Pennsylvania Invests $5.5 Million In Projects To Improve Regional Waterways, Help Farmers

Grants will fund conservation practices and sustainable agriculture initiatives in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Mar. 26, 2026 at 10:34pm

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The Shapiro Administration in Pennsylvania has announced over $5.5 million in funding to improve soil and water quality, and make farms in the Susquehanna River Basin more environmentally and economically sustainable. The grants will support 16 farms through the Sustainable Agriculture Grant program and 6 conservation organizations through the Public Private Partnership Grant program, with a focus on practices like cover crops, rotational grazing, tree plantings, and precision nutrient management.

Why it matters

This investment in Pennsylvania's agricultural sector aims to help the state meet its water quality goals for the Chesapeake Bay under the TMDL and Watershed Implementation Plan. By supporting sustainable farming practices, the grants will reduce nutrient and soil runoff, improve the health of local waterways, and ensure the long-term viability of the region's farms.

The details

The $5.5 million in funding comes from competitive federal grants to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture through the Most Effective Basin program. The Sustainable Agriculture Grants, totaling $392,119, will support practices like cover crops, rotational grazing, and silvopasture on 16 farms. The $5.1 million in Public Private Partnership Grants will fund collaborative projects between conservation organizations, equipment dealers, and commercial manure haulers to implement precision nutrient management using data-driven techniques.

  • On March 26, 2026, the Shapiro Administration announced the $5.5 million investment.
  • The grants are funded through the Pennsylvania Most Effective Basins Program, a partnership to support the state's agricultural sector in meeting Chesapeake Bay water quality goals.

The players

Russell Redding

Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture.

Nathan Drager

A 50-acre Lancaster County farmer who received a $20,965 grant to expand his silvopasture operation.

Hannah Kinney Smith

Executive Director of Pasa Sustainable Agriculture, a non-profit that promotes sustainable farming practices.

Eric Rosenbaum

Agronomy consultant at Rosetree Consulting, a firm that received a Public Private Partnership Grant to implement precision nutrient management.

Pennsylvania Sustainable Agriculture Board

A newly appointed board that selected the recipients of the Sustainable Agriculture Grants.

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What they’re saying

“What farmers do and how they do it matters. Pennsylvania has long been a national leader in conservation of farmland and the soil and water resources we all depend on. That leadership is reflected in the expectations the federal government places on our farmers to improve the Chesapeake Bay's water quality.”

— Russell Redding, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture

“You see a big difference working with nature instead of against nature. If you give a hand to nature, it's amazing how much it gives back. Having experts from Trees for Graziers here regularly has made a huge difference.”

— Nathan Drager

“Partnerships that bring the right expertise to the table are how real progress happens. Pennsylvania's new Sustainable Agriculture Board is the result of years of committed collaboration to align the right people and drive action. These grant programs mark meaningful new momentum toward a more sustainable future for our region's farms, food, and waterways.”

— Hannah Kinney Smith, Executive Director, Pasa Sustainable Agriculture

“Technology can be a wonderful tool for our farmers. This technology helps farmers make good decisions to make sure they're economically sustainable. They also get realtime data to identify where the highest risk of nutrient loss is, so they can minimize the amount of nutrients that runoff into our waterways.”

— Eric Rosenbaum, Agronomy Consultant, Rosetree Consulting

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This investment in Pennsylvania's agricultural sector highlights the state's commitment to sustainable farming practices that improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. By supporting innovative partnerships and data-driven approaches, these grants will help farmers become more environmentally and economically resilient, benefiting the entire region.