Conservation Update
June 5 - June 18, 2014 
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Top News
 

NRCS Employees Receive Honors for Contributions to Award-Winning Campaign

Conservation Legacy Award winners
Becky Fletcher, Jane Hardisty, Barry Fisher.  Photo: NRCS

 

USDA's Natural Resources

 Conservation Service recently honored three employees with a Conservation Legacy Award for their contributions to the agency's national "Unlock the Secrets in the Soil" awareness and education campaign. 

 

Jane Hardisty, state conservationist, Barry Fisher, state soil health specialist, and Becky Fletcher, public affairs specialist have been involved in the development of the campaign since its start in late 2011.


"Thanks to people like Jane, Barry and Becky, a growing number of Hoosier farmers and the NRCS staff in Indiana, a new legacy of conservation is being forged that will benefit generations of Americans," said Ron Nichols, the campaign's national coordinator.

 
Visit www.nrcs.usda.gov for more information on the Unlock the Secrets of the Soil campaign or read the full news release.

 

  

Volunteer for Pathway to Water Quality!

 

Volunteer signup for Pathway to Water Quality is under

way, and there are still many open slots PWQ Exhibit to fill! Volunteer opportunities include demonstrations with a rain simulator and soil health demonstrations. Information on all opportunities as well as expectations are available here.

 

All volunteers receive a free admission ticket to the State Fair (2 tickets if you volunteer for a weekend position). If you have any additional questions, contact DeeDee Sigler, PWQ Coordinator, at pathwaytowaterquality@gmail.com.

 

 

Leadership Institute Board Development Workshop September 5-6

 

Leadership INstitute logo You are invited to attend the Leadership Institute Board Development Workshop in French Lick, Indiana, September 5-6!  The workshop will address topics including serving on SWCD boards and committees, better meeting management, and supervisor recruitment and retention. 

 

Friday evening will include a two-hour dinner boat cruise and tour of Patoka Lake. Spouses and guests are welcome as well. 20 rooms are being held for Friday night at Big Splash Adventure Indoor Water Park and Resort under the block "SWCD Leadership Institute." Please visit the event page for more details.

 

Those interested should sign up soon as space is limited!

 

You're Invited to the 2014 Drainage School

  

  Drainage School

The 2014 Drainage School will take place Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at the Indiana Farm Bureau Building in Indianapolis. 

 

Drainage School promotes an understanding of the laws impacting drainage decisions in Indiana. Farmers, public officials, agency personnel, attorneys and members of the general public are invited. Continuing education credit for attorneys and surveyors is being sought.  

 

Those interested are encourage to register early as space is limited. Registrations will be accepted until August 8 or until the school is filled. 

 

 

NACD Marketplace Sale

 

The NACD Marketplace is offering a 50% off sale on all of NACD's Conservation Habits = Healthy Habitats materials! These materials are great resources for your summer outreach at camps, fairs, and other community events. Visit the NACD Habitat Education page to view a sample packet and educators' guides.

CCSI News

2014 Soil Health Expo Features Precision Ag Experts

The 2014 Soil Health Expo will take place August 6 at 
Shuter Farms
Mike Shuter late side-dressing nitrogen with his modified Miller Nitro.
the Vanderburgh County fairgrounds. Farmers and 
agricultural professionals interested in incorporating technology into their soil health management systems can hear from precision ag experts on topics including: 
  • Variable Rate Nutrient Applications With High-Clearance Sprayer Modifications
  • Development and Use of Management Zones in Soil Health Systems
  • Use of Precision Ag Tools for On-Farm Trials
  • Using Technology to Avoid Soil Compaction
  • Drone Use in Field Scouting
  • and more!
The cost to attend the 2014 Soil Health Expo is $10. CCA Credits have been requested. PARP credits are also available. Private applicators interested in PARP recertification should bring an additional $10 and their applicator card the day of the event.

Registration is required by July 31 and may be completed online or by calling your local Soil & Water Conservation District.

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

USDA Announces Programs to Conserve Sensitive Land and Help Beginning Farmers

  

USDA logo The USDA recently announced that farmers, ranchers and landowners committed to protecting and conserving environmentally sensitive land may sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The Secretary also announced that retiring farmers enrolled in CRP could receive incentives to transfer a portion of their land to beginning, disadvantaged or veteran farmers through the Transition Incentives Program (TIP). Both the CRP and TIP were reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. 

 

The Conservation Reserve Program provides incentives to producers who utilize conservation methods on environmentally-sensitive lands. For example, farmers are monetarily compensated for establishing long-term vegetative species, such as approved grasses or trees (known as "covers") to control soil erosion, improve water quality, and enhance wildlife habitat.

 

For more information or to read the complete news release please visit the USDA's FSA website.

 

 

2014 National Pollinator Week

This week goes to the birds and the bees - and to all of the other pollinators that keep our world growing and productive. June 16-20 is National Pollinator Week, and its intent is to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators.

 

"About one-third of all the food we eat depends on their

national pollinator weekpollination," said Jane Hardisty, Indiana NRCS State Conservationist. "By providing pollinator's key food sources like nectar and pollen producing plants, we are also keeping ourselves healthy."

 

Unfortunately, many of the world's pollinators are at risk. Studies have shown that about a third of the nation's managed honeybee colonies are lost each year, a trend that has held steady for the past five years. 

 

USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), along with other agencies and nonprofit groups, have assembled to help restore and protect pollinator populations, and there are things everyone can do in their own backyard to help pollinators flourish


Contact Us

 

 Upcoming Events

Look! These and many, many more events are listed on our statewide events calendar.

Planning an Event? Get it on our calendar using this form!
 
June 19:
NACD Webinar: LowImpact Development, email deb-bogar@nacdnet.org to sign up

June 20 - Deadline Extended:
River Friendly Farmer applications due

July 12:

August 27:

September 5-6:

September 9:
- Friend of Conservation Award applications due
- Supervisor of the Year Award applications due
 

CCSI Events
 
July 8
Villwock Farms, Knox County

August 26
Save the Date
Field Day at Wenning Farms, Decatur County

 

Other News
   
Low-Impact Development (LID) Subject of June 19 NACD Webinar
Two conservation districts will share Low Impact Development (LID) activities and perspectives. LID is an approach to land development or re-development that works with nature to manage stormwater as close to its source as possible. The webinar will take place at noon on June 19. To register, email Deb Bogar
GrantStation & Current Funding Opportunities

Grantstation

View the latest GrantStation on the IASWCD website. Several other current grants are also posted there.
 
Job Board 

Resource Conservationist - Boone Co. SWCD
The Boone County SWCD is seeking applications for a full time position as a Resource Conservationist. See the job description for more details.

Watershed Coordinator - Huntington Co. SWCD
The Huntington County SWCD is seeking to replace the Watershed Coordinator for the Lower Salamonie River Watershed. Read the job description here.
 
Part Time Soil Technician - Warrick & Pike Co. SWCDs
Email Erica Burkemper-Fischer for more information.