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Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
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March 29, 2017 |
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Conservation Update
March 16, 2017 - March 29, 2017
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IASWCD News
Annual Conference Planning Meeting
Interested in helping IASWCD plan for the 2018 Annual SWCD Conference?
The time commitment includes this April meeting and then a few hours after the meeting helping us contact speakers and fine-tuning the topics. If you are interested,
please RSVP to: Amy Work at amy-work@iaswcd.org
Conference Planning Meeting:
Monday, April 24
9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Indiana Farm Bureau Building, downtown Indianapolis
Annual Award Applications NOW POSTED!
Applications and information for all of the Annual Awards are posted on the
IASWCD website.
River Friendly Farmer applications due June 16
Pathway to Water Quality Work Days - Volunteers Needed
Pervious Prep: March 31 and April 6 @ 9 am
No need to RSVP, but please contact Gary Struben
gary.struben@in.usda.gov or 765-717-1314
with any questions or to get information regarding rescheduled dates due to weather.
Rounding Up PWQ Photos
In honor of the 25th Anniversary, Sara Peel is collecting pictures of past Pathway exhibits and volunteers. Please send any you would like to share to:
pathwaytowaterquality@gmail.com
More anniversary details to follow . . .
Shoutout
to
Steuben, LaGrange and DeKalb County SWCD's for sponsoring the annual conservation-related Tri-State Regional Science Fair at Trine University in Angola. Judges for this year's Conservation Awards were Martin Franke, LaGrange County SWCD, and Janel Meyer, Steuben County SWCD.
Three students from Northeast Indiana received a special Conservation Award during this fair. They were recognized for their outstanding science fair project dealing with natural resources conservation. Along with cash awards, the winners received a certificate of recognition issued by Trine University on behalf of the Conservation Districts.
CCSI
Core Cover Crops Training Workshops
These workshops have been d
eveloped for Indiana Conservation Partnership staff, farmer-mentors, agronomists, and other ag professionals. They are free to attend and will provide a foundation for understanding how cover crops can be incorporated into Midwestern cropping systems, including considerations for potential changes in nutrient and pest management.
To see all speakers, topics and the agenda visit the links below.
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NACD News
NACD Urban Agriculture Conservation Grant Initiative
NACD has partnered with NRCS once more on an urban agriculture conservation initiative. NACD will award $50,000 grants for up to 20 districts. The program is designed to enhance urban agriculture conservation technical assistance activities in districts with developed or predominantly developing land use. A special emphasis is being placed on underserved communities and food deserts.Both Hamilton and Marion County SWCDs received grants from this initiative last year.
Webinar to review this initiative and answer questions:
April 6 @ 12 noon EST
NACD is now accepting project proposals as directed in the RFP through May 14, 2017. Please contact
Debra Bogar with any questions.
"Healthy Soils Are Full of Life!" materials now available for download or place order for printed materials
Click here
to be redirected to NACD's Marketplace where the 2017 stewardship and education materials are available for FREE download.
NEW! Place Order for Print-On-Demand materials:
NACD is now taking printing requests for Healthy Soils are Full of Life! materials Learn more...
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ISDA News
N
ext Meeting: Monday, May 22
Section 319 Grant Solicitation for State of Indiana
This information has recently been updated, and is now available.
Hope you were able to attend one of the four
Spring Region Meetings held in March!
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NE Spring Region Meeting. Group from Benton County SWCD (L to R): Chrissie McCutcheon, Norb Cyr, Bill Hoffmeyer, Dave Wellschurack, and Leslie Fisher
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USDA-NRCS News
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USDA Seeks Project Proposals to Protect and Restore Critical Wetlands
Acting Deputy Agriculture Secretary Michael Young announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing up to $15 million in technical and financial assistance to help eligible conservation partners voluntarily protect, restore and enhance critical wetlands on agricultural lands. Restored wetlands improve water quality downstream and improve wildlife habitat, while also providing flood prevention and recreational benefits to communities.
Funding will be provided through the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP), part of the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), a Farm Bill conservation program. The partnership is administered by USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the leading federal agency for wetland conservation on private lands. Through WREP, states, local units of governments, non-governmental organizations and American Indian tribes collaborate with NRCS through cooperative and partnership agreements. These partners work with tribal and private landowners who voluntarily enroll eligible land into easements to protect, restore and enhance wetlands on their properties.
Proposals must be submitted to NRCS state offices by April 24, 2017. More information is available on the ACEP webpage. Read more . . .
Webinar Series about Project Applications for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)
In January 2017, USDA invited potential conservation partners to submit project applications for federal funding through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).
Through this fourth RCPP Announcement for Program Funding (APF), USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will award up to $252 million to locally driven, public-private partnerships that improve the nation's water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability. Applicants must match or exceed the federal award with private or local funds.
The NRCS will host a
webinar for potential applicants to assist with pre-proposals, due April 21, 2017. The webinar will introduce participants to the NRCS and its programs, discuss the RCPP and APF requirements, and offer best practices for project applications.
The NRCS will offer the webinar from 2:00 - 3:30 PM Eastern Time on March 22, 2017 and
April 5, 2017. Read more and register here.
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IDEA News
Save the Date! IDEA Fall Conference
October 11-13, 2017 in West Lafayette
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Purdue Extension
Training: Native Warm Season Grass Establishment and Management
May 16 - West Lafayette, IN
May 18 - Farmland, IN
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Resources
Funding Opportunity with EPRI
The Ohio River Basin Water Quality Trade Initiative project seeks forestry (i.e. tree planting) as a best management practices to reduce nutrient runoff and enhance ecosystem function on farmland in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. The project will also consider funding non-forestry practices that complement the forestry practice to further reduce nutrient runoff.
Read more...
Indiana Water Monitoring Council Educational Materials
Do you or your organization ever find yourself looking for great content for your next newsletter? Or maybe you find yourself wishing you had easy access to simple summaries of complex water resource topics in order to help your colleagues, clients, students, family or whoever understand water issues? The Indiana Water Monitoring Council has prepared 'short and sweet' summaries to help people grow their understanding of common water issues like nutrients, pathogens, fish advisories, arsenic, etc. These issue papers are less than a page in length and include links to important supporting resources for those that want to know more. Check out these free resources and take advantage of them in your outreach effort!
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Other News
Monarch Wings Across the Eastern Broadleaf Forest Project
The Pollinator Partnership and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have joined forces to launch the Monarch Wings Across the Eastern Broadleaf Forest Project and we need your help! The Project is seed collecting throughout the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Arkansas and Missouri. We are looking for enthusiastic seed collecting volunteers in all 5 states to help identify and collect milkweed and other common nectar plants. As a seed collecting volunteer you will be provided with training.
Read more...
Stream Simulation Training - SAVE THE DATE!
October 23-27 (4.5 days)
Bloomington, IN
Registration will open in May
Women in Agribusiness accepting Nominations for Award
The Women in Agribusiness Demeter Award of Excellence recognizes companies and individuals whose achievements further their mission of attracting and advancing women in the ag and food sector and that exemplify the belief that nurturing gender diversity is in a company's and the industry's best interests.
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