Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
June 8, 2016
Conservation Update

May 26 - June 8, 2016
 

IASWCD News
River Friendly Farmer logo
River-Friendly Farmer Awards
Due NEXT WEEK! - JUNE 17

Applications and signature pages are due by  June 17 . Applications must be submitted online through this  Google Application Form . (Please note: you can download the full list of questions in  word format  to copy/paste from and into the online google form if you prefer.) The  Signature Page  must be mailed or emailed as well. Further details can be found at the  IASWCD website.

2016 SWCD Resolution Process
All resolutions are due to the IASWCD office by September 9 .  
Resolution documents can be found here. Within these documents is  an update on resolutions from 2012-2016.  Those noted with an asterisk will be sunset unless they are brought forth again during this process.

If you need any assistance or feedback on a draft resolution, please let Jennifer know.

Also, please remember that in order to have a delegate at the annual business meeting, which will be  January 24, 2017, the SWCD must be a member in good standing (dues must be paid by  September 30, 2016).
Training

ICP Training and Certification

Pasture Plant ID & Grazing Management Workshop
Deadline June 21 

Location: Bedford IN, Feldun Purdue Agricultural Center
Date:  June 28, 2016
Time:  9:30AM-2:30PM EDT
Registration and Information:  http://pastureandgrazingworkshop.eventbrite.com

The ICP Training and Certification Training Program Team is planning this workshop.
Funding

NACD Grant Proposal
NACD has partnered with NRCS to award $50,000 grants for up to 20 districts. Grant funds are designed for urban agriculture conservation technical assistance activities in districts with developed or predominantly developing land use along with a special emphasis on underserved communities and food deserts.

The Urban and Community webinar from May 19 which reviewed this initiative and answered questions was recorded and posted at:  www.nacdnet.org/policy/urban/webinars .

More Information provided in the Request for Proposal (RFP) .

Deadline: NACD is now accepting project proposals as directed in the RFP through June 30, 2016. 

Please contact Debra Bogar ( deb-bogar@nacdnet.org)  with any questions.  

Indiana NRCS Accepting Second Round Applications for Two Watersheds in Indiana
Jane Hardisty, State Conservationist for Indiana's USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced that NRCS is accepting applications until June 13 to be considered for second round funding to improve water quality in targeted watersheds throughout Indiana.  Additional dollars are available for the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI) and National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI).  These initiatives help improve water quality and strengthen agricultural operations.  Funding for each of these initiatives comes from the Farm Bill's Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). View more details here.
NRCS News

NRCS Soil Health Update -  read the latest national  Soil Health Update

Monarch  Butterfly Habitat Development Project
monarch_in_flight.jpg
This EQIP initiative will allow NRCS to work with partners and clients to increase monarch habitat on private agriculture lands. This effort is focused on planting milkweed and other nectar-rich forbs and reducing pesticide use in proximity to monarch habitat through the EQIP program. All counties in Indiana are eligible for this project. Applications must be received by June 17, 2016 to be considered for current funding. Click here for more information. 
Partner News

Indiana District Employees Association (IDEA)
The NACD Poster Contest is underway! This year's theme is "We All Need Trees." Posters are to be received at the IASWCD Office at 225 S East Street, Ste. 740, Indianapolis, IN 46202 by  Friday, June 10 or sent with your IDEA region director for judging. Please see full list of rules  here

NACD Webinar
This month's   NACD Urban and Community Conservation Webinar, sponsored by Scotts Miracle-Gro, will feature two district success stories in community outreach on  June 16 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm EST. 
First, the  Benton SWCD in Oregon will share how they promote interest in urban conservation with an annual tour of riparian and in-stream restoration projects. Next, you'll hear from Pennsylvania's  Blair CD on how to raise "conservation conscious citizens" with conservation work in the classroom and in the field. 
There is no cost to participate in the webinar, but space is limited and registration is required. To RSVP, email  Deb-Bogar@nacdnet.org
 with your name, title, district (or business) name, and state.

Environmental Education Association
The Environmental Education Association of Indiana is holding their annual conference June 17-19 in Wayne County!  It is a great opportunity to learn and see what is going on with environmental education in Indiana, the nation, and the world!  For additional information check out the flyer   or go to the website .

Pathway to Water Quality
 *** Sign up NOW!***
Pathway logo
                                                                                                Individual volunteer sign-up for staffing Pathway to Wa ter Quality will open at 8  a.m. on Wednesday, June 1st. The state fair will ru n from August 5th to August 21st.  For any questions please contact the PWQ Coordinator, Sara Peel  at  pathwaytowaterquality@gmail.com

On September 30, INCA, including co-chairs Jim Sweeney and John Ulmer, along with the steering committee which includes the IASWCD, will be hosting a Conservation Congress at the Abe Martin Lodge in Brown County. This event is replacing this years Conservation Day at the Statehouse, during the  "short" non-budget legislative session.
Other News

AgroEnviron 2016
The 10th International Symposium of Agriculture and the Environment took place May 23-27, 2016 at Purdue University, West Lafayette. 

The symposium included scientists and researchers from all over the world. On Wednesday, during the symposium, the Conservation Innovation Tour was hosted by NRCS and Mike Starkey at Starkey Farms in Brownsburg. 
May 25 - Agro Environ 2016, Mike Starkey farm                            May 25 - AgroEnviron 2016, Mike Starkey Farm May 25- AgroEnviron 2016, Mike Starkey Farm




Great Lakes Commission 
The  Great Lakes Commission  is making available a series of resources to assist municipalities in meeting the financial and ecological challenges of managing
water services. The resources include information on the benefits of integrated water management and green infrastructureguidebooks, reports and fact sheets for municipal decision makersan interactive Green Infrastructure Optimization Tool; and videos highlighting the challenges of providing water services and how green infrastructure and water conservation can helpRead more

Long Time Supervisor, Lyle Burtsfield, Passes Away 
It is with heavy hearts that the Elkhart County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors and Staff want to inform you of the passing of long time Supervisor, Lyle Burtsfield.  On Thursday, June 2, 2016 Lyle was weed eating around his irrigation intake and apparently suffered a fatal heart attack.  Services were held Monday morning. Lyle was affiliated with the SWCD for 34 years, the past 30 as a Supervisor. He also served as NE Region Representative to IASWCD for several terms. Lyle was one of the original no-till farmers in the county, and was known and loved by many. He was proceeded in death by his wife, Nancy, who was active in the IASWCD Auxiliary. He is survived by two children, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Online Condolences can be shared here

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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. 

Here are just a few highlighted below:

June 15 - Wildlife Habitat Tour

June 20-26 Pollinator Week

July 21 - Maintaining Right of Ways for Monarch, Pollinators and Safe Energy Delivery 

August 3-4 - North American Manure Expo

August 5-21 - Indiana State Fair

August 17 - River Friendly Farmer Awards Event

August 17 - Miami Co. SWCD Cover Crop Workshop

August 19 - "Communication" Cornerstone: Leadership Institute Workshop

August 23 - Marshall SWCD field day

August 23 - Supervisor Summit

August 23 - IDEA Staff Summit

August 25 - Wabash SWCD field day

September 7 - Forage Management Workshop
Current Job Openings *

Upper Wabash Program Director  with The Nature Conservancy -- deadline to submit is 11:59 p.m. EST on June 13,  2016 

Director of Conservation Planning with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources - apply before June 25 

*(Note: please submit job openings to 
amy-work@iaswcd.org 
and include instructions for applying, deadline and job description in a single PDF file. Thank you.)
Upcoming Award Reminders

River Friendly Farmer

-deadline June 17

 

District Showcase

 -deadline August 4

 

Conservation Farmer of the Year - deadline September 9


 

Friend of Conservation

- deadline September 9

 

Supervisor of the Year 

- deadline September 9

 

Special Thank You to the 65 Districts who have Paid Annual Dues as of 06/08/16:
  Adams
Allen
Bartholomew
Benton
Brown
Carroll
Cass
Clark
Clay
Clinton
Crawford
Daviess
Dearborn
Decatur
DeKalb
Delaware
Dubois
Elkhart
Fountain
Franklin
Fulton
Grant
Hamilton
Harrison
Howard
Jackson
Jasper
Jay
Jefferson
Jennings
Knox
LaGrange
Lake
LaPorte
Lawrence
Madison
Marshall
Miami
Monroe
Morgan
Newton
Orange
Perry
Pike
Posey
Pulaski
Putnam
Randolph
Ripley
Scott
Shelby
Spencer
St. Joseph
Steuben
Sullivan
Switzerland
Tippecanoe
Tipton
Vanderburgh
Vermilliion
Wabash
Warren
Warrick
White
Whitley