Takac: $1.54 million grant awarded to Centre County Conservation District to improve manure storage at Julian beef farm
Rep. Paul Takac October 16, 2024 | 3:06 PM
HARRISBURG, Oct. 16 – State Rep. Paul Takac announced the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority has approved a $1.54 million grant to the Centre County Conservation District on behalf of Linda Hall for improvements to manage her small beef farm’s manure storage.
According to Takac, the farm’s existing manure storage unit will be decommissioned and a new, 60-by-280-foot stacking structure and heavy use feeding area will be built elsewhere on the farm utilizing recommended agricultural best management practices. The construction also will include a roof, fencing, gates, reinforced animal trails, access lane, septic tank and piping outlets.
“Manure is a natural result of livestock farming, and without its proper storage and handling, it can increase nitrate levels in ground water and cause contamination in surface waterways, which not only kills fish, but also negatively impacts water quality,” said Takac, D-Centre. “By addressing the risks posed by outdated storage systems, we can prevent harmful pollutants like nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment from entering our water supply. This project will reduce thousands of pounds of nitrogen, tens of thousands of pounds of sediment, and over a hundred pounds of phosphorus from our waterways each year. That’s a direct benefit to local wildlife, fisheries and every resident who relies on clean, safe water.”
Jim Coslo, district manager of the Centre County Conservation District, said: “The Centre County Conservation District and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service have been working for years to secure sufficient funding for this project, but due to the scale of the project, we have not been able to move forward until now. This grant makes it possible to fully fund the Hall project which will have a huge water quality impact.”
The farm houses 100 beef cows, 50 calves and 10 replacement heifers in Julian, Centre County.
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