State Conservation Commission Agricultural Conservation Funding Guide For Pennsylvania Now Available

The State Conservation Commission and Penn State Extension's Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training has just published a new Agricultural Conservation Funding Guide to help agricultural producers, landowners, and conservation professionals navigate through the wide range of funding opportunities available for conservation practices in Pennsylvania.

From reducing nutrient runoff to improving soil health, numerous local, state, and federal programs support "best management practices" (BMPs). 

Many of these programs can be used together and leveraged to maximize funding and help make projects more financially viable. 

Whether you are just getting started or looking to expand your conservation work, this handbook is your go-to resource.

First Steps

If you have identified a resource concern on your farm, your first step should be to contact your county conservation district. 

Not sure who that is? Visit the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) website and use the "Find Your Conservation District" tool. 

Conservation district staff can guide you to the appropriate funding source or connect you with the right agency if the funding falls outside their direct programs.

Using this Guide

This guide is meant to serve as a reference tool and is not an all-inclusive list of funding opportunities, although we have included as many options as possible. 

It is a living document, maintained online for the most current information. 

Visit the CACAT website for updates. 

If you are using a printed copy, scan the QR code with your smartphone to access the online version and view active hyperlinks.

This guide is organized by funding types: state, federal, and nonprofit. 

Additional opportunities may occasionally be available through local, regional, or national agencies, nonprofit organizations, or watershed groups. 

Your county conservation district staff can help you identify and pursue alternative funding options.

At the end of this guide, you will find resources to help you combine funding sources when applicable, examples of BMPs with potential funding options, and a glossary of terms used throughout the guide. 

Please note that within the field of agricultural conservation, many acronyms and abbreviations are used. If there are any that you are unsure of, be sure to reference the glossary at the end of the guide.

Click Here for a copy of the Guide and more information.

(Reprinted from the latest Ag Conservation Currents newsletter from Penn State Extension.  Click Here to sign up for your own copy (bottom of the page).)

[Posted: August 18, 2025]  PA Environment Digest