Conservation INsight
October 10, 2018
|
|
Joe Schmees attends State Association Executive Director's Conference
During September, Joe Schmees, IASWCD Executive Director, attended the 2018 NACD Executive Directors Conference hosted by the
Association of Florida Conservation Districts
in Daytona. This conference provided learning opportunities with topics ranging from Executive Director skills development, to Conservation District Training and Capacity Building, to State Association and Conservation District Board Development. The conference was capped off with tours of unique local farms, including a fern farm that sells to wholesale and local florists, and a sturgeon fish farm that is one of only two caviar farms in the US. As a new Executive Director, it was a great opportunity for Joe to learn from more experienced Association Executive Directors, and to share ideas and network.
(Photo: NACD)
|
|
Northwest Region Meeting Reminder
November 15 at Fair Oaks Farms
|
Join Eric Pfeiffer for the September Hoosier Ag Today Soil Health Podcast presented by the
Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative
. Eric chats with Knox County farmer Mike Brocksmith and Ceres Solutions Certified Crop Adviser Betsy Bower about the role cover crops can play in the management of fall emerged weeds.
|
|
CCSI Program Manager Needed
Please join the CCSI Staff and their partners in congratulating Ashley Brucker as she moves to a new position as the American Farmland Trust Stewardship Program Manager in Ohio.
CCSI is now accepting applications for a new Program Manager. The Program Manager of the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative is a position within the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and will be responsible for identifying local level partnerships and facilitating and supporting their efforts to increase the adoption of soil health practices and systems on Indiana cropland. This position will be located in southern Indiana aligning to the Southwest and Southeast USDA-NRCS Areas. Resumes and cover letters may be submitted via email to:
lisa.holscher@in.nacdnet.net
.
|
|
NACD, NCF Launch Campaign for Next Generation of Conservation Leaders
The National Conservation Foundation (NCF) and the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) launched a campaign to support the development of the next generation of conservation leaders. The
Next Generation Leadership Campaign
seeks to raise $100,000 by December 31, 2018 to create an endowed fund for leadership development to cultivate future leaders in the conservation district community. This endowed fund will provide crucial resources to engage, educate and develop the next generation of conservation leaders.
|
|
Vote For the Next Cover of
The Resource
!
|
|
Annual Fall Conference Survey
If you attended the IDEA fall conference last week, please take a few minutes to complete the online survey. It is open until 4 pm on October 19. It can be completed anonymously or if you provide your name you will be entered into a drawing for one night's stay at the Indianapolis Marriott during the Annual SWCD Conference in January. (reimbursement to the district via IDEA).
|
|
|
Visit the New IDEA Website
|
|
Financial Workshop for SWCDs
December 12
Indianapolis, IN
|
|
Indiana NRCS Accepting Applications for Environmental Quality Incentives Program
Indianapolis, IN, October 4, 2018–
Indiana’s agricultural producers who want to improve natural resources and address concerns on their land are encouraged to apply for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) through the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Jerry Raynor, NRCS State Conservationist, announced that while the future of the Farm Bill is uncertain, Indiana NRCS is still accepting applications for future funding rounds. “We still don’t have a definitive word on Farm Bill funding, but we don’t want that to discourage our farmers and forestland owners from taking action. ..."
|
USDA Website Puts Soils Information, Tools at Your Fingertips
USDA has re-designed its
Soil Tools web page
, to now serve as a one-stop source for new, leading-edge tools and technologies to help farmers, ranchers, and other land users understand, evaluate and conserve soils. Users can explore soil maps, download soil apps, calculate soil texture and much more – all in one site!
|
Map of the Month: October
By the late 1890s, when USDA was taking form, agricultural scientists and legislators widely recognized that more information was needed about the nation’s soils. To address that need, the USDA Division of Agricultural Soils and the National Cooperative Soil Survey were formed. The aesthetic turn-of-the-century maps generated by the soil survey not only show soil patterns across the landscape, they also show features that are of interest to both historians and scientists.
|
|
Indiana NRCS Announces EQIP Application Deadline for Two Initiatives
Indianapolis, IN, October 4, 2018–Jerry Raynor, State Conservationist for Indiana’s USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced today that NRCS is accepting producer applications for Conservation Activity Plans and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program’s Western Lake Erie Basin Phosphorus Reduction initiative. The application deadline is November 16, 2018.
|
Countdown to World Soil Day
Stay tuned as NRCS launches their Countdown to World Soil Day on Dec 5. Follow them as USDA NRCS Soil Science Division posts important information every Wednesday in October then every weekday in November until December 5. (For more information, visit
NRCS Soils
and
World Soil Day
.)
|
|
DNR newsletter
One article: "Halloween camping available"
Many Indiana State Parks are offering Fall Festival and Halloween events, Oct. 19-21 and Oct. 26-28. Some parks still have camping openings for these weekends. Check your favorite park for availability and reserve your site at
camp.IN.gov
. ...
|
|
|
SWCS Hoosier Chapter Annual Meeting: Culture, Climate and Conservation
November 16, 2018
9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
***
Conner Prairie
13400 Allisonville Rd
Fishers, IN 46038
Register by November 12
|
|
October 2018 Newsletter: Great Places
Conservation News from Around the World
|
North Central Region One Water Action Forum
The North Central Region Water Network, Soil and Water Conservation Society, Iowa Soybean Association, and US Water Alliance are teaming up for the North Central Region One Water Action Forum on December 11-13, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
|
|
2019 Nature Play Day Dates Announced
Mark June 8-16, 2019 on your calendar and consider hosting a Nature Play Day (or multiple events) during the Nature Play Day period next year! It doesn't have to be a new event-- schedule an existing nature based program during this span! Look for more info and event registration info this fall!
|
|
The Indiana Silver Jackets Fluvial Erosion Hazard (FEH) Mitigation team is holding a series of five free workshops around the state to introduce the FEH program and to review a new manual on tools and methods developed in the most recent phase of the FEH Program.
|
|
Stream Erosion Management
October 22
The Silver Jackets group has been studying the streambank erosion in the Whitewater River Watershed and throughout Indiana for many years. They have just completed a streambank
erosion manual that will be made public this fall. This workshop will overview the manual and provide information on how to go about addressing streambank erosion.
|
|
Stream Permitting and Local Site Stabilization
November 1
Streams can be regulated by more then one government agency and the permitting processes can be confusing. There will be agency representatives from each of the agencies present to review their program,
jurisdiction and permitting process. Robert Barr will be coming back to discuss and recommend stabilization techniques for some local sites and situations.
|
|
Job Postings
:
Current list of Conservation Job Opportunities now posted on the
IASWCD website.
- Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist (SW Indiana), Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever
- Executive Director, Indiana Land Protection Alliance
- Environmental Policy Leader (Columbus, IN), Cummins
- Communications Coordinator, Indiana Family of Farmers (IFoF)
- Program Manager, CCSI
Note: Job Postings can be submitted to Amy Work at:
amy-work@iaswcd.org .
Please include job description and deadline to apply in a single PDF file or with a link.
|
|
Upcoming Conservation Events
:
October 13 - Pasture & Livestk Fld Training, Wayne Co.
October 22 - Stream Workshop Series
October 23 - SSCB Meeting, Porter County
October 23 - Women's Learning Circle, Carroll Co.
November 1 - Stream Workshop Series
November 12 - Veterans Day Observed
November 13 - CISMA Call Out, Wabash County
November 15 - NW SWCD Region Meeting
November 16 - SWCS Annual Meeting
November 30 - Leadership Institute, Noble County
December 7 - Leadership Institute
December 12 - SWCD Financial Workshop
2019:
January 14-15 - Indiana SWCD Annual Conference
February 2-6 - NACD Annual Meeting
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
