Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
November 9, 2016
Conservation Update

October 27 - November 9, 2016
 


IASWCD News
Shout Out to Ron Orebaugh
Congratulations to Mr. Ron Orebaugh, Chairman of the Delaware County SWCD, as he was selected by Ball Brothers Foundation to be the 2016 winner of the John W. and Janice B. Fisher Governance Award. This award was presented at 
the  Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce dinner on October 27. 
This annual award recognizes outstanding service of a board member to a 
Delaware County nonprofit organization. "Ball Brothers Foundation is pleased to recognize Ron Orebaugh for his leadership and for his vision. All over our community, volunteers are working to impact our community in positive ways. In many cases they work diligently behind-the-scenes and with no recognition. The Fisher Governance Award gives us  the chance to recognize the outstanding contributions of board members like Ron Orebaugh," said Jud Fisher, President & COO of Ball Brothers Foundation. During the Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner, Orebaugh was presented with a handcrafted glass award created by Brent Cole of the Glick Center for Glass at Ball State University. Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District will also receive an award of $10,000 in Orebaugh's name. Read full release here
 
Supervisor Scholarship Applications due November 14
Please complete and mail the documents (application and cover letter) to the IASWCD office or email to amy-work@iaswcd.org by end of business day, November 14. 
The scholarship application and all conference documents and details can be found on the 
.

Contribution Agreement Webinar 
The October 27 PSS-CRP webinar is now posted on the IASWCD website on the Districts Resources page. The PSS-CRP District Interest Survey is due by November 18. All attachments, the survey and FAQs are posted on the site as well. 

Signs for the Local SWCD 2016 Annual Award Winners
Farm Credit Services is once again offering a sign to each soil and water conservation district who has a local "conservation farmer of the year" or "cooperator of the year" award. This would be for your 2016 winner and the sign would be presented at your local 2017 SWCD Annual Meeting. An online survey will need to be completed by November 30 in order to receive these signs. For more information click here

2017 Indiana Legislative Session Statehouse Visits
IASWCD is offering to coordinate visits to the Indiana Statehouse during February and March. These visits will provide an overview of the legislative process, a tour as well as a meet and greet time with your legislators. Dates, details and registration information can be found   here .

Fall Region Meetings
November 17 - 5:30pm-8:30pm EST
Location: Stolls Lakeview Restaurant, Loogootee, IN 

November 29 - 6pm-8:30pm EST
Location: Tippecanoe Co Public Library, Wyandotte Branch, 5542 E 50 S, Lafayette, IN 47905

December 6 - 6pm-8:30pm EST
Location: Bartholomew County Fairgrounds

December 7 - 6pm-8:30pm CST
Location: Whitley County Fairgrounds - 4H Community Center, 680 Squawbuck Road, Columbia City, IN 46725

Delegates for the 2017 IASWCD Business Meeting
Each SWCD in good standing (fully paid annual dues) with the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Inc. will have the opportunity to send one SWCD Supervisor delegate to the IASWCD Business Meeting during Annual Conference in January at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown.  All such delegates and alternates shall be officially elected and/or appointed supervisors or associate supervisors. If the district registers a delegate by January 14, 2017, that delegate will be required to attend the IASWCD Business Meeting on Tuesday, January 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. This year Delegate Registration Forms may be submitted via mail, email or Google Form. For more details and to access the forms, please visit the IASW CD website .

2017 Annual SWCD Conference - Registratio n now LIVE! 
Registration page and information can be found on the IASWCD website .  

Is there someone you know that would a make a great exhibitor at the conference in January 2017? If so, have them contact amy-work@iaswcd.org or steer them to the IASWCD website Annual Conference Trade Show page

2017 IASWCD Business Meeting - January 24, 2017
Resolution
This business meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 24 at 9:00 a.m. (EST). One resolution has been submitted and can be viewed on the IASWCD website.

Slate of Officers
The 2017 Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts slate of officers was approved on November 4, 2016. The following individuals have been nominated.  Delegates will vote on the election at the IASWCD Business Meeting.
  • For President: Jamie Scott (Kosciusko County)
  • For Vice-President: Roger Wenning (Decatur County) and Bobby Hettmansperger (Wabash County)
  • For Secretary: Kerry Ames (Putnam County)
  • For Treasurer: Jeff Baker (Warrick County)
NACD News  
The Resource Now Available
NACD's Quarterly Publication, The Resource, is now available online. In this fall issue, you will find information regarding:
  • What to Expect After the Elections
  • Our very own North Central Region Representative - Beth Mason featured
  • The NACD & NACD Auxiliary Poster and Photo Contest
  • NACD's Farm Bill Survey Results
  • Highlights and Speaker Information for the upcoming NACD Conference in Denver
Annual Conference Registration  Open  
NACD's 2017 Annual Meeting will be held in Denver, Colorado, at the  Sheraton -  Dow ntown Denver  from January 28 to February 1, 2017. View more d etails and register here .

Tour the Headwaters State
As part of NACD's 2017 Annual Meeting in Denver, attendees are being offered the chance to take a scenic tour through the Rocky Mountains to visit some of Colorado's 17 headwater rivers.  The Wednesday tour will start with a bus ride to the Continental Divide at the summit of Berthoud Pass (11,307 feet in elevation) where tour speakers will explain how annual snowfall levels and snowpack on Colorado's peaks affect the state and at least eighteen others.  Attendees will also hear about Colorado's many Trans-Mountain Diversions - pipelines that move the state's water from the western slope to the eastern front range of Colorado - as well as western water law, private property water rights, and river compact requirements. In addition, this tour will include a presentation on the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation - a plague that has devastated federally owned forestland in Grand County.  Click here  to learn more about the Headwaters State tour and all of the other tours NACD's 2017 Annual Meeting has to offer!
USDA-NRCS News
Nominate an Environmental Steward 
Nominations for the 27th annual Environmental Stewardship Award of the  National Cattlemen's Foundation  will be due in early March. This award recognizes producers whose management benefits both the environment and the bottom line. The program is funded by Dow AgroSciences, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Any organization, group or individual may nominate a U.S. cow-calf producer, stocker operator or cattle feeder. From the field of nominees, seven regional winners are selected by an expert panel comprised of industry representatives. For more information, click here.

Proposals being accepted for $25 Million in Conservation Innovation Grants
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on November 3 that USDA is seeking new proposals for cutting-edge projects that will provide new conservation opportunities through its competitive Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. Through USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the department will invest up to $25 million for projects that spark the development and adoption of innovative conservation technologies and approaches in areas like conservation finance, data analytics, and precision conservation to benefit producers on private agricultural and forest lands. See more ...

Area Meetings - SAVE THE DATE!
NRCS Area meetings:
NE meeting: December 6
NW meeting: December 7
SE meeting: December 14
SW meeting: December 15

This will be a chance to ask further questions or get clarification regarding contribution agreements for FY 2017 for Farm Bill program assistance.
ISDA News
Clean Water Indiana Grants Awarded to 34 Counties
The Indiana State Department of Agric ulture (ISDA) and the State Soil Conservation Board (SSCB) recently awarded $938,651 i n Clean Water Indiana (CWI) grants to 34 Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) across the state. The purpose of these grants is to seek new ways to protect Indiana's drinking water, improve water quality statewide and raise awareness about the impact of land use on the state's water resources.
Partner News
Purdue University
Soil, Water and Cropping Systems Forum: 
How Purdue is Moving Ag Forward in Sustainable Ways
Interactive program on Friday, November 18 (Eastern time) with Purdue Extension educators, campus specialists, and Extension partners from throughout the state informing partners of the work Purdue is  doing in soil health, ag water management, cropping systems, and nutrient management. Lunch will be provided.
9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at the  Hendricks County Fairgrounds Conference Center, 1900 Main Street, Danville, IN 46122. For more information, contact:  Walt Sell
Assistant Program Leader, Soil Health Purdue Extension (765) 494-8490
Register Online Now  for the forum.

Purdue University - Department of Forestry and Natural Resouces
Publications, apps and videos are available on the web through the Purdue Extension resource center/ The Education Store ,  www.edustore.purdue.edu  , (888-EXT-INFO). A list of all Purdue Extension-FNR publications can be found here.

Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Partners in Community Forestry Conference
November 16-17
Indianapolis Marriott Downtown
Conference details including the agenda, click here
Ot her News
The National Association of State Conservation Agencies
NASCA is hosting a free webinar on November 15 at 10:00 am EST on tips and ideas for working with non-governmental organizations for conservation delivery. Tune in to hear straight from the leaders of national conservation organizations how they successfully build partnerships with state conservation agencies, conservation districts, NRCS, and other partners. Register to  join the conversation here !

Soil and Water Conservation Society

SWCS is now accepting abstracts for their 72nd International Annual Conference. 
To view the full Call for Presentations and instructions on how to submit your proposal, click here.  

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: January 9, 2017
POSTER DEADLINE: March 10, 2017
For more information or to submit your proposal: www.swcs.org/17ac

CONFERENCE SUBMISSION TRACKS
This year's conference includes four tracks for submission. Special consideration will be given to proposals addressing new insights, techniques, and/or advancements in the eight traditional areas of focus outlined under general conference submissions. 
  • Benefits and Challenges of Public and Private Conservation Partnerships
  • Extreme Weather and Its Impact on Conservation
  • Field to Watershed: Connecting Local Scale Influences to Larger Scale Significance
  • 2017 General Conference Submissions - Conservation Connections: Creating Pathways to Sustainability  
* Adaptive Management of Conservation Efforts
* Conservation Economics and Policy
* Conservation Models, Tools, and Technologies
* Conservation in Organic, Specialty, and Small-Scale Agriculture
* Outreach, Education, and Community Engagement
* Social Sciences Informing Conservation
* Soil Health Resources, Indicators, Assessment, and Management
* Water Resource Assessment and Management

National Conservation Planning Partnership
The NCPP is engaged in an effort to reinvigorate the conservation planning component of advancing natural resources conservation in this nation. They have collected survey information from almost 1000 conservation district officials, many of whom are farmers/ranchers. Now they want to reach those that are NOT conservation district officials.  The link to the survey is here .  Please share this with farmers in your county if possible.   

Indiana Envirothon
The 2017 Indiana Envirothon booklet and registration sheet are now available on the IASWCD website.  Anyone interested in learning more or volunteering, please contact your regional coordinator or an Indiana Envirothon officer (listed on page 4 of the booklet).

All Lake Enthusiasts and Natural Resources/Water Quality Professionals:
The Indiana Lakes Management Society is seeking abstracts for presentations at the 29th Annual Indiana Lakes Management Annual Conference.  The conference will be held March 2 and 3, 2017 at Four Winds Lakeside Inn and Marina, Bloomington Indiana. The deadline to submit an abstract is Friday, December 2, 2016.  If your abstract is accepted, you will be notified no later than December 16.
They are looking for presentations covering any of the following topics:
  •          Water Quality
  •          Fish
  •          Drawdown Logistics and Effects
  •          Grants and Fundraising
  •          Nuisance Flora and Fauna
  •          Partnerships
  •          Increasing Community Involvement
  •          Legislation
If you are involved in water quality assessment, lake community development, best management practice implementation, community water body monitoring, simply enjoy working with your lake association and/or community then consider sharing your experience and expertise at the 29th annual Indiana Lakes Management Conference.  
They invite presentations that deal with all aspects of the management, protection, and restoration of lakes, reservoirs and watersheds.  All formats (oral or poster) are welcome with oral presentations being accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation, if possible. Please submit abstracts electronically via email to Elizabeth Tompkins at elizabeth.tompkins@indianalakes.org  For more details regarding submission, click here
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 10 - Hoosier Chapter SWCS Annual Meeting

November 10 - Manure Management Workshop

November 14 - Cover Crop Field Day, Posey County

November 16-17 - Partners in Community Forestry Conference

November 17 - Forestry Field Day, Elkhart County SWCD

November 17 - Fall Region Meeting (IASWCD) for N-Southwest/S-Southwest

November 18 - Soil, Water & Cropping Systems Forum, Purdue

November 29 -  Fall Region Meeting (IASWCD) for N-Northwest/S-Northwest

December 6 - Fall Region Meeting (IASWCD) for N-Southeast/S-Southeast

December 7 - Fall Region Meeting (IASWCD) for N-Northeast/S-Northeast

December 13-14 - Indiana Certified Crop Advisers Conference

January 10-13 - National No-Till Conference

January 18-19, April 5-6, May 24 - Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy, Purdue University

January 23-24 - SWCD Annual Conference, Indianapolis

January 28-February 2 - NACD Annual Meeting

January 31 - Annual Southern Regional Soil Health Workshop

March 2-4 - Small Farm Conference
Current Job Openings *

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


*(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.)
District Showcase Award Visits

TWO VISITS REMAINING . . . Please join us as ICP leaders and other s visit and tour the four
District Showcase  Award winners in November:

~November 14 at 9:00 a.m. Washington County
Location: Washington County Senior Citizen Center, 1705 N. Shelby St., Salem, IN 47167 

~November 17 at 9:00 a.m. Hamilton County
Location: The John Hensel Government Center, 10701 N. College Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46280

Congratulations to the following 34 Districts Awarded Clean Water Indiana Grants

  Adams (Wells): $107,540
  
Clark: $3,241 
 
Crawford: $1,200 
 DeKalb (Steuben): $119,875 

 Delaware (Blackford, Grant, Randolph): $123,303
  
Hamilton (Boone, Clinton, Madison): $55,000 
 Hancock (Henry): $51,000 

 Jasper (Benton, Newton): $26,450 

 Knox: $12,000 
 Kosciusko $86,331 
 Marion (Hendricks): $80,000 

 Monroe (Brown, Greene, Owen): $61,710
  
Parke (Vermillion): $75,000 

 Spencer (Perry): $6,000

  Washington (Jackson): $85,000

  Wells (Huntington): $45,000