IASWCD Conference Presents: Thinking Regionally About Our Water – A Review of What’s New and a Hands-On Exercise with Watershed Data |
Sunday, January 26
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm (Eastern)
The Westin Indianapolis
Presenters: Jill Hoffmann and Bill Blomquist, White River Alliance
During this session, Hoffman and Blomquist will provide an update on the progress of regional water studies in Indiana and how regional water planning can proceed from here. There will be opportunities for questions, feedback, and facilitated discussion. Session participants will engage in a small-group exercise with multiple data layers on watershed-based maps to encourage conversation about what it means to think about our water on a regional scale, followed by sharing ideas and reactions with the whole group. Participants will also identify water priorities for Indiana using an online tool (Mentimeter) for collecting and visualizing group input.
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State Associations Meet to Collaborate on GLC Workforce Challenges and Opportunities | On November 19-20, IASWCD Executive Director Liz Rice joined NACD Region Representative Beth Mason and leaders from SWCD state associations in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New York in Ann Arbor, MI, to provide insight on the status, opportunities, and challenges of the SWCD workforce with the Great Lakes Commission (GLC). As an international organization, representing eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces, the GLC recommends policies to balance the use, development, and conservation of Great Lakes water resources. Rice states, "SWCDs play a critical role in protecting the health of the Great Lakes, but they can face steep challenges in workforce capacity. These challenges affect our collective ability to advance conservation efforts." Two Ohio State University social science researchers are leveraging insights from the meeting to develop a research project aimed at understanding SWCD workforce challenges and identifying potential solutions. |
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Districts - Resolutions Posted for Annual Business Meeting
This year, IASWCD received a total of four resolutions for consideration at our Annual Business Meeting on January 28, 2025 at the Westin in downtown Indianapolis. Details about each resolution can be viewed by clicking the button below.
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Register Your District Delegates Now through January 18
SWCDs in good standing can now register their delegates for the IASWCD Annual Business Meeting held January 28.
The following districts have submitted their delegates:
Adams
Carroll
Clay
Elkhart
Gibson
Greene
Knox
LaPorte
Lake
Marion
Marshall
Monroe
Newton
Perry
Porter
Pulaski
Steuben
Tippecanoe
Vermillion
Wabash
Warren
Warrick
Washington
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For SWCDs: ICP and Other Conservation Partner Logos
Districts - Are you looking for a logo for your latest flyer or marketing publication? IASWCD is now providing this new PARTNER LOGO folder to easily access and find what you need. Missing a logo? Let Amy Work know to add it!
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DATE CHANGE: 2025 CCSI/SARE Trainings
Mark your calendars now for these upcoming 2025 training opportunities! Note that the date for Intro to Soil Health has changed since the previous newsletter.
- CCSI-SARE Intro to Soil Health (date change) - Feb 25
- CCSI-SARE Fundamentals of Soil Health - April
- Soil Health & Sustainability for Midwestern Field Staff - June 9-12
- CCSI-SARE-NWF Engaging New Audiences - TBD
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USH Program Announces Northwest Regional Specialist
Indianapolis (November 22, 2024) - The Urban Soil Health Program and the Indiana Association of
Soil and Water Conservation Districts (IASWCD) announces Tanvi Lad as a Regional Urban Soil
Health Specialist. The program promotes conservation agriculture on urban and small-scale farms across Indiana. Tanvi Lad’s territory includes the Northwest Area of Indiana. The region covers 22 counties, including Indianapolis, Lafayette, and Gary. Land she will be based in the Lafayette Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Area
Office, and will travel to cover the region.
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Apply for a Friends of NACD District Grant |
NACD is still accepting applications for the 2025 Friends of NACD District Grants Program!
This year, NACD and Scotts Miracle Gro are partnering to award the 2025 grants. Now in its sixth round of funding, the Friends of NACD District Grants Program is an initiative of the NACD District and Partner Relations Committee. The 2025 program will award top-ranking applicants up to $2,500 each to conduct new activities or test novel approaches to their operations.
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Op-Ed: Military Veterans Are Vital to Indiana's Farming Future |
By: Damarys Mortenson, Indiana State Conservationist
In Indiana, farming is more than a job; it’s a way of life that embodies resilience, dedication and grit. Those qualities also define our military veterans, many of whom have returned from service and built a career in agriculture. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has made it a priority to support veteran farmers, recognizing their unique value and fostering partnerships to help them build fulfilling futures in agriculture.
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USDA Invests $7 Million in Eight Wetland Mitigation Banking Projects to Support Producers and Protect Wetland Ecosystems | USDA is investing $7 million in eight projects to support the development of wetland mitigation banks for agricultural producers through the Wetland Mitigation Banking Program (WMBP). Through wetland mitigation banks, wetlands are restored, created or enhanced, generating credits that can be purchased by producers looking to compensate for unavoidable impacts to wetlands at another location. |
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USDA Offers Targeted Farm Loan Funding for Underserved Groups and Beginning Farmers |
Indianapolis, November 20, 2024 - The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds producers that FSA offers targeted farm ownership and farm operating loans to assist underserved applicants and beginning farmers.
“Farming is a capital-intensive business and FSA is committed to helping producers start and maintain their agricultural operations,” said Julia A. Wickard, FSA State Executive Director in Indiana. “FSA loans are designed to make sure that everyone has access to credit including underserved and beginning farmers. Last year, FSA in Indiana obligated $80 million in loans to underserved borrowers and beginning farmers.”
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Indiana FSA State Newsletter |
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2024 Farm Service Agency County Committee
Elections Now Open
Due Dec 2
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently mailed ballots for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committee elections to all eligible agricultural producers and private landowners across the country. Elections are occurring in certain Local Administrative
Areas (LAA) for these committee members who make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally.
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Leaving a Lasting Legacy for Midwestern Farm Women: A Succession Planning Series |
January 21st & 28th, February 4th & 11th
6:00 - 9:00 pm Eastern
In-Person Cost: $60 (bfeore Jan 13); $75 (beginning January 13)
Virtual Cost: $75 virtual participation
A new multi-state extension workshop series for women in agriculture will offer strategies to evaluate and improve farm estate and transition plans. “Leaving a Lasting Legacy for Midwestern Farm Women: A Succession Planning Series,” will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Central time on Jan. 21, Jan. 28, Feb. 4 and Feb. 11 at sites across Kansas, Nebraska and Indiana. The series is being produced through a collaborative effort by extension women in agriculture programs at Kansas State University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Purdue University.
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Code Red: Contingency Planning Tool, Free Webinar
The Purdue Women in Ag Team is proud to be offering a Code Red Contingency Planning Tool webinar. This event is scheduled for December 2nd from 6-7 pm ET via Zoom.
Code Red is a tool that was developed to provide a central location to collect critical business information for day-to-day operations and to continue business with minimal disruptions in the event of a crisis. The tool is divided into two main sections: Personal and Farm Business, with flexibility to fit specific operational needs. It is designed to help turn code red situations into code-green and keep the business running.
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Division of Fish & Wildlife: Nongame Wildlife Fund News
| News on Franklin's ground squirrels, high rise hunters, Kirtland's snakes survey, and greater redhorse distribution |
Virtual registration open for 2024 Indiana Community and Urban Forestry Symposium |
Virtual registration is open for the Indiana DNR Community and Urban Forestry Symposium, organized by DNR Community and Urban Forestry and the Indiana Community Forestry Council (IN-CFC).
Registration is by date. After registration, you should receive an email with details on how to access the Zoom link.
Dec. 3 - Virtual Registration
Dec. 4 - Virtual Registration
Questions or concerns should be directed to Racheal Stenger at rstenger@dnr.IN.gov or 317-234-6741.
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Conservation Tillage & Water Quality Symposium |
December 5
8 am - 5 pm (Eastern)
Plymouth, IN
Are you a Landowner or a Farmer? Or someone interested in the quality of Indiana's water and how agriculture interfaces with our wildlife. Join us as we discuss how to make a positive impact on Indiana's wildlife and its habitat. Hear first hand how farmers and the agricultural industry are bringing new practices and products to minimize impact on environment.
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Pledge of the Month: Adopt a Storm Drain | Autumn is one of the most important times to check on your neighborhood's storm drains to make sure they are clear of debris and leaves. As the leaves fall, and as litter washes into the drains, they can become clogged. Storm drains are designed to carry rainwater away from streets and prevent flooding, but they also serve as a direct pathway for pollution to enter our rivers, lakes, and streams. One simple and effective action we can all take is cleaning and maintaining the storm drains in our neighborhoods. Take the pledge to adopt a storm drain near you today! |
Integrating Climate into Extension Programming Update | Illinois Extension has developed a short online course for all interested Extension educators and specialists that wish to incorporate climate change into their existing programming. The course was started in early 2024, and has gone through two cohorts. Climate Specialist Duane Friend will provide an update on the course , how it is being received, and talk about its use in other states. |
"Advancing the Digital Technology Revolution for Agriculture" on December 11
A panel discussion organized by the Institute for Digital and Advanced Agricultural Systems (IDAAS) will be held on Dec 11 at 1:45 pm - 3:00 pm, followed by a networking session until 5:00 pm.
For those of you who participated in our Spring 2024 meeting, you’ll remember a discussion with a group of faculty working on putting together a center/institute around digital agriculture. IDAAS is the institute formed through those efforts.
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Free Virtual Meet-Up Series for Row Crop and Livestock Producers
Good Idea Shop Talks is a weekly, virtual meet-up series for row crop and livestock producers to exchange ideas and problem solve together about how to be good stewards while protecting profitability.
Register now to get the winter season dates on your calendar!
December 12th, 2024; January 23rd, 30th, and February 6th, 2025 - all are Thursdays at 11:30am CT / 12:30pm ET
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Great Lakes Cover Crops Project
Great Lakes Cover Crops Project is recruiting farmers to participate for the 2024-25 season! This community science effort brings together farmers from across the upper Midwest to build a regional database of cover crop performance, which then allows for identifying what cover crops and management practices work best across different farming conditions. Partnering farmers submit a short management survey, then collect cover crop photos and height measurements from their fields in the spring. In return, they receive a personalized report with cover crop biomass and nutrient estimates, along with $50 per field for up to three fields. Anyone growing overwintering cover crops this season in MI, OH, IN, IL, WI, or MN is eligible.
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Upcoming Events and Opportunities
White River Alliance has volunteer opportunities coming up, starting with their monthly RAFT sampling on December 1st. They also have an annual habitat evaluation and cleanup scheduled for December 6th! Register today!
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Calling Southern Indiana Farmers, Ranchers, & Food Distributors!
Southeast Regional Cooperative Partners is actively seeking farmers, ranchers, and food distribution partners to participate in the Southern Region Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program (LFPA) this Winter and Spring 2025.
If you're interested in participating in the program, schedule a meeting with DeAnthony Jamerson and Mia Brown to discuss the application process, onboarding, and any questions you have.
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