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Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
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January 4, 2017 |
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December 22, 2016 - January 4, 2017
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IASWCD News
2017 Annual SWCD Conference
January 23-24, 2017
Indianapolis Marriott Downtown
Registration page and information can be found on the
IASWCD website
.
Plan ahead for parking at the conference...
For those of you parking at the Marriott hotel, you should receive a 25% discount off the prevailing parking rates at the hotel. Please check your hotel bill to make sure you received this discount.
For those of you looking for other options, please explore this link: http://www.downtownindy.org/get-around-downtown/park/
Most important, make sure where you are parking allows overnight parking if staying! We suggest carpooling as much as possible!
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2017 IASWCD Business Meeting - January 24, 2017
~Delegates for the 2017 IASWCD Business Meeting
Delegate forms due January 14
For more details and to access the delegate form, please visit the
IASWCD website.
~Resolution
This business meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 24 at 9:00 a.m. (EST). One resolution has been submitted and can be viewed on the
IASWCD website.
~Slate of IASWCD Officers
District Delegates will vote on the election of officers at the IASWCD Business Meeting on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 The slate of officers may be
viewed on the Annual Conference page of the
IASWCD website
2017 Indiana Legislative Session Statehouse Visits
IASWCD is offering to coordinate visits to the Indiana Statehouse during February and March. These visits will provide an overview of the legislative process, a tour as well as a meet and greet time with your legislators.
Dates, details and registration information can be found
here
.
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NACD News
Soil Health Champions (article by Beth Mason)
Did
you know that in 2014, NACD received an NRCS grant to dev
elop a comprehensive outreach plan for soil health? In the past two years
"Did You Know" Articles for NACD
Did you know that any individual, state, agency, or district can write a "Did You Know" article? The last Tuesday of each month, "Did You Know" is featured on NACD's blog and in eResource. If you have comments or questions on this month's, or suggestions for future editions, contact NACD Southeast Representative
Phylis Vandevere.
Urban and Community Conservation Webinar
"Locally Led Outreach in Urban and Community Areas"
January 19, 2017 from noon to 1:00 pm Eastern
Urban and rural districts gather public input to design programs and services through countywide assessments, networking, and collaboration with NGOs, coalitions, and advisory committees. New York SWCD of New York, Clay County SWCD of North Carolina, Jefferson CD of Colorado, Ciudad SWCD of New Mexico, and Thurston CD of Washington will give short presentations on their outreach methods.
There is no cost to participate, but you need to register by emailing NACD Senior Advisor Debra Bogar
with your name, title, district or business name, and state.
Live Auction at National Conference
The 2017 NACD Live Auction will be held Monday, January 30, 2017 from 7:00 - 9:00 PM. Featuring auctioneer Johnny Regula, this year's auction will get your attention with items spanning from hand-crafted quilts and freshwater pearls to corn and soybean seed, a John Deere Gator Utility Vehicle, or the use of Case IH tractors. See More . . .
Annual Conference Registration
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
.
Already registered? Click here for transportation details to make traveling around Denver easier! Or, click here for conference agenda highlights!
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USDA-NRCS News
Indiana NRCS Announces Innovative Conservation Partnership to Address At-Risk Wildlife
Indianapolis, IN, December 23, 2016 - USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Jane Hardisty announced today that Indiana will receive $960,000 for the Southern Indiana Young Forest Initiative as part of the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The project will be led by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry (IDNR). See more...
Indiana NRCS Announces EQIP Application Deadline
Indianapolis, IN, December 23, 2016 - Indiana's agricultural producers who want to improve natural resources and address concerns on their land are encouraged to sign up for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) through the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Jane Hardisty, NRCS State Conservationist, announced that January 20, 2017 will be the EQIP application deadline in Indiana. "While we are taking applications throughout the year, the first review of applications for funding will be for applications
received by
January 20.
If more funds are available after this date, there will be another review for additional applications. I encourage producers with resource concerns to submit an application by the application deadline," Hardisty explains.
See more . . .
Indiana NRCS Announces Applications Available for Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Jane Hardisty announced that Indiana is now accepting applications for enrollment in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), the nation's largest conservation program.
NRCS has made several revisions to the program this year to help producers better evaluate their conservation options and the benefits to their operations and natural resources. New methods and software for evaluating applications will help producers see up front why they are or are not meeting stewardship thresholds, and allow them to pick practices and enhancements that work for their conservation objectives. These new tools also allow producers to see potential payment scenarios for conservation early in the process.
Read more...
Information Security Awareness (ISA) Training
Deadline to complete training: February 1, 2017
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.
Please Note: Those who do not complete the training by February 1 will have their access to USDA computer systems suspended until the training is complete.
Science and Technology Conservation Webinars 2017 Schedule
Now Available
!
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USDA-Farm Service Agency News
USDA Makes it Easier to Transfer Land to the Next Generation of Farmers and Ranchers
DES MOINES, Iowa, Dec. 29, 2016 - Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary Lanon Baccam today announced that beginning Jan. 9, 2017, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will offer an early termination opportunity for certain Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts, making it easier to transfer property to the next generation of farmers and ranchers, including family members. The land that is eligible for the early termination is among the least environmentally sensitive land enrolled in CRP.
This change to the CRP program is just one of many that USDA has implemented based on recommendations from the Land Tenure Advisory Subcommittee formed by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in 2015. The subcommittee was asked to identify ways the department could use or modify its programs, regulations, and practices to address the challenges of beginning farmers and ranchers in their access to land, capital and technical assistance.
See more...
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Other News
IFoF raises $2,500 for FIsH, completes "fill your freezer" program
Attendees of the Indiana State Fair took out their phones, cozied up to a farmer and posted their best #FarmerSelfies, helping raise $2,500 for Feeding Indiana's Hungry through an Indiana's Family of Farmers program.
"Hundreds of fairgoers stopped to take a farmer selfie while visiting our exhibits featuring Indiana agriculture across the fairgrounds," said Megan Kuhn, a spokeswoman for IFoF. "Those that participate are not just having fun and interacting with us, they are helping to feed hungry Hoosiers. From learning about conservation efforts to enjoying a milkshake, pork burger or ribeye before snapping a farmer selfie, our ultimate goal with this program is to help Indiana consumers connect with the Indiana farmers who are raising their food."
See more . . .
Women4theLand
Want to Host a Women's Learning Circle in your District?
Women4theLand's mission is to empower women landowners and farmers to make good conservation choices for their land and to educate natural resource professionals and technical field staff on better strategies for outreach to women.
If you would like to host a circle or just find out more information about how and why they work, please contact our state coordinator, Heather Bacher. We will match you with a circle facilitator, provide you with planning and resource materials, host a few planning calls and give you other support as needed to
conduct the circle.
Contact Heather Bacher at
hbacher@women4theland.org
or
317-514-4634
.
Also be sure to visit the website at
women4theland.org
National Wildlife Federation
NWF created a program in 2013 for cover crop expert farmers and agricultural professionals, called the
"Cover Crop Champions." The champions receive grants to pay the cost of their travel, time, and various expenses to share their expertise and passion for cover crops with farmers in their region. Applications now being accepted through January 15, 2017. View more details . . .
Soil and Water Conservation Society
SWCS is now accepting abstracts for their 72nd International Annual Conference.
To view the full Call for Presentations and instructions on how to submit your proposal, click here.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: January 9, 2017
POSTER DEADLINE: March 10, 2017
For more information regarding the conference click here.
CONFERENCE SUBMISSION TRACKS
This year's conference includes four tracks for submission. Special consideration will be given to proposals addressing new insights, techniques, and/or advancements in the eight traditional areas of focus outlined under general conference submissions.
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