Conservation Update

January 2 - 15, 2013

Executive Director's Report

Conference Goes On Despite Polar Vortex

Last week's weather and travel restrictions created some challenges for this year's conference of Indiana Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Many would-be attendees were snowed in or otherwise under a travel restriction. As the saying goes, "if life hands you lemons, make lemonade." This year, we took that to heart! A more intimate setting for conference sessions and discussions opened the door to valuable conversations and allowed us to express our creativity and flexibility. In light of this, we were grateful to see several people step up into leadership roles at conference, sharing their own unique talents to create a valuable conference!

Though 2014 was certainly a different year for conference - and the first one that has ever been impacted by such an extreme weather event - we are proud of each District's commitment to conservation, and are excited for what new opportunities and challenges the coming year will bring.

Find links to conference presentations and photos of award winners on our website.

Have a great week!

Jennifer Boyle Warner, IASWCD Executive Director

CCSI News

Taking Charge of Soil Health

This January 29 event takes place at Mike Brocksmith's farm in Vincennes. CEUs for Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) are available.

(2.5 Soil & Water, 1.5 Pest). This event would be of special interest to farmers, consultants, and technicians interested in learning more about tools to develop a systems approach to soil health, pest management, and the "new" soil health tests. Learn more and RSVP at https://brocksmith2014.eventbrite.com!

You may also like to visit our soil health calendar, which is packed with exciting upcoming events!

Keep updated with CCSI events on Facebook and Twitter, or sign up to join our mailing list!

Conservation News

Conservation Day at the Statehouse

The Indiana Conservation Alliance (INCA), a unified voice advocating for public funding for land, water, and wildlife conservation, invites you to the Annual Conservation Day at the Statehouse. RSVP here for this January 28 event.

LARE Grant Applications due January 31

The LARE program goals include operating a scientifically-effective program in a cost-efficient manner to protect and enhance aquatic habitat for fish and wildlife; and to insure the continued viability of Indiana's publicly accessible lakes and streams for multiple uses, including recreational opportunities. Learn more here.

Required Security Training for CCE Computer Users

This is a reminder that anyone who is on the USDA CCE computer network is to complete the legislatively mandated 2014 Information Security Awareness training in AgLearn. It was loaded this past October into all active accounts and is due the end of this month. All CCE computer users must complete this training by January 31, 2014. Please share this information with the partners in your office that are on the CCE network.

Southern Indiana Grazing Conference: February 5

The fifth "Southern Indiana Grazing Conference" (SIGC) is going to be held on February 5th, 2014. The program is one that you don't want to miss with speakers Jim Gerrish and Kathy Voth! Register and the full schedule here. Jim Gerrish is an independent grazing lands consultant providing service to farmers and ranchers on both private and public lands all across the US and Canada. Kathy Voth is noted for inventing a method for training cows to eat weeds. CEUs are available.

Thank You, Conference Sponsors!

To all of our conference sponsors, we cannot thank you enough. Many of our sponsors have been supporting Indiana's Soil and Water Conservation Districts for several years, and we look forward to working with them in the future! Please take a minute to visit our sponsors' websites, and consider following them on Facebook or Twitter if the option is available.

Saddle Butte Ag, Inc.	Platinum Sponsor
KB Seed Solutions	Awards Banquet
Brodbeck Seeds	Tote Bag Sponsor
Cover Crop Solutions	Welcome Luncheon Sponsor
Advanced Ag Resources	Welcome Reception Sponsor
Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizer / Responsible Nutrient Mgmt Fdtn	Bronze Level Sponsor
ArborTerra Consulting	Bronze Level Sponsor
DuPont Pioneer	Bronze Level Sponsor
Farm Credit Mid-America	Bronze Level Sponsor
Halderman Farm Management	Bronze Level Sponsor
Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc.	Bronze Level Sponsor
Environmental Tillage Systems	Tuesday Trade Show Breakfast
Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc.	Award/Conservation Farmer of Year
Ceres Solutions	Break Sponsor
NTM Ag Equipment	Break Sponsor
Chattin Brothers Hardwoods, Inc.	Friend of IASWCD
Beck's Hybrids	Friend of IASWCD
Cardno JFNew	Friend of IASWCD
CMC Global	Friend of IASWCD
Co-Alliance LLP	Friend of IASWCD
Commonwealth Engineers	Friend of IASWCD
Gypsoil	Friend of IASWCD
Hoosier Energy REC	Friend of IASWCD
LG Seeds	Friend of IASWCD
McCormick Farms, Inc.	Friend of IASWCD
The CISCO Companies	Friend of IASWCD
WIN Energy REMC	Friend of IASWCD
Indiana Prairie Farmer	Award: Supervisor of Year
Applegate's Seed House	Contributing Sponsor
Brownfield Ag Network	Award: Friend of Conservation
AgriGold Hybrids	Contributing Sponsor
Daylight Farm Supply, Inc.	Contributing Sponsor
Droege Farms	Contributing Sponsor
Clearwater Simmentals	Friend of IASWCD
Jacobi Sales	Contributing Sponsor

Get In Touch

Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts

Contact staff

Board and Region Directors

Upcoming Events

View the full calendar for details on each event

January 16:

Webinar: An Experimental Case Study for Soil Health

January 20:

Heart of America Grazing Conference

January 28:

Conservation Day at the Statehouse

January 29:

Putnam Co. SWCD Annual Meeting

February 4:

Putnam Co. SWCD Winter Cropping Meeting

February 5:

Southern Indiana Grazing Conference

February 11:

Webinar: The Biology of Soil Compaction

March 3:

Facilitation Training with District Support Staff

See all events, or Contribute an event

CCSI Events

January 29:

Taking Charge of Soil Health

RSVP here

February 12 & 13:

Basics of Soil Health

See Details Here

March 2014:

Advanced Conservation Cropping Systems and Cover Crop Workshops

Separate events for farmers and non-farmers

See Details Here

Note of Acknowledgement

This year's exceptional conference was greatly improved by the willingness of several individuals who went above and beyond to create a valuable experience for everyone. A special thank you to:

Scott Ham, Chairman of the State Soil Conservation Board who served as our MC for the Awards Banquet. He also subbed in for the Prioritizing - Getting it all Done session.
Tom Crowe, IASWCD board member, who subbed in to lead the Economics of Woodlands session
Terry Ault, who volunteered to check in delegates for the business meeting
Erica Burkemper, Pike Co. SWCD, and Kim Jolly, Ripley Co. SWCD, who subbed in to lead Implementing Successful Marketing Strategies

And these speakers who braved the weather to share their expertise with our conference attendees:

Trooper Tom Egler
Mark Basch
Ginger Korinek
Bob Barr
Jordan Seger
Lee Nassau
Hans Kok
Lisa Holscher

Other News

Conservation Stewardship Program Enrollment Deadline Extended

The deadline for new enrollments in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) for fiscal year 2014 has been extended to February 7. Submit applications to your local NRCS office.

Cover Crops Survey from CTIC: Good and Bad!

CTIC is seeking farmer input on cover crops as a conservation option on U.S. farms. This survey will take 10 minutes or less and is for both farmers who use cover crops and farmers who do not use cover crops. If you currently use cover crops, this is your chance to report what works and doesn't work. If you don't use cover crops, this is your chance to tell us why not and help us understand where more scientific evidence is needed to encourage their adoption. Access the survey here.

Positions Open

Conservation Director, Vermillion County SWCD

The Vermillion County SWCD is seeking applications for the position Conservation Director. For a full job description and to apply, email vermillion@iaswcd.org

Watershed Coordinator, GIbson County SWCD

The Gibson County SWCD is in the process of taking applications for a watershed coordinator to fulfill the requirements of a three year 319 IDEM grant. Applications/resumes will be taken until January 15, 2014. For details, please visit www.gibsonswcd.org