HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania farmers who want to install best management practices or purchase on-farm conservation equipment can access applications for tax credits beginning June 4 through the Resource Enhancement and Protection, or REAP, program.
Reducing erosion
REAP is a tax incentive program for agricultural producers who enlist private support to reduce erosion and sedimentation that could impact Pennsylvania’s streams and watersheds.
Farmers who have completed projects may submit applications beginning Aug. 1; farmers who have proposed projects can submit applications beginning Aug. 29 only.
First come, first served
The projects will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis. Application approval will be contingent upon the final adoption of the state budget for fiscal year 2012-13.
Any individual or business subject to taxation under personal income tax, corporate net income tax, bank shares tax and others, is eligible to participate in REAP.
Over 2,000 projects
Since the program began in 2007, 2,609 projects worth more than $39.5 million have been approved. The public and private investment made to implement these projects is $68.7 million.
Farmers can receive tax credits of up to $150,000 per agricultural operation for 50 or 75 percent of the total project cost. The most common projects approved are for no-till planting equipment, materials for waste storage facilities, manure management plans and protecting heavy animal use areas such as barnyards.
Details
Applications for the 2012-2013 REAP program area available at www.pda.state.pa.us/REAP under “Forms,” or by contacting Amy Smith with the State Conservation Commission at 717-787-8821 or amymsmith@pa.gov.
