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Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
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October 12, 2016 |
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September 29 - October 12, 2016
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IASWCD News
Pathway to Water Quality Wrap Up
A special thanks to the steering committee of this year's Pathway to Water Quality at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in August.
This year's Pathway excursion for visitors began with the
New Greeter Stand
including a live
Green Roof
(see picture)
! This attracted many visitors wanting to know more about what was growing up there! Though the weather was a factor in attendance this year at the fair and at PWQ, the enthusiasm did not wane in desire to see this attraction as many families make visiting PWQ a family tradition each year.
New this year, as well, was the role of volunteers. In past years, volunteers have been referred to as "area volunteers" where certain areas of Pathway were manned by specific volunteers who remained in those areas during their volunteer shifts. This year, volunteers were referred to as "ambassadors" and were expected to peruse the entire Pathway area to answer questions, guide guests and be available where needed. A survey conducted after the fair concluded that most volunteers preferred (2 to 1) the Ambassador style of volunteering over the previous Area style volunteer.
An additional new exhibit this year included the
Home Septic System demonstration area behind the miniature model home. Many visitors commented on how seeing this exhibit helped them understand how an underground septic system functions.
The education area, flowing well, and impervious walkway were still among guest favorites this year.
Thanks again to all who volunteered their time to make this year's PWQ a success and traditional educational event for families of fairgoers from all over the state.
Contribution Agreement Webinar
October 27 at 2:30 pm (EST)
This webinar will be presenting the opportunities and changes to contribution agreements for FY 2017 for Farm Bill program assistance.
This includes discussion on program support services (PSS) and CRP status reviews/re-enroll contribution agreements. This webinar will be recorded and a link to the webinar will be available after October 27 for later viewing.
Even if you are not in a USDA Service Center, we invite you to listen to the webinar to learn how you can be involved in contribution agreements. There is a significant amount of conservation work to get done and we hope all partners can help play a role in contributing to the success of the Farm Bill programs.
As of today, the plan is to have agreements in place so work can begin on January 1, 2017. Also, the agreements will be for three years. We recommend that discussion begin as a team (SWCD staff, NRCS/ISDA partners, and Board of Supervisors) about the opportunities and challenges of getting all the conservation work done in your county. These contribution agreements provide an opportunity for the District to participate in helping with the workload and getting paid for the services completed, thus helping with building district capacity.
All further details will be provided during this webinar.
Fall Region Meetings
The IASWCD will be hosting fall region meetings (dates forth coming) and we will further discuss contribution agreements. This will be a chance for Supervisors to hear more about the contribution agreement opportunities and a chance for Districts to share how they are utilizing these agreements.
2017 SWCD Annual Conference
The 2017 conference hosted by IASWCD will take place January 23-24, 2017 at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown Indianapolis. Conference brochures are now being distributed along with registration materials. These can be found on the annual conference page on the
IASWCD website
.
Four District Showcase Visits Scheduled for November
You are welcome to join us as ICP leaders and others visit and tour the four District Showcase Award winners.
~November 2 at 9:00 a.m. - Huntington County group (Wabash, Wells, Blackford and Grant)
Location: Huntington County SWCD, 2040 Riverfork Drive, Huntington, IN 46750
~November 7 at 9:00 a.m. - Jennings County
Location TBD
~November 14 at 9:00 a.m. - Washington County
Location: Washington County Senior Citizen Center, 1705 N. Shelby St., Salem, IN
~November 17 at 9:00 a.m. - Hamilton County
Location TBD
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NACD News
Annual Conference Registration
Open
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
.
Conservation Clip List
The Conservation Clip List is sent out every Friday to those who subscribe. It is NACD's way of keeping their members and partners up-to-date on the latest conservation news throughout the US and the world. Also, the Clip List is posted at their
website.
Survey regarding Annual Poster Contest
Because NACD values your experiences and opinions, they are inviting you to participate in a survey regarding their annual poster contest. Diana Blackwood states, "We believe your feedback on the contest will help us boost participation in the competition and streamline the contest's rules. Please
click here
to be redirected to a survey that will take just five minutes of your time to complete. The last day to send in your feedback is
Monday, October 17
.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to share your thoughts. We deeply value your participation!
Should you have any concerns or questions about this survey, please feel free to contact me at
[email protected]"
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NRCS News
Soil Health Update - October 2016 edition
Now available to view here
Area Meetings - SAVE THE DATE!
NRCS Area meetings:
NE meeting: December 6
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SE meeting: December 14
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NW meeting: December 7
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SW meeting: December 15
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This will be a chance to ask further questions or get clarification regarding contribution agreements for FY 2017 for Farm Bill program assistance.
Upcoming Webinars:
Also, Forestry and Natural Resource webinars can be found
here
.
Information Security Awareness (ISA) Training
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. The NRCS deadline for completing this training is February 1, 2017. Those who do not complete the training by this deadline will have their access to USDA computer systems suspended until the training is complete.
See more . . .
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ISDA News
Spring Region Training Dates Announced - SAVE THE DATE!
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Partner News
Purdue University
Soil, Water and Cropping Systems Forum:
How Purdue is Moving Ag Forward in Sustainable Ways
Interactive program on Friday, November 18 (Eastern time) with Purdue Extension educators, campus specialists, and Extension partners from throughout the state informing partners of the work Purdue is doing in soil health, ag water management, cropping systems, and nutrient management. Lunch will be provided.
Assistant Program Leader, Soil Health Purdue Extension (765) 494-8490
Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy
If you are interested in water quality and watersheds, consider applying for the 2017 Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy. Learn to be a Leader in Watershed Management.
Enroll now to improve your watershed management skills.
Applications now being accepted online for the academy
.
The Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy, organized by Purdue University with support from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and other Indiana conservation agencies and organizations, gives participants the chance to:
- Engage in basic and advanced level watershed topics covering leadership principles, watershed science, organization and communication, technology and GIS, stakeholder involvement techniques and policy skills
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Meet, learn from, and build a network of peers
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Interact with topic experts
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Gain strategies, skills, and resources for successful watershed management
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Earn a Professional Certificate in Watershed Management
Enrollment deadline: November 4, 2016
Academy Fee: $700, due on December 16, 2016 (includes lodging and food for overnight and one-day workshops, plus all course materials).
Training includes three face-to-face group sessions and distance learning, online (approximately 3-4 hrs/week). The Academy runs from January to May, 2017. Specific workshop dates are January 18-19, April 5-6, and May 24, 2017.
Participants who complete all requirements earn a Purdue University Professional Certificate in Watershed Management. Purdue Continuing Education Units are also available for an additional $15 fee.
For more information and to fill out the application, please contact Sara Peel,
[email protected]
or see the
Academy Web Page.
Purdue Extension
Beginning Farmer: Veteran Tour
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Partners in Community Forestry Conference
November 16-17
Indianapolis Marriott Downtown
Conference details including the agenda,
click here
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Ot
her News
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Hulman River House at the Indianapolis Zoo
Registration deadline October 27.
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