Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
September 28, 2016
Conservation Update

September 15 - September 28, 2016
 

IASWCD News
Four Districts Named as 2016 District Showcase Winners 
Please congratulate these districts for their hard work and extraordinary conservation efforts. We look forward to showcasing these districts to those who attend the 2017 Annual SWCD Conference, January 23-24. 

2016 Winners include:
  • Washington County
  • Jennings County
  • Hamilton County
  • Huntington, Wells, Blackford, Wabash & Grant Counties
Special "Shout Out" to Kevin Allison, Marion County SWCD 
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Kevin Allison, Marion County SWCD Urban Soil Health Specialist, was featured along with Tyler Gough, manager of Indy Urban Acres, in the NACD eResource, April 19 edition. Their organizations sponsored and they led a Soil Health and Cover Crops Outdoor Learning Session which was featured as an event that brought together local growers in a mostly urban area to better understand cover crops and how they can help repair soils. The session allowed them to feature four types of cover crops and further discuss conservation efforts. See more . . .
NACD News  
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 .

Senate Introduces Bill to Improve Access to  Conservation Assistance
Sens. Amy Klobuchar. D-Minn., and John Boozman, R-Ark., introduced a companion bill last week that would exempt landowners participating in voluntary conservation programs from SAM and DUNS reporting requirements.
"The best conservation on the ground today was put there through voluntary efforts by American producers," NACD CEO Jeremy Peters said. "It's time we recognize that and remove the barriers to participating in NRCS' incentive-based programs, starting with the SAM and DUNS requirements."  To read NACD's press release on the bill,  click here
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NRCS News
National Cooperative Soil Survey Newsletter
The August edition of the National Cooperative Soil Survey Newsletter has been posted. The current or past editions can be viewed  here

Also, if you have any comments or concerns regarding the Draft Strategic Plan for the National Cooperative Soil Survey, please send them to David Lindo, Director of the NRCS Soil Science Division, at  [email protected] by October 1, 2016. The Draft Strategic Plan can be viewed here

Information Security Awareness (ISA) Training
All USDA employees, partners, TSPs, volunteers and contractors who have access to a CCE compliant computer must complete the mandatory annual information security awareness (ISA) training. This training is required by law and is an essential part of keeping the information systems secure. The FY17 ISA course will be assigned to AgLearn user accounts on October 1, 2016. The NRCS deadline for completing this training is February 1, 2017. Those who do not complete the training by this deadline will have their access to USDA computer systems suspended until the training is complete.  See more . . .
ISDA News
Spring Region Training Dates Announced - SAVE THE DATE!
Oops! CORRECTION TO SOUTHEAST DATE (SEE BELOW)

 
March 2: SW                      March 16: NW
March 9: SE                       March 23: NE
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.

Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy
If you are interested in water quality and watersheds, consider applying for the 2017 Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy. Learn to be a Leader in Watershed Management.   Enroll now to improve your watershed management skills.

Applications now being accepted online for the academy The Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy, organized by Purdue University with support from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and other Indiana conservation agencies and organizations, gives participants the chance to: 
  • Engage in basic and advanced level watershed topics covering leadership principles, watershed science, organization and communication, technology and GIS, stakeholder involvement techniques and policy skills
  • Meet, learn from, and build a network of peers
  • Interact with topic experts
  • Gain strategies, skills, and resources for successful watershed management
  • Earn a Professional Certificate in Watershed Management
Enrollment deadline: November 4, 2016
For the online application and information about the Academy, visit  https://engineering.purdue.edu/watersheds/academy.html
Academy Fee: $700, due on December 16, 2016 (includes lodging and food for overnight and one-day workshops, plus all course materials). Training includes three face-to-face group sessions and distance learning, online (approximately 3-4 hrs/week). The Academy runs from January to May, 2017.  Specific workshop dates are January 18-19, April 5-6, and May 24, 2017.  Participants who complete all requirements earn a Purdue University Professional Certificate in Watershed Management.  Purdue Continuing Education Units are also available for an additional $15 fee.  For more information and to fill out the application, please contact Sara Peel,   [email protected]  or see the Academy Web Page.

Purdue Extension
Beginning Farmer: Veteran Tour
October 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Spencer, IN. More details...

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
IN District Employee Association (IDEA)
2016 Fall Conference - Register Now!
Register for the IDEA Fall Conference scheduled for October 5-7, 2016 using this  Eventbrite link . Also, fill out the  registration form  and mail along with a check to Cindy  N ewkirk, IDEA Treasurer (address on the form).  The confer ence will be held at the Oakwood Resort in Syracuse, IN. When reserving your room, please inform the resort that you are attending the IDEA conference. Cost: $119/night. 

Hoosier Chapter Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS)
Annual Meeting
November 10, 2016
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Hulman River House at the Indianapolis Zoo
Registration deadline October 27. 
Register here or v iew the flyer here with all the details.  View the latest Hoosier Chapter SWCS Fall Newsletter

Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center
View the 2016 Indiana State Fair Recap including a link to all 2016 official results. 

The Indiana Forestry Educational Foundation
IFEF is pleased to announce the availability of competitive grant funds to help educate and inform the public about forestry and Indiana forestry related topics. Details regarding these IFEF grants can be found on the IASWCD website. Deadline October 1. 
Resources
Ron Culberson, Author & Speaker, Do It Well. Make it Fun.
"It's All in Your Head...Sort Of"
Part 2 - Using Humor as a Stress Intervention Tool
This is the second of a two part article on stress management by Ron Culberson, MSW, CSP, keynote speaker at the Power of Us all employee meeting in May. Here he challenges readers to get into a regular routine of healthy humor habits  as a way to deal with stress when things get out of control.  Read full article here. Or, follow Ron's Blog.
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: 

October 5-7 - IDEA Fall Conference

October 8 - Indiana Campfires: Trail Creek, LaPorte County SWCD

October 11 - Pasture Workshop, Floyd Co. SWCD

October 15 - Controlled Burn Crew Volunteer, Niches Land Trust, Delphi

October 15 - Beginning Farmer: Veteran Tour

October 25 - Women's Learning Circle, Nappanee

October 26 - SE, Two Stage Ditch Workshop, Posey & Vanderburgh SWCD

October 26 - ICP Forestry Training

October 29 - Forestry and Wildlife Habitat Field Day, Tippecanoe County SWCD

November 2 - Two-Stage Ditch Workshop, Posey County SWCD

November 3 - Bee Workshop, Newton County SWCD

November 3 - Farming for the Future, Jasper County SWCD

November 10 - Hoosier Chapter SWCS Annual Meeting

November 16-17 - Partners in Community Forestry Conference

November 17 - Forestry Field Day, Elkhart County SWCD

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

January 23-24 - SWCD Annual Conference, Indianapolis

January 28-February 2 - NACD Annual Meeting

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

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


Urban Conservationist,
Marion County

*(Note: please submit job openings to: 
and include instructions for applying, deadline and job description in a single PDF file. Thank you.)
Special Thank You to the 89 Districts who have Paid Annual Dues as of 09/27/16:
  Adams
Allen
Bartholomew
Benton
Blackford
Boone
Brown
Carroll
Cass
Clark
Clay
Clinton
Crawford
Daviess
Dearborn
Decatur
DeKalb
Delaware
Dubois
Elkhart
Floyd
Fountain
Franklin
Fulton
Gibson
Grant
Greene
Hamilton
Hancock
Harrison
Hendricks
Henry
Huntington
Howard
Jackson
Jasper
Jay
Jefferson
Jennings
Johnson
Kosciusko
Knox
LaGrange
Lake
LaPorte
Lawrence
Madison
Marion
Marshall
Miami
Monroe
Montgomery
Morgan
Newton
Noble
Orange
Owen
Parke
Perry
Pike
Porter
Posey
Pulaski
Putnam
Randolph
Ripley
Rush
Scott
Shelby
Spencer
St. Joseph
Starke
Steuben
Sullivan
Switzerland
Tippecanoe
Tipton
Union
Vanderburgh
Vermilliion
Vigo
Wabash
Warren
Warrick
Washington
Wayne
Wells
White
Whitley