Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
November 22, 2017
Conservation Update

November 9, 2017 - November 22, 2017
 

thanksgiving-tree-header.jpg
IASWCD News
75th Annual Conference of Indiana  S WCDs - 
Be a Part of the Story... Discover the Next Chapter
 
Early bird deadline for conference registration is two weeks away: 
December 1

If you have hotel rooms reserved that you will not be using for annual conference, 
please cancel those reservations. 
Sunday night availability is down to a minimum at this time. 

District Delegate Registration   due by December 30, 2017 .

SWCD Funding Needs Survey
The IASWCD Funding TaskForce is collecting information via this Funding Needs Survey to put together a  needs/funding assessment for the 92 local soil and water conservation  districts. This information will help guide the  task force and determine the  amount of appropriate funding to request for a new dedicated funding source  for the Clean Water Indiana program.  Only one completed survey per District is requested. 

Region Meetings
View agenda items and additional details in the  IASWCD Online Conservation Calendar (All times listed are EST unless otherwise noted.)
N-SE
Region Meeting
December 11
Stout's Brick House, Guilford, IN
5:30-8 pm


N-SW Region Meeting
December 14
Vigo County Fairgrounds




N-NW Region Meeting
December 5
Lake County SWCD Conf Room
5:30-8 pm CST
S-NE Region Meeting
November 30
Taylor University
6-8:15 pm
N-NE Region Meeting
December 12
Noble County Public Library, Albion
5-8 pm
S-NW Region Meeting
December 7
Boone County Fairgrounds, Lebanon
6-8 pm 
S-SE Region Meeting
December 12
Scott County USDA Service Center
6-8 pm
NACD News
The creators of a new soil health-themed coloring book believe "Mighty Mini Microbe's Tale" will encourage the next generation of real-life hero farmers, conservationists, and scientists to further unlock the secrets in the soil.  "While the characters are fictional, there's solid science behind the narrative," said Ron Nichols, the book's author and NRCS soil health campaign coordinator. "Many people don't realize that the elegant symbiosis of life underground enables all life above ground," he said. "Through this simple story we hope to encourage the next generation of farmers, scientists and consumers to learn more about what we can and should do to enable that subterranean life so we can rebuild and regenerate our soil to sustainably feed our growing population."  Read more & view video...

NACDs 2018 Annual Meeting
January 27-31, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee
Conference registration and more information can be found here. Early bird rates end December 15. 

Poster and Photo Contest Submissions
NACD will continue to accept entries for the 2017 Healthy Soils Are Full of Life poster and photo contests until  December 1, 2017 . Please email your state/territory's submissions to  stewardship@nacdnet.org  or mail them to NACD's Washington, D.C., headquarters. The winners will be recognized and have their art displayed at 2018 NACD's Annual Meeting in Nashville. For more information on the competition requirements, please  visit NACD's website .
ISDA News
Clean Water Indiana Grants Awarded by the State Soil Conservation Board
On October 31st, the SSCB voted to fund 14 grant proposals. More details about individual proposals will be coming soon. In the meantime, visit the ISDA site  for maps that show: 
USDA News
Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, encourages all producers to respond to the Census of Agriculture this December. 
USDA-NRCS News
  Indiana NRCS Invests Dollars to Help Protect and Restore Sensitive Lands
Indianapolis, IN, November 8, 2017 - State Conservationist Jane Hardisty announced that Indiana's USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is making funding available to help landowners protect and restore key farmlands, grasslands and wetlands across Indiana. The funding is provided through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), created by the 2014 Farm Bill to protect critical water resources and wildlife habitat, and encourage private owners to maintain land for farming. Eligible entities must submit applications for the current funding pool on or before January 12, 2018. Read more...

Webinar: Soil Microbes Every Agronomist Should Know
December 12 @ 2 pm (EST)
This webinar will focus on the challenges and benefits of managing soil biology rather than relying only on chemically based systems, along with the key roles that soil microbes play in agroecosystems. Read more...

NRCS Assistance for Organic Farmers Video
View this new, three-minute video to learn how NRCS conservationists across the country are helping organic farmers build healthy soil.

Don't Miss the latest NRCS SOIL HEALTH Update

No-Tillage November
Consider the benefits of no-tillage. No-till saves time, money (fuel) and wear and tear on farm equipment. No-till reduces the likelihood of soil runoff, keeping nutrients on the field and improving water quality. So improve so il health and #KeeptheStubble.   
Purdue Extension News
Bi-State Group hosting Three Programs During Winter
Purdue Extension and University of Illinois Extension are offering programming this winter for farmers, gardeners, and more throughout east central Illinois and west central Indiana  program beginning with the Crops Management Conference in Covington, IN on December 5. Read more...
Crops Conference
December 5, 2017
8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Gardening Conference
January 25, 2018
5:30 p.m.-9 p.m.
Grazing Workshop
February 8, 2018
5:30 p.m.-9 p.m.

Other News
Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM)
IDEM is starting work on the next revision of the  Indiana State Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Plan  (for 2019). They are asking for feedback on their program and work via  this survey . The Indiana State NPS Plan guides the usage of Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 319 funds.

Environmental Protection Agency: Hypoxia Task Force
The Hypoxia Task Force is releasing its  2017 Report to Congress on the actions the federal, state, and tribal members have taken toward the goal of reducing nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin and shrinking the size of the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone. Read more about the task force.

Call for Presentations for SWCS International Conference
The Soil and Water Conservation Society is seeking oral presentations, posters, symposia, and workshop submissions for the 73rd SWCS International Annual Conference. This year's conference theme of Culture, Climate, and Conservation celebrates New Mexico's vibrant culture, rich history, and diverse landscape, while allowing participants to experience the blend of traditional practices with modern conservation techniques. Submission Deadline: January 9, 2018. Poster Submission Deadline: March 9, 2018. Submit proposals here.

The Eppley Institute 
The Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands empowers parks and recreation professionals and nature enthusiasts with the knowledge, skills, and experience they need to protect natural resources and deliver important recreation services for communities across the nation and world. Read their latest newsletter.

Nominate a Master Farmer
This awards program is sponsored by Indiana Prairie Farmer and the Purdue University College of Agriculture. Judging is based on farming ability, leadership ability and overall family values. If you have a neighbor you look up to, this is the time to help them  get the recognition they deserve. Nominations are due Feb. 15, and the awards program will be held in conjunction with the 2018 Indiana Farm Management Tour in June. For more information or to download the application, click here

Indiana Lakes Management Society:  Seeking Abstracts
The ILMS is seeking abstracts for presentations at the 30th Annual
Indiana Lakes Management Conference. The conference will be held March 22-23, 2018 at the Potawatomi Inn at Pokagon State Park, Angola Indiana. The deadline to submit an abstract is Friday, December 1, 2017. If your abstract is accepted, you will be notified no later than December 15, 2017. Read more...



Soil and Water Conservation  Society 
2017 National Conference on C over Crops and Soil Health
December 7-8, 2017, Ind ianapolis, IN
This meeting will be a great opportunity to learn recent develop ments in how cover crops are being used by  in novative farmers across the country  and gain important insights on improving soil health from producers, conservation leaders, and scientists.  For more information and the registration link visit the SWCS Conference webpage.
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: 

November 23 - Holiday: Thanksgiving Day

November 30 - S-NE Region Meeting, Upland, IN

December 5 - N-NW Region Meeting, Crown Point, IN

December 7 - S-NW Region Meeting, Lebanon, IN

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

December 11- N-SE Region Meeting

December 12 - S-SE Region Meeting

December 14 - N-SW Region Meeting

January 7 - Indiana State Soil Conservation Board Meeting

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

January 27-31, 2018 - NACD Annual Conference, Nashville, TN

March 11- Daylight Saving Time Starts

March 20 - NACD Fly-In

March 22-23 - Indiana Lakes Management Conference

April 29-May 6, 2018 - NACD Stewardship Week
Current Job Openings *

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

Executive Director
Indiana Agriculture
 Nutrient Alliance

District Coordinator, 
Franklin County SWCD

Watershed Coordinator,
Wabash River Enhancement Corp

Invasive Species Technician,
Vanderburgh SWCD

Executive Director,
Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts

Research Analyst,
Field to Market

Conservation Project Manager,
Porter County SWCD

*(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 
Annual Conference Deadlines
December 1 
Early Bird registration rates end

December 30
 District Delegate registration due (Google form)
Received 
District Delegate Registration Forms from the following:
(as of 11/20)

Allen County
Bartholomew County 
Boone County
Clay County
Clinton County
Daviess County 
DeKalb County 
Delaware County 
Elkhart County
Gibson County
Harrison County 
Hendricks County 
Howard County
Huntington County 
Jay County
Knox County 
Lake County
Lawrence County 
Marshall County 
Monroe County
Montgomery County
Parke County
Pike County 
Porter County
Posey County 
Randolph County 
St Joseph County 
Starke County 
Steuben County 
Tipton County