UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Several state and federal conservation agencies will join forces with Penn State to present "The Expanded Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program -- Opportunities and Responsibilities," at 10 a.m. on Aug. 20 during Penn State's Ag Progress Days.

The presentation will be held at the Ag Alumni Pavilion at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs.

The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is intended to help farmers improve water quality and provide wildlife habitat in southeastern and central Pennsylvania.

Representatives from Penn State Cooperative Extension, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency and USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service will provide program details and benefits of CREP, which is being expanded to an additional 23 counties of the Chesapeake Bay drainage basin. Practical information will be offered about CREP participation, as well as information on signup, which starts Sept. 1.

Also participating will be many of the CREP partners, including the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Game Commission, DCNR, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Ducks Unlimited and Pheasant Forever. The session is intended to provide landowners and producers with knowledge they need to determine how CREP fits into their financial and production planning.

Penn State's Ag Progress Days is held at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, nine miles southwest of State College on Route 45. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday. Admission and parking are free. For more information, call (800) PSU-1010 toll-free through Aug. 21, or visit the Ag Progress Days Web site at http://apd.cas.psu.edu.

###

EDITORS: Contact Charles Abdalla at 814-865-2562 or cabdalla@psu.edu (e-mail).

Contact:

Gary Abdullah gxa2@psu.edu 814-863-2708 814-863-9877 fax #220