HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania farmers who want to use best management practices or purchase on-farm conservation equipment can now apply for 2015-16 Resource Enhancement and Protection program tax credits.
The program is a tax credit program for agricultural producers who install best management practices or make equipment purchases that reduce erosion and sedimentation that impacts Pennsylvania’s streams and watersheds.
Who can apply?
Farmers who have completed projects or those with proposed projects may submit applications now.
Private investors may act as a sponsor by providing capital to producers as a project is approved in return for tax credits. Any individual or business subject to taxation through personal income tax, corporate net income tax, bank shares tax or others is eligible to participate.
By the numbers.
Since the program began in 2007, it has awarded tax credits to 3,900 projects totaling $50.7 million. Public and private enterprises investments in the program have contributed to the conservation projects, worth more than $128 million.
From 2010 to 2014, the program has helped reduce an estimated runoff of nearly 1.4 million pounds of nitrogen, 84,000 pounds of phosphorus and 9,000 tons of sediment.
Farmers may receive tax credits of up to $150,000 per agricultural operation for 50 or 75 percent of the total project cost. Applications for the 2015-2016 Resource Enhancement and Protection program are available at www.agriculture.pa.gov or by contacting Joel Semke at 717-705-4032.
