Conservation INsight January 8, 2020

IASWCD News

2020 Annual Conference of Indiana SWCDs is this Weekend! Dates: January 12-14, 2020 Indianapolis Marriott Downtown The conference brochure has been posted on the IASWCD website/Annual Conference page .  #INSWCDConf *** NEW SUPERVISOR AND STAFF TRAINING - Sunday night (at conference): This session will provide a brief history of SWCD's, the basics of district operations, and a review of the partners and their roles. Sunday, January 12 5 pm - 6 pm

Indiana Conservation Awards presented at Closing Luncheon of 2020 Conference The 2019 Conservation Awards will be presented to all Indiana award recipients at the closing ceremony of the 2020 Annual Conference of Indiana SWCDs on January 14 at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, 12 noon. Jim Cerone, PerfectHost, will emcee the event and two award recipients remain anonymous until the event -- President's Award and the Supervisor of the Year Award. Tickets can be purchased the day of the event or now at the conference registration site .

Districts:  Schedule Your Legislative Visits  in January, February or March at the Indiana Statehouse IASWCD is offering to help coordinate visits to the Statehouse during the months of January through March. It is important that Districts meet with their local legislators to make our message of conservation heard, and teach them about your great work. A minimum of at least 3 people from a District must be committed to attend (any combination of Supervisors and/or Staff). The visit will include an overview of the legislative process, a quick tour of the Statehouse, and then meeting with your legislators. Click on the link for times, dates available and registration details.  (photo credit:  Indiana State Capitol Market St.  by  Daniel Schwen  is licensed under  CC-BY )

NACD News

NCF NAMES NEXT GENERATION LEADERSHIP COHORT WASHINGTON – Today, the National Conservation Foundation (NCF) announced the names of the seven participants in the inaugural cohort of the Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI). The Next Generation Leadership Institute was formally launched in August of 2019 as a year-long program to build future conservation leaders through comprehensive trainings. The 2020 NGLI cohort participants were selected through a competitive national application process. Read more

NACD APPLAUDS FEDERAL SUPPORT OF CONSERVATION PROGRAMS IN FUNDING BILLS WASHINGTON  – Today, Congress approved two funding packages for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 appropriations that will improve conservation delivery across the United States. “NACD applauds Congress for their work to strengthen funding for conservation programs,” NACD President Tim Palmer said. “These bills allocate additional funding needed across the country to provide both the staff and financial assistance essential to the nation’s nearly 3,000 conservation districts and the landowners and operators they support.” Read more

IDEM News

Winter 2019

USDA-NRCS News

USDA/NRCS's FREE Soils Planner for 2020 is now available New Poster…Free for the asking Hot off the press, USDA/NRCS’s Soils Planner for 2020 is now available for free by request at:  https://nrcspad.sc.egov.usda.gov/DistributionCenter/product.aspx?ProductID=1526. This year’s planner has been redesigned from the traditional look of a calendar to a two-sided poster. The poster still functions as a calendar (showing charts of days and months) as well as provides valuable information on Dynamic Soil Properties. The poster measures 2 feet by 3 feet, the perfect size for framing and hanging on the wall of an office, classroom, or science lab. It serves as a great learning tool for anyone with an interest in soil science.

Purdue Extension News

Farming Together Workshop: Enhancing Your Worth as a Farm Business Partner Great opportunity to help make the succession planning process a positive experience for all involved. View flyer

Farm Women are Decision Makers – Annie’s Project Prepares Them Well Course Starting in February in Hendricks & Putnam Counties Farm and ranch women are generating a cultural tide in American agriculture that is moving management, assets and opportunities to a new wave of farmers across the country. At Annie’s Project courses, farm women become empowered to be better business partners or sole operators through networks and by managing and organizing critical information.   Annie’s Project is a six-week course that is a discussion-based workshop bringing women together to learn from experts in production, financial management, human resources, marketing and the legal field. There's plenty of time for questions, sharing, reacting and connecting with presenters and fellow participants. It's a relaxed, fun and dynamic way to learn, grow and meet other farm women. Whether new or experienced, understanding the five areas of agricultural risk, knowing how to analyze agricultural spreadsheets and other necessary skills are vital. Learning them in a friendly environment where questions and discussion are welcomed, allow the learning process to flourish.   Annie’s Project courses have successfully reached more than 9,000 farm and ranch women in 33 states. The next one in your area begins on February 25 in Danville, IN. This program is being co-hosted by Purdue Extension in Hendricks County and Purdue Extension in Putnam County; therefore, classes will switch location throughout the course. A schedule of topics and meeting locations is attached to this email.   The cost for the course is $75 per person, which includes a workbook and support materials for all sessions. Course size is limited, so please register soon.     Linda, an Annie’s Project alumna says, “I took the class to gain a better understanding about agribusiness and how financial decisions impact our farm operation. I have a better understanding of balance sheets and the futures market…this class has improved communication with my spouse on concerns he works with on a daily basis.”   For more information contact Jenna Nees, Purdue Extension Educator and Adult Education Coordinator with the Putnam Co. SWCD at 765-653-8411 or  smith535@purdue.edu  Purdue University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution.

Other News

Seeking applicants for Indiana Agricultural Leadership Program Class 19 - Deadline January 17 Interested in growing your leadership ability? Now is the time to make that happen. Do you know a colleague or employee who could benefit from expanding their skills? Encourage them apply for ALP Class 19.  Read more

Scholarships Available for Farmers Participating in Indiana Agricultural Leadership Program Class 19 Danville, Ind. (Oct. 25, 2019) – The Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Corn Marketing Council will offer partial tuition scholarships for full time Indiana soybean and corn producers who are accepted to participate in the Indiana Agricultural Leadership Program (ALP). “Agriculture, Indiana’s largest industry, plays a profound and overriding role in every phase of Indiana life. The development of effective agricultural leaders and spokespersons is one of our greatest keys to progress,” says Joe Tuholski, Indiana Soybean Alliance chairman and farmer from Mill Creek, Ind. “It is important that we make this investment to ensure strong farmer leadership for now and into the future.” For additional information, please contact ALP Executive Director, Beth Archer, 317-745-0947 or  beth@agriinstitute.org  or ISA and ICMC Education and Training Director Hannah Vorsilak, at 317-644-2791 or hvorsilak@indianasoybean.com.

2020 CISMA Conference: Invasive Species and Watersheds March 26, 2020 Hamilton County Fairgrounds

More info and register

monthly eNewsletter Nature Play Day Registration is Now Open Register your nature event or camp today. Your event will be promoted by ICAN & be part of a statewide kids and nature initiative. Registration is free and all types of events and hosts are welcome! Get ideas for activities and events on our Host Resources page and tips for organizing individual or partner events! Register here

The HAT Soil Health Podcast- Soil Health Practices Just Make Sense Hoosier Ag Today, December 30 issue - Join HAT's Eric Pfeiffer for this month's HAT Soil Health Podcast presented by the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative. This month's podcast comes from the Indiana Farm Equipment and Technology Expo where Greensburg farmers Roger Wenning, Nick Wenning, and Kevin Horstman were on the seminar stage discussing their best soil health practices. In addition to the Wennings and Horstman, NRCS Soil Health Specialist Stephanie McLain and CCSI Conservation Agronomist Joe Rorick join us for the podcast as we discuss planting green, getting started with cover crops, and the resources available to beginning conservationists. Listen to podcast

Job Postings  : Current list of Conservation Job Opportunities now posted on the  IASWCD website. Note: Job Postings can be submitted to Amy Work at:  amy-work@iaswcd.org .  Please include job description and deadline to apply in a single PDF file or with a link.

Upcoming Conservation Events  : 2020: January 12-14 - Annual Indiana SWCD Conference, Indpls. February 8-13 - NACD Annual Conference, Las Vegas March 26 - CISMA Conference For a complete list of upcoming conservation events,  go to the Events Calendar on the IASWCD website .

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