Capital RC&D

10/14/2026

🍂🌱 Infographic Thursday! Fall is the perfect time to “put pastures to bed” so they bounce back strong in spring. Share this quick graphic on 4 Fall Pasture Tips to help protect grass stands, reduce mud damage, and plan turnout changes before winter weather hits.
What’s your biggest fall pasture challenge—mud, thinning grass, or keeping easy keepers in check?

09/29/2026

Attention farmers in Cumberland County:

🌱 New Incentive Rates to celebrate 20 years of our cover crop program! 🌱

09/23/2026

Tall fescue provides summer growth when other cool season grasses go dormant, as well as holding quality for winter stockpile feed. But, older varieties of tall fescue can cause animal health problems due to the associated toxin producing endophyte.

Learn the benefits and challenges of this grass, and how to manage grazing with tall fescue in your pastures during Capital RC&D's Fall Pasture Management Etude on Monday, September 28, 2026 from 3:00 - 6:00 PM in Gettysburg, PA.

The pasture walk is free but registration is limited and required. Visit capitalrcd.org/events to register.

09/18/2026

Registration is limited to 20 participants and their are seats remaining but don't wait, register this weekend!

09/15/2026

Join us on Monday, September 28, 2026 from 3:00 - 6:00 PM for a hands-on Pasture Management Étude at the farm of Josh and Teresa Gieron in Gettysburg, PA (Adams County).

This is the first of three études, or hands-on practice sessions, and will focus on exploring soil health, practical evaluation, and discussion of methods used by the Gierons to manage their 25 acre sheep farm.
Each participant will work with experienced conservation professionals to learn about techniques and assessments that can be used by all graziers to better understand their soil and its capacity to nourish livestock.

There is no cost to participate but registration is limited and required. Visit www.capitalrcd.org/events for more information or using the online registration portal to register.
If you have questions, please email [email protected] or call 717-241-4361.

Photo Credit: Teresa Gieron

08/28/2026

Russ Wilson is a grazier in Clarion County that has been a participant in and valuable contributor to Capital RC&D's grazing projects over the past 13 years. Last Saturday, a lightening strike started a fire at the Wilson farm that resulted in a total loss of his workshop, tools, meat storage, and workspace. This will have a major impact on their current and future business.
A GoFundMe to help replace tools etc. is available for those able to help.

08/17/2026

Penn State Extension in Cumberland County has a new home!

06/30/2026

Another great opportunity for small ruminant graziers in South Central PA

Save the date for an upcoming Sheep and Goat Small Group gathering!📅

🔷Adams County | 7/16 | 6:30 pm

Join your local livestock educator for a free, 90-minute in-person gathering designed for small ruminant producers. Each quarter, we host an informal, educational meeting focused on the topics and needs of local sheep and goat producers. Every session concludes with an open discussion, providing an opportunity to learn from peers, gain insights from industry representatives, and help shape future meeting topics.

Register at: https://extension.psu.edu/sheep-and-goat-small-group-gathering

06/26/2026

Catching up with Capital RC&D

On May 7, 2026, staff from PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Capital RC&D met in Clinton County to learn proper techniques for enhanced quality control procedures tied to Capital RC&D’s cover crop and residue survey program. These enhanced techniques include performing line transect surveys to determine actual plant residue amounts on spring planted crop fields. The percent of plant residue is correlated to soil tillage practices. This enhanced quality control data will provide a better assessment for satellite and machine learning tools.

06/24/2026

Capital RC&D’s “Bolstering Agricultural Best Management Practices Across Pennsylvania’s Capital Region” project is underway with recent work focusing on updating partners and hiring a communications intern.

We would like to introduce our communications intern, Ms. Naysah Mbarushimana, who will assist in outreach and general communications for “Bolstering Agricultural Best Management Practices Across Pennsylvania’s Capital Region” project. Naysah is from Dauphin County, attends Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA, and is on staff through the summer. Welcome, Naysah!

To learn more about Capital RC&D's grazing support program, visit https://capitalrcd.org/grazingsupport

Capital RC&D staff pictured from left to right: Cheryl Burns, Project & Outreach Manager; Naysah Mbarushimana, Communications Intern; Ann Basehore, Executive Director. Photo by Kristen Saacke Blunk