The State Conservation Commission is now accepting applications for the Resource Enhancement and Protection, or REAP program.

This state tax credit program offers up to 75 percent in credits to Best Management Practice’s (BMP’s) or equipment purchased for the farm and is a great way to reimburse yourself for out-of-pocket expenses on federally assisted program work or for practices you installed on your own.

The current guidelines and application can be found here: https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/StateConservationCommission/REAP/Pages/default.aspx

Practices are eligible for conservation best management practices and equipment purchased after Oct. 23, 2007, as long as the life span of the practice hasn’t expired.

Some of the more common practices for funding are no-till equipment, nutrient management plans and out of pocket expenses on Natural Resources Conservation Service projects.

Funding for no-till equipment covers new and used implements and can be considered for a proposed purchase.

Used equipment requires a dealer to certify the planter or drill is in good working order. Cost share is up to 50 percent of equipment purchases and is something everyone should take advantage of if you’ve purchased or will purchase a planter.

Nutrient management plans are covered at 75 percent along with any structural practices that address animal concentration areas; these practices include concrete heavy use areas, manure storages, roofs and their associated practices.

The rest of eligible NRCS practices are covered at 50 percent, which include grazing system practices, cover crops and other cropland practices.

These credits are eligible for use by individuals who pay any state tax for up to 15 years or can be sold.

There are brokers who will sell credits for you; however, they will take a percentage as a transaction fee in addition to the purchase price. These brokers can be bypassed if the farmer sells the credits himself, which is fairly common.

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