizer Law webpage.

Related Articles - Watershed:

-- National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Awards $35 Million In Chesapeake Bay Watershed Restoration Grants; Benefits From $4,765,700  [PaEN]

-- EPA Regional Administrator Ortiz Visits Halfmoon Creek Watershed In Centre County To Learn More About Local Conservation Efforts  [PaEN] 

-- Reminder: PennVEST Accepting Chesapeake Bay Watershed Clean Water Procurement Program Proposals Until April 17  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Chesapeake Bay Update: Conowingo Plan Reports Progress, Grant Opportunities, Updates From Counties, More!

-- Agriculture Secretary Highlights New Consumer Labeling Requirements Of Fertilizer Law To Save Money, Protect Environment  [PaEN]

-- Stroud Water Research Center Celebrates World Water Day To Support Healthier Delaware River Watershed  [PaEN] 

-- Mountain Watershed Assn. Files Appeal Of DEP Decision Not To Accept Unsuitable For Mining Petition Covering 11,000 Acres In Westmoreland County  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension Hosting Series Of 6 Workshops On Watershed Teaching Tools For Educators Starting April 23  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension Hosts April 13 Backyard Stream Repair Series Field Day In McKean County  [PaEN] 

-- April 30 Webinar: Invasive Catfish and PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' - Forever Problems?   [PaEN] 

NewsClips:

-- LancasterOnline: Mira Lloyd Dock Award Recognizes Marlisa Yoder-Bontrager For Tree Planting Efforts 

-- Alliance For Chesapeake Bay: Got Clean Water?  Partners Receive $1 Million NFWF Grant For Water Quality, Climate change Benefits Dairy Farms In PA, MD, VA

-- Scranton Times: PA American Water Responds To DEP Violation Over Roaring Brook, Lackawanna River Pollution

-- Observer-Reporter: Mon River, Carroll Township Projects Receive $43 Million In Federal Funding

[Posted: March 28, 2024]  PA Environment Digest

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