Perdue Farms is intensifying its commitment to enhance on-farm conservation efforts for poultry growers in Pennsylvania, focusing on improving the quality of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. In collaboration with the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, Perdue has contributed $300,000, complemented by a $1 million grant, to assist the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay in implementing vital conservation practices on poultry farms in the Keystone State.
This financial injection aims to overcome key obstacles to conservation work by offering both financial and technical support to approximately 80 poultry farmers affiliated with Perdue in Pennsylvania. The funding will be allocated to implement around 36 conservation practices, including structures like manure stacking and mortality composting sheds, riparian forest buffers, and vegetative environmental buffers.
The project’s scope extends beyond these structures, encompassing various on-farm conservation initiatives such as stormwater management, soil health improvement, and the adoption of sustainable crop field practices. This comprehensive approach underscores Perdue’s commitment to fostering sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship within the region.
Pennsylvania boasts a significant poultry industry, with over 10,000 poultry farms, positioning poultry as one of the state’s top five commodities. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, notably ranks fourth among 3,079 counties nationwide in terms of poultry production. Perdue Farms’ investment in on-farm conservation reflects a strategic effort to support the local poultry industry while contributing to the broader environmental health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
