News & Updates

August 2022

Important

Dates

Sept. 5 • SCD Closed (Labor Day)

Oct. 13 • Stormwater Workshop

Stormwater 101 Workshop

• SAVE THE DATE •

Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022 • 10:30 a.m. to noon

Hybrid Event

Conservation

Stewardship Awards

We're excited to start planning for the 2023 Conservation Stewardship Awards.

We're adding new categories, stay tuned for updates!

Learn More

Are You Prepared?

NOAA updated the Atlantic hurricane season outlook on Aug. 4, 2021.

The six-month season peaks from mid-August to late October and ends Nov. 30.

Learn More

Cost Share Updates

Approval letters will be mailed following the Board of Supervisors meeting on Aug. 23.

Cover Crop

• SCD received 285 applications for 182,788.2 acres of cover crop to be planted in Fall 2022

• Increase of 10,088.4 (5.8%) over last year’s signup.

• Goal is for 75,000 acres to be planted in Sussex County in Fall 2022.

• Over $4 million in cost share available. Funding is provided by the Delaware General Assembly through DDA and DNREC, Sussex County Council, DNREC (Non-Point Source Program and Chesapeake Bay Program) and USDA-NRCS.

• Cap is currently set at $75,000.

• Per acre rates increased; $60/acre for early planted and $50/acre for late-planted cover crops.

Tax Ditch

• Received 210 applications totaling $462,533.

• $429,693 in cost share Available. Funding provided by Sussex County Council and Delaware General Assembly through DNREC.

• Funding all applications for maintenance, weed wiper/spraying applications, mowing, and bonding. The Board of Supervisors raised the per mile mowing rate to $40.

• Cost share funding on maintenance applications capped at $15,000.

For tax ditch related concerns, contact Wes Allen, tax ditch project manager, 302-856-2105 ext. 119, or wes.allen@sussexconservation.org.

Speaker touts multi-use cover crop

Frederick County, Md., is getting serious about building an agricultural innovation center. A study commissioned by the county will be of obvious importance to Frederick, but it could be valuable to the entire region as it grapples with new ways to assist a challenging but vital farming community.

DON'T WAIT TO PLANT COVER CROPS

Give us a call to learn more about broadcasting or interseeding cover crops, (302) 856-3990, ext. 3

USDA Announces Funding for Partnerships to Protect and Restore Wetlands

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is investing up to $20 million in fiscal year 2023 to help conservation partners nationwide protect and restore critical wetlands through the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP). NRCS is prioritizing proposals that support efforts to mitigate climate change by restoring wetlands while also prioritizing assistance to underserved communities. Proposals from partners are due Sept. 23, 2022.

Learn More