Annual Conference
Conference Early Registration Ends Soon!
January will be here before we know it! We are working hard to bring you a great conference on January 11-13, 2015 with a variety of speakers and workshops. If you haven't registered yet, you can do so online or by downloading the registration form and mailing it. All conference information is available on the IASWCD website.
There are four different workshop tracks you can choose at Annual Conference depending on your interests: Conservation Implementation, Technical, Capacity Building, and Outreach & Education.
Interested in leveraging your district's communications to better engage your community? Check out the "Build a Better Newsletter" round table with communication pros from NRCS and Indiana Farm Bureau. Maybe you'd like to learn more about how climate change impacts agricultural production. If so, the "Soil Health & Climate Change" session with Dr. Jerry Hatfield of the Midwest Climate Hub and the National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment might be a great choice for you! Whatever your area of focus, there is a session track for you at Annual Conference. You can read more about all of the available sessions in the conference brochure.
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Sponsor Spotlight
Clark Farm Drainage and Agri Drain Partner for Gold Sponsorship
Our 2015 Gold sponsors are Clark Farm Drainage, Inc. and their co-sponsor Agri Drain.
Clark Farm Drainage is a third-generation, family-owned farm dr ainage business, located in East Central Indiana.
They serve the conservation community as an NRCS Technical Service Provider (TSP) in Drainage Water Management. Founded in 1979 by a former District Conservationist, the company places a high priority on maintaining a legacy of quality and environmental stewardship.
 | Charlie Schafer (left; President of Agri Drain) with Bob Clark II (center; President of Clark Farm Drainage), discussing subsurface irrigation as a drainage water management practice with an Indiana Farmer at a Successful Farming's: Tools of the Future event at the Purdue University's Beck Ag Center. Photo courtesy of Bob Clark III. |
Current company president, Bob Clark II strives to be a steward of the land and a leader in the drainage industry. He currently serves as National President of the Land Improvement Contractors Association (LICA), a board member of the Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition, an advisor to a land grant university research group on agricultural water management, is the former Chair of the LICA Water Table Management Committee, a past Indiana LICA President, and is a recent contributor to Drainage Contractor Magazine on the topic of water quality and the drainage industry's role in conservation. Clark Farm Drainage is co-sponsoring this year's conference with Agri Drain, a company that manufactures many of the products that make the drainage industry's conservation practices possible. Agri Drain is America's leading provider of agricultural water management products, and consistently works to develop new products that push forward the leading edge of conservation. Thank you, Clark Farm Drainage and Agri Drain for your support of the IASWCD 2015 Annual Conference!
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Sponsor Spotlight
Indiana Corn Marketing Council and Indiana Soybean Alliance Sponsor Awards Luncheon
The Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation would like to thank our 2015 Awards Luncheon Sponsors for the Annual Conference of Indiana Soil and Water Conservation Districts -- the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and the Indiana Soybean Alliance.
The Indiana Corn Marketing Council works to enhance the value of corn for Indiana corn farmers. They oversee the investment of Indiana Corn Checkoff funds in programs and research initiatives. The Indiana Soybean Alliance manages the use of soybean checkoff funds, supporting programs in production, research, and education.
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Hans Kok of CCSI compares corn roots at a 2014 cover crop field day sponsored by the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and the Indiana Soybean Alliance.
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Both the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and the Indiana Soybean Alliance focus on environmental programs as part
 of their research initiatives, including sponsorships of local conservation tillage and cover crop field days around the state.
Thank you to the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and the Indiana Soybean Alliance for your year-round support for conservation farming.
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Conservation Partner News
November 19 Leadership Institute Workshop
A Leadership Institute workshop on the topic of conflict management will take place on November 19 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., in Indianapolis at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Normandy Barn. The workshop will be led by Janet Ayers of Purdue University. Register by submitting this form by November 14.
SWCD Fall Region Meetings
November 18, S-NE Region
- Miami, Wabash, Huntington, Wells, Adams, Grant, Blackford, Jay, Madison, Delaware, and Randolph counties
- Evening event at Ball State. More information TBA.
December 2, N-NW and S-NW Regions
- Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Jasper, Starke, Pulaski, Benton, White, Cass, Carroll, Warren, Fountain, Tippecanoe, Montgomery, Clinton, Howard, Tipton, Boone, Hamilton, Hendricks, and Marion counties
- Evening event at Klondike Branch Library, West Lafayette. More information TBA.
USDA to Provide $4 million For Honey Bee Habitat
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced last week that more than $4 million in technical and financial assistance will be provided to help farmers and ranchers in the Midwest improve the health of honey bees.
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Photo credit: USDA-NRCS
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"The future of America's food supply depends on honey bees, and this effort is one way USDA is helping improve the health of honey bee populations," Vilsack said. "Significant progress has been made in understanding the factors that are associated with Colony Collapse Disorder and the overall health of honey bees, and this funding will allow us to work with farmers and ranchers to apply that knowledge over a broader area."
For more information on USDA-NRCS and their efforts to protect pollinators, click here for the official announcement.
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CCSI News
"Soil Health: Weed Control, Cover Crops, and Beyond" Event Planned for December 4
On December 4th, southern Indiana farmers will have the chance to hear from experts about the potential for soil health practices to reduce input costs and increase profitability on their operations. "Soil Health: Weed Control, Cover Crops, and Beyond" will bring together three leaders in soil health at the Washington Park Community Building in Washington, IN for a discussion of the many aspects of soil health practices and systems.
Larry Huffmeyer, a CCSI Farmer and Certified Crop Advisor from Ripley County, will kick off the event, followed by Dr. Jim Hoorman of Ohio State University, Barry Fisher of the USDA-NRCS, and Scott Monroe of Purdue Extension.
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Dr. Jim Hoorman, Ohio State University. Photo courtesy of Dr. Hoorman.
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Randy Van Matre, the USDA-NRCS District Conservationist for Daviess and Martin Counties, said, "The great thing about these speakers is that they are experts. And they all farm - they get it. They understand the pressures farmers face - and can talk about the pros and cons of soil health practices from that perspective."
The event will take place from 9:00 am-2:30 pm on December 4, at the Washington Park Community Building (501 Burkhart Drive, Washington, IN 47501). PARP credits will be available. Certified Crop Advisor CEUs have been requested (SW 2.0, PM 0.5, CM1.0). Registration is required by November 28th. Cost is $5 for the event, which includes a catered meal from Schnitzelbank restaurant, plus $10 for PARP certification. A full agenda, map, and registration are available at www.WeedControlCoverCropsandBeyond.eventbrite.com. For more information or to register by phone, please telephone the Daviess County SWCD at 812-254-4780, extension 3.
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Upcoming Deadlines
January 2:
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November 6, 13, and 14:
November 12:
- Cover Crop Field Day (For free registration call the Orange Co SWCD at 812-723-3311 ext. 3)
November 15:
November 20:
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Job Openings
In addition to this section of our newsletter, we now have a new page on the IASWCD website where job opportunities with Districts can be posted. Please email job descriptions, instructions for applying, and a deadline in one PDF to emily-neitzel@iaswcd.org to have it posted on the website.
FSA Program Technician Openings Please click here for more information on these openings and how to apply.
Midwest Cover Crops Council - Program Manager
Washington County - Watershed Coordinator Find a complete job description and instructions for applying here.
Marion County - Urban Soils Health Specialist You can download the job description and instructions here.
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GrantStation & Current Funding Opportunities Grantstation View the latest GrantStation on the IASWCD website. Several other current grants are also posted there.
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NACD News
NACD Poster Contest State Winners Announced
Congratulations to the 2014 state winners of the NACD poster contest! Five students from all grade levels and several counties around the state have been selected to be entered in the national NACD poster contest.
The winners are:
- Seohyun Yeo, Lake County
- Paitynn Dowers, Vermillion County
- Laynie Pitts, Vermillion County
- Madison DeBois, Lake County
- Michelle Pokorny, Lawrence County
Great job to all of the contest participants and to the NACD Auxiliary for coordinating this educational program.
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