Weekly Update: Many USDA Program Enrollments Now Open

This year's Conference received wide-ranging news coverage both before and after the event. Read articles from Farm Progress, Brownfield Ag News, and more at the links below!

Indiana Leads the Way in Conservation (Brownfield)
You Have a Friend at NRCS (Hoosier Ag Today)
Clean Water Indiana Addressed in Annual Business Meeting (AgriNews)
NRCS Chief Will Highlight Annual SWCD Conference Next Week (Indiana Prairie Farmer)

Thank you to 2012 SWCD Annual Conference Planning Committee

I would like to extend thanks to Cindy Newkirk for participating in the 2012 SWCD Annual Conference planning committee and helping to make this year's conference a huge success. Your ideas, time, and assistance are so appreciated!

Retirement Well-Wishes to Ethel Osbourn

Ethel Osbourn, Gibson County SWCD Office Manager, will celebrate her 34 years of hard work and dedication with fellow conservationists at a retirement party on January 26. Thank you for all you've done for conservation efforts in Gibson County and the State of Indiana!

Have a good day,

Jennifer

Conservation Day at the Statehouse

Yesterday was the annual Indiana Conservation Alliance's (INCA) Conservation Day at the Statehouse. IASWCD was represented along with NRCS and a host of other conservation organizations in the state. INCA presented its annual Conservation Legislator of the Year award to both Senator Phil Boots (District 23) and Representative Tom

Saunders (District 54) for their leadership and sponsorship of the Sustainable Natural Resources Task Force bill from last session. This bill passed and the Task Force is underway.

A special thanks to Kenny Cain (Montgomery County Supervisor), Les Zimmerman (Vermillion County Supervisor), Ray Chattin (Knox County Associate Supervisor), and Warren Waymire (Morgan County Supervisor) for attending the event and talking to our Legislators!

Left to Right: Les Zimmerman, Kenny Cain, and Phil Boots

Nominations Open for Indiana Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence
Nomination Deadline is April 20

The Indiana Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence recognize exemplary projects across Indiana. Projects must demonstrate significant and measurable results, be innovative, comprehensive and documented.

Nominated projects/facilities must be: located in Indiana; focused on significant environmental protection activity; able to provide at least a year of quantifiable results; innovative; voluntary; in compliance with environmental health and safety laws; and, willing to share information with others via state publications or Web sites.

The awards are open to all Indiana facilities, state and local units of government, individuals, and technical assistance organizations that operate or support environmental protection efforts of outstanding quality. Eligible technical assistance organizations include, but are not limited to: public entities, educational groups, trade associations, individuals, public interest and community and labor groups.

Nominations are being accepted for the following categories: Five Years Continuous Improvement, Energy/Renewable Resource, Greening the Government, Outreach or Education, Pollution Prevention, Recycling/Reuse, Land Use.

Learn more and submit nominations here.

NRCS, USDA, and FSA Programs Digest
Program Sign-Ups, New Funding Available

FSA: Planting Transferability Pilot Project

The PTPP permits Indiana producers to plant approved vegetables for processing on base acres under the Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program (DCP) or Average Crop Revenue Election Program (ACRE). Eligible producers only have until March 1, 2012 to sign up for the PTPP program. PTPP allows producers to plant approved fruits or vegetables for processing on a farm's base acres. Approved plantings include cucumbers, green peas, lima beans, pumpkins, snap beans, sweet corn or tomatoes. Learn more about PTPP restrictions and opportunities here (PDF).

NRCS: Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program

NRCS Indiana State Conservationist Jane Hardisty announced today the availability of funding for the WREP to enter into agreements with partners to protect wetlands and restore, enhance, protect, and manage wildlife habitat. Through targeted WREP projects, Wetlands Reserve Program dollars are made available directly to landowners for permanent or 30-year easements and/or restoration cost-share agreements which can help them deal with cropping challenges in frequently flooded areas while improving water quality. Applications are due February 10,2012. Learn more about WREP here.

NRCS: Emergency Watershed Program, Daviess County

NRCS Indiana State Conservationist Jane Hardisty announced today that disaster assistance is available to help with recovery after the 2011 spring flooding in Daviess County. Funds are being made available through the Emergency Watershed Program (EWP), which provides both financial and technical assistance, and the ability to contract the heavy construction work to local contractors, spurring creation of jobs. Indiana will receive $195,827 to repair the flooding damage to the main channel of Prairie Creek. The Conservancy District will serve as the local sponsor for the EWP repairs which will stabilize the eroded channel banks to prevent further damage to the channel. Learn more about EWP here.

FSA: 2012 DCP and ACRE Programs Enrollment Open

Signup to enroll in the 2012 Direct and Counter-Cyclical Program (DCP) or Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) Program began January 23 and ends June 1, 2012. The 2012 signup period is a shorter timeframe than in previous years. Producers who choose to participate in either the revenue-based ACRE safety net or the price-based DCP safety net must enroll their farms each year. All owners and operators who will share in the DCP or ACRE payments on the farm must sign the DCP/ACRE contract (CCC-509) by June 1, 2012. For more information about the DCP or ACRE Programs please visit your local FSA county office or visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov.

Job Openings

DNR Fish and Wildlife Vacancies (3)

Three positions are now posted in the State Jobs Bank that are within the Aquatic Habitat Unit of the Fisheries Section. These three positions are all located in Indianapolis in the Indiana Government Center South. To locate these position postings follow the instructions below:

Go to the website of the State Department of Personnel,
And click on "Employment Opportunities" on the left.
Click on "Apply Now"
Click on the "Job ID" header to sort positions numerically
Use the "next" or "previous" buttons to locate the positions

577492: Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator - Apply by January 31

577494: Restoration Biologist - Apply by January 31

577526: Lake and River Enhancement Program Specialist - Apply by February 1

Executive Director: Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association
This position is a full time position based on an average of 40 hours per week; time may vary depending on workload. The Executive Director is responsible for the management of the day-to-day affairs of the association, daily office operations and procedure, budget development, financial management, communication with County Board Land Conservation Committees and Departments, coordination of the WLWCA awards and education programs, policy analysis and liaison with conservation agencies, elected officials and other organizations.This is a salaried position with a range of $50,000-$70,000 in annual compensation plus negotiable benefits based on candidate's experience and knowledge. View the complete description here.

Grant Specialist: Indiana Lake Michigan Coastal Program

The Indiana Lake Michigan Coastal Program seeks well qualified applicants for the Grant Specialist Position. This position is responsible for the day to day operations of the Coastal Grant Program. The Coastal Grant Program annually passes through approximately $650,000 for projects that address coastal resource issues in Indiana. The FY12 Cycle marks tenth year for the Program.

The position is posted to the State of Indiana Job Bank as Job ID - 577448 - Grant Specialist. The position will remain posted until 1/31/12.

Internship Opportunity: Student Farm at Purdue

The Student Farm, in conjunction with the departments of Botany & Plant Pathology, Agronomy and Horticulture and Landscape Architecture will fund four summer internships this year, and is soliciting applications. The position is an eight week internship participating in the management of the student farm, including planning, infrastructure development (e.g. hoop house construction) and vegetable production as well as the continued development of a long term plan for the student farm. Benefits including assistance with housing costs and transportation (if necessary) and $3,600 stipend. Starts on June 1 and runs through July 31, 2012. Application deadline: Feb 28. View the application here.

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