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Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
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January 17, 2018 |
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Conservation Update
January 4 - January 17, 2018
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IASWCD News
THANK YOU to all who attended the
75th Annual Conference of Indiana SWCDs
on January 8-9.
Special thanks to our Sponsors and Exhibitors!
We could not host this great event
without your participation!
We hope that all those who attended came away with new ideas, information, education and new acquaintances.
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We Value Your Feedback: Conference Evaluation
Attendees, Exhibitors and Speakers: Please fill out the
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Congratulations to our
Conservation Award Recipients honored at the Annual Conference Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, January 9.
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Conservation Farmer of the Year
Kurt Voelkel
(Dubois County)
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Friend of Conservation: Corporate
Ceres Solutions Cooperative
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Honorary Recognition to Jane Hardisty upon her retirement
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Friend of Conservation: Individual
Tim McConaha
(Wayne County)
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Supervisor of the Year
Jon Roberts
(Kosciusko County)
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Friend of Conservation: Non-Profit
Scottsburg High School FFA
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District Showcase Recipients:
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Boone County SWCD
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Pike County SWCD
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Randolph County SWCD
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Warrick County SWCD
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SHOUT OUT***SHOUT OUT***SHOUT OUT***SHOUT OUT***SHOUT OUT
To the Boone County Soil and Water Conservation District
as they were
recognized in their local newspaper for their District Showcase Award. This award was presented at the 2018 Annual Conference of Indiana SWCDs to the
Boone County SWCD for their efforts in educating local landowners
via their use of "Conservation Plots." These plots are used to demonstrate conservation practices, mainly No-till and Cover Crops. The practices give local farmers a "hand-on" look at these practices.
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NACD News
Outreach to Urban Communities Webinar
 If one of your professional resolutions for 2018 is to reach a broader audience, tune in to the next NACD Urban and Community Conservation webinar. Scheduled for
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. EST on January 18, the topic is "Outreach to Urban Communities."
Registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. To register, email Debra Bogar at
deb-bogar@nacdnet.org
with your name, title, district or business name, state and email address. Information to access the webinar will be sent by email.
NACD Grant Opportunity Adds Three Positions in Indiana: Allen, Dubois and Washington County SWCDs
The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) is pleased to announce approval of the third round of technical assistance grants totaling slightly over $1 million to conservation districts and their state partners, funded in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). These grants are for technical assistance in priority locations with a high workload of Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) contracts or priority demand for conservation planning assistance. Read more...
NACD 2018 Annual Meeting
NACD is pleased to announce that Dr. Sam Clovis, senior White House adviser to the United States Department of Agriculture, will be providing the keynote address for Tuesday's general session. To learn more about the confirmed and invited speakers for their 2018 Annual Meeting in Nashville, January 27-31,
click here.
Advocating for Conservation Before the County Board
By Jason Weinerman, Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
Did you know that Minnesota's conservation districts are using new tools to work with their county boards to solicit more support, including additional funding, which will allow more conservation activities to be put on the ground?
The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources provides regional training events to introduce a systematic way by which districts can better understand themselves and communicate the benefits of a strong, well-funded conservation operation to the county board of commissioners. The conservation district advocacy tool box has a three pronged approach.
Read more...
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ISDA News
Clean Water Indiana 2018 Grant Summaries Posted
The overall snapshot and 2018 grant summaries are now posted on the ISDA website. Check it out!
Leadership Institute
The Indiana Conservation Partnership Leadership Institute is astatewide leadership development program established for Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors. Key District staff are invited to participate along with their supervisors. The program intends to improve District capacity to increase the quality of Indiana's soil, water and related natural resources.
Learn more...
Next workshop: February 23, 2018 - Board Development
Noble County Public Library, Albion, IN
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USDA-NRCS News
Retirement Party for Jane Hardisty
Come help honor Jane at her official retirement party
February 24
Reception: 4:30 pm
Dinner: 6:00 pm
Primo Banquet Hall and Conference Center, Indianapolis
Reservations being taken now!
Information and registration form can be found
here
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Or, register online
here.
RSVP must be received by February 7.
What Works in the Field - Web Conference
Don't miss the next installment of "What Works in the Field," a peer-to-peer web conference series for conservation planning staff and partners.
Producer Led Forums for Soil Health Implementation
January 23 @ 1:00 p.m. EST
Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP):
A Study of Voluntary Conservation's Impact across Our Nation's Working Lands
The CEAP is a joint effort led by NRCS in partnership with other federal agencies, universities, non-governmental organizations, and agricultural producers. CEAP quantifies the benefits of conservation practices impacting croplands, grazing lands, wetlands, wildlife, and watersheds across the nation. These assessments tell the story of voluntary conservation's success and growth over time. Read more...
Regional Conservation Partnership Program
The RCPP offers new opportunities for the NRCS, conservation partners and agricultural producers to work together to harness innovation, expand the conservation mission and demonstrate the value and efficacy of voluntary, private lands conservation. NRCS has selected 91 Regional Conservation Partnership Projects for funding in 2018. In all, NRCS plans to invest approximately $220 million in projects across the country. Read more and view the full list, by state, of 2018 RCPP Projects here.
USDA Seeks Applications for $10 Million in Conservation Innovation Grants
USDA is offering grants for innovative ideas for conservation strategies and technologies. USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) plans to invest $10 million in the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program, funding innovative conservation projects in three focus areas: grazing lands, organic systems and soil health. Grant proposals are due Feb. 26, 2018.
Read more...
Ag Census
The USDA conducts the Census of Agriculture every five years. The census is the only complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. The 2017 Ag Census surveys have been sent out. Complete this census by February 5 to be counted. Complete it online here.
FY18 Information Security Awareness Training in AgLearn
All NRCS Employees and Partners with USDA Access - this course must be completed by February 16. Information here.
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Other News
"Know How" Education Seminar
March 6 - Fishers, IN
March 7 - Ft. Wayne, IN
Two tracks will be featured at this educational seminar. Track #1: Quality, Conservation and Revenue. Track #2: Protecting Our Land and Water Resources.
For more information regarding the seminar and registration,
click here.
National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF)
 NWTF is again making a request for proposals for habitat and conservation related projects to provide financial assistance.
Proposals are due back to Ryan Boyer by February 26, 2018.
This year there is added emphasis on proposals that provide greater than a 1:1 match as well as increased number of partners participating on the project will be weighted heavily. Please keep this in mind when developing the proposals. Guidelines here and application here.
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