Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
May 24, 2017
Conservation Update

May 11, 2017 - May 24, 2017
 

Remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice

Memorial Day - May 29, 2017
IASWCD News
River Friendly Farmer applications due June 16
River Friendly Farmer logo
The River-Friendly Farmer Award Ceremony will take place at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on August 16, Farmer's Day. Farmers/Landowners and their families will be invited to attend as well as District staff and supervisors and ICP leaders. The RFF application and questions may be viewed on the IASWCD website .

 
Photo credit: Mary Lou Musselman
Pathway to Water Quality Volunteer Sign-Up begins June 1
This  year, volunteer  sign-up for staffing  Pathway to W ater  Quality at t he 2017 Indiana State Fair will open at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, June 1. The state f air w ill run from August 4-20. Any questions, please e mail Sara Peel at   

Individual Development Inventory (IDI) Survey
This survey is to assess the current training needs for partnership technical employees. The current version of the survey is online and includes new training topic opportunities. Results help guide future annual plan of work. The survey takes approximately 25 minutes to complete and must be completed by June 16. Please review the  survey tutorial and then complete the survey at this link:     https://goo.gl/forms/GQw4IFAsdnHFqbNC2  . Any questions, please contact Laura Fribley or Amy Work.   
NACD News  
The Resource, Spring Edition
This issue of The Resource is jam-packed with current conservation news, NACD and Capitol Hill policy updates, district spotlights, and much, much more.   Click here to download it now , or  view it  on NACD's website .

Help Wanted! NCF-Envirothon Program Manager
NACD is seeking to fill a key position charged with providing support and coordination to state and provincial Envirothon program managers and the international program's operating and host committees. The full job de scription is available on NACD's website . Interested candidates should email their cover letter and resume to:  hr@nacdnet.org  by May 30, 2017 .

Submit your Idea for the NACD Conference Theme
Help NACD decide the theme for their 2018 annual meeting in Nashville on January 27-31.  NACD is seeking creative submissions. Whoever submits the winning theme for the 2018 Annual Meeting will be awarded $250 toward their registration cost. To submit a suggested theme idea, please  fill out this form . The deadline for entries is Tuesday, May 30.

NACD Summer Meeting
July 15-18 in Iowa
ISDA News
Cropland Weed ID Training for Indiana Conservation Partnership Staff 

Space left in the June 15 training only:
  • Friday, May 26 - Southeast Purdue Ag Center  Butlerville, IN Hosted by Jeff Hermesch, Extension Educator FULL
  • Thursday, June 1 - Throckmorton Purdue Ag Center, Lafayette, IN Hosted by Karen Mitchell, Extension Educator  FULL (may register for waiting list at the link provided for registration)
  • Thursday, June 15 - Southwest Purdue Ag Center , Vincennes, IN Hosted by Valerie Clingerman, Extension Educator 25 SPOTS LEFT!
Leadership Training Institute (LTI)
"Leadership in Change" workshop
June 9 
Jasper, IN
USDA-SARE News
2017 CTIC-SARE-ASTA Cover Crop Survey
The link to the 2017 Cover Crop Survey is now live and sponsored by USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Agency (SARE), the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA). Please distribute to farmers within your networks, and to others who can also distribute the link to farmers in their networks whether they use cover crops or not. 
USDA-NASS News
Two Major Mid-Year Surveys
During the next several weeks, U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agri-
cultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct two major mid-year surveys,  the June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey. T he agency will survey over 2000 farmers across Indiana to determine crop production and supplies levels in 2017. NASS gathers the data for the June Agricultural Survey online, by mail, phone and in-person interview. Read more ...
USDA-NRCS News
Fall Conservation Transect Results Released - Cover Crops Thrive in Tough Farm Economy
Indianapolis, IN, May 23, 2017 - According to the 2016 Fall Conservation Transect Report, Hoosier farmers planted over a million acres of cover crops for the second year in a row. Jane Hardisty, State Conservationist with USDA's  Natural Resources Conservation Service  (NRCS) says having over a million acres of planted cover crops makes Indiana the leading state in the Midwest, if not the nation. Read more ...
Purdue Extension  
Beginning Farmer: Veteran Tours
All military veterans and active duty personnel invited!

July 9 - Tuttle Orchard, Greenfield, IN

August 12 - Crowl Cattle, Lafayette, IN

Registration open and available by clicking here

Drainage Field Day
June 7-8, 2017
Davis Purdue Ag Center
More information and registration can be found here.
IDEM   
New Director of Government Affairs and Agriculture  Liaison
In April, Julia Wickard was hired by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) as the new director of Government Affairs and Agriculture Liaison where she said that she will serve dual roles for the department. Read more...

Seeking nominations for 2017 Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence
INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is seeking nominations for the 2017 Indiana Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence. This award is the state's most prestigious environmental recognition.
The Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence is open to any Indiana citizen, business, nonprofit organization, school, or government agency. All projects submitted must demonstrate significant, measurable results that positively impact Indiana's environment. Nominated projects must be sustainable, innovative, exemplary, and thoroughly documented. Nominations must be received by IDEM no later than  5 p.m. (EDT)  Friday, July 28, 2017.
To learn more about the Indiana Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence, including past awardees and the nomination process, please visit  http://www.IN.gov/idem/GovAwards/ or contact Justin Paicely, IDEM's Program and Compliance Director, at  800-451-6027 or  GovAwards@idem.IN.gov.
Other News
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY for SWCDs and Partners: 
Ohio River Basin Water Quality Trading Project
More information below:
Indiana Pollinators Week June 19-25
Governor Holcomb has officially proclaimed June 19-25 as Indiana Pollinators Week to coincide with National Pollinators Week. Take this opportunity to educate the public and promote pollinator habitats.  IASWCD's Facebook page will be promoting pollinator information from many different partners throughout that week. Feel free to share these posts on your social media pages. 

Seventeen Featured Farmers Announced for 2017 Indiana State Fair
In line with this year's Indiana State Fair theme, "Wonderful World of Food," the Indiana State Fair and Dow AgroSciences are celebrating the farmers who grow food enjoyed by Hoosier families. One Featured Farm family will be highlighted on each of the 17 days of this year's Fair which runs August 4-20. In its third year, this program celebrates Hoosier agriculture. The 17 farm operations represent all regions of the state and were chosen to align with the 17 different foods being showcased throughout the Fair. Each Featured Farmer grows a component of the featured food for their respective day. Read more...

Everyone sees nature through a different lens, and TNC wants you to show your view!  Theme for the 2017 contest: "what's your nature?" What does nature mean to you? Submit photos by May 31 or check out what has been submitted!

SWCS-Hoosier Chapter  Summer Workshop 
June 20, 2017 (Deadline to register is June 16)
Eagle Marsh Preserve, located SW of Ft. Wayne
The focus of the  meeting is the collaborative partnering efforts needed to tackle potentially devastating resource issues that can impact us on a large scale basis. Other topics include funding coordination, GLRI, wetland easements and invasive species practice design. Speakers will include Betsy Yankowiak, Director of Preserves and Programs, LRWP; Dr. Chris Winslow, Director, Ohio Sea Grant Program; Rick Duff, Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Field Coordinator, NRCS; Duane Riethman, Area Engineer, NRCS; and Andrew Pursifull, Engineer, NRCS. For more information view the flyer or contact Curtis Knueven at  curtis.knueven@in.usda.gov
Registration costs (including lunch and snacks):
$30 members, $60 non-members
$20 spouses/retired conservationists
$5 students 

Grazing for the Future Conference featuring Dr. Pol
August 17-18
Clifty Inn, Madison, IN
Ripley & Jefferson County SWCD's along with Historic Hoosier Hills are excited to announce the Grazing for the Future Conference agenda is complete and registration is open!  Our featured speakers include reality TV Veterinarian, Dr. Pol from the National Geographic channel, Blaine Hitzfield, with Seven Sons Farms and Ben Bartlett, Holistic Management International. 
For the month of April we are opening the Grazing for the Future conference registration for our partnership.  Starting May 1st we will begin publicizing this to the general public. Our hope is that this will allow time for you to obtain supervisor/board approval. After all, our partnership is the key to our success here in Indiana, so why not allow you to register first. The registration link is active on this Eventbrite link. It is also active for the public (just not advertised yet) so if you have a guest wanting to attend with you they can register at the same time. You can also register by filling out the registration on the brochure and mailing a check to Historic Hoosier Hills at PO Box 407, Versailles, IN 47042. Full conference registration is $65 and includes dinner and breakfast. For the meal/evening only with Dr. Pol it is $40 and includes only the dinner. There are limited number of rooms available at Clifty Inn so book early!   See details...
In This Issue
Quick Links
Upcoming Events
Please refer to the IASWCD Events and CCSI Soil Health Events calendars for a full list of upcoming events and more details regarding these events below: 

May 29 - Memorial Day holiday

June 1 - Pathway to Water Quality volunteer sign up begins

June 7-8 - Drainage Field Day, Farmland, IN

June 9 - Leadership Institute Training workshop, Jasper, IN

June 13 - Women4theLand Women's Learning Circle, Pike & Gibson Counties

June 14 - Women4theLand: Women's Learning Circle, Benton/Warren/White Counties

June 16 - DEADLINE: River-Friendly Farmer applications

June 19-25 - National and Indiana State Pollinator Week

June 20 - Women4theLand: Women's Learning Circle, New Harmony

June 20 - SWCD-Hoosier Chapter, Summer Workshop

June 22 - Forestry & Wildlife Habitat Field Day, J S Wright Forestry Center, West Lafayette

June 24 - Outdoor Field Day, Dearborn County

July 8 - Veteran Farm Tour, Greenfield, IN

July 15-18 - NACD Summer Conservation Forum and Tour

July 19 - Agronomy Field Day, Waterloo, IN

July 23-29 - NCF-Envirothon

July 30-August 2 - SWCS Annual Conference

August 4-20 - Indiana State Fair

August 12 - Veteran Farm Tour, Lafayette, IN

August 16 - River-Friendly Farmer Award Ceremony, Indianapolis, IN

September 12 -  Women4theLand: Women's Learning Circle, Jennings County

October 11-13 - IDEA Conference, West Lafayette

October 23-27 - Stream Simulation Training, Bloomington

November 12-17 -  National Association of 4-H Extension Agents/Educators Conference in Indianapolis

December 7-8 - National Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health

January 8-9, 2018 - Annual SWCD Conference, Indianapolis Marriott Downtown

January 27-31, 2018 - NACD Annual Conference, Nashville, TN
Current Job Openings *

See Job Descriptions and/or Applications at www.IASWCD.org 

Ag Resource Specialist, 
Johnson County SWCD

Executive Director, 
Indiana Wildlife Federation

Technical Assistance Provider,
IN School Lead Sampling Program

CEO,
Knox County SWCD

NCF-Envirothon Program Manager, NACD

*(Note: please submit job openings to: 
amy-work@iaswcd.org 
and include instructions for applying, deadline and job description in a single PDF file. Thank you.)
Upcoming Award Deadlines:
 
River Friendly Farmer
due June 16
(Google Form)

Special Thanks to the following Districts who have paid Annual Dues as of 05/23/17:

Adams

Allen

Bartholomew

Benton

Brown

Fountain

Fulton

Cass

Clark

Clay

Clinton

Dearborn

Decatur

Dekalb

Dubois

Elkhart

Floyd

Franklin

Hamilton

Howard

Jackson

Jasper

Jay

Jennings

Knox

Kosciusko

LaGrange

Lake

LaPorte

Lawrence

Marshall

Miami

Monroe

Morgan

Newton

Orange

Perry

Pike

Posey

Pulaski

Randolph

Ripley

Rush

St. Joseph

Scott

Shelby

Steuben

Tipton

Union

Vanderburgh

Vermillion

Wabash

Warren

Warrick

White

Whitley