The state’s popular state agricultural tax credit program, Resource Enhancement and Protection, or REAP, has been updated to maintain its relevancy and maximize those who can take advantage of the program.

The tax credit limit has been increased from $150,000 to $250,000 per operation, and now this limit applies to a consecutive seven-year period from the date the credits were issued. This will help those who have bought planters and drills along with implementing larger livestock related BMP’s.

Since the program was started in 2007 there was an increasing number of operations bumping up against the previous cap; having this raised will encourage more participation.

There were some other minor changes, but increasing the lifetime cap and making that a period of time should gather some attention.

With these changes, however, the application period has been delayed. The State Conservation Commission originally planned a signup by Sept. 3 but looking at their website, www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/StateConservationCommission/REAP/Pages/default.aspx, new fiscal year forms have not been released yet.

Those interested in the latest information about the program should contact Joel Semke at 717-705-4132.

Andy Gaver is a conservationist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Butler County.