The District received a Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) from the US Department of Agriculture to provide guidance for farms in Cumberland and York Counties on how to store and manage chemical products. The project will reduce the risks for farm workers, first responders, natural resources, and the environment by using innovative storage technologies which have been demonstrated to be successful.

In addition to clear guidance to farmers on storing and managing chemical products on their farms, construction projects will be completed to improve their handling and storage facilities. Four pilot facilities will be installed at farms throughout the region. These projects will focus on small to medium farms that use and store chemicals in quantities which may be below state and federal reporting requirements.

The District has put together a project steering committee which includes first responders, agriculture producers, and state and federal agriculture services staff. During 2018, District staff reviewed existing storage standards, identified pilot project participants, and compiled a list of frequently used chemicals to begin the storage facility designs.

Work will continue through Summer 2019 to complete the pilot project design, construction, and finalize case study write-ups. Suggested updates will be provided on the official NRCS chemical storage standards and specifications as a result of these pilot projects. The District will showcase these recommendations during a training for improved chemical storage standards before the project concludes in December 2019.

For more information on the Conservation Innovation Grant, please contact Damon Yakovleff at dyakovleff@cumberlandswcd.org.