Conservation INsight
May 8, 2019
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SWCDs can Nominate 2019 River Friendly Farmers for Annual Award
The River Friendly Farmer Award recognizes farmers, who through good production management practices, help keep Indiana’s rivers, lakes and streams clean. Each county Soil and Water Conservation District may nominate up to two farmers who do an outstanding job of protecting their rivers, lakes and streams through their every day conservation management practices on the farm. Watershed organizations also may nominate farmers for the award by submitting an application to a county SWCD. Visit the IASWCD website for nomination forms and more information.
Deadline to submit nominations and the required signature page: June 14, 2019.
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Program Manager Position Open -
Northern Indiana
CCSI is currently accepting applications for a Program Manager serving northern Indiana. The position will remain opened until filled. Resumes and cover letters may be sent via email to Lisa Holscher, CCSI Director at:
lisa.holscher@in.nacdnet.net
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SAVE THE DATE: District Supervisor and Staff Summer Training
ISDA and IASWCD are combining the past "region meetings" that took place in the spring and fall into one summer training for SWCD staff and supervisors. All four summer trainings will be identical and take place on four separate dates in four separate locations throughout the state. Feel free to attend the date and location that best fits your schedule. This year's August training will provide a time for networking, partner updates, State Association news, technical training and a Digital Ready program offering from Purdue Extension.
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Pathway to Water Quality
Pathway to Water Quality
(PWQ) is a conservation exhibit sponsored by the
Indiana Conservation Partnership
(ICP). The exhibit is located at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Every year, PWQ hosts approximately 60,000 visitors who visit our premiere conservation exhibit during the 17-day Indiana State Fair. Part of what makes the exhibit successful are all of the ICP staff who volunteer at Pathway.
This year, volunteer sign-up for staffing Pathway to Water Quality at the 2019 Indiana State Fair will open at 8 am on Monday, June 3. The state fair will run from August 2 to August 20.
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NACD Welcomes Indiana's Own, Meg Leader, as the New Projects and Partnerships Coordinator
On Monday, April 22, Meg Leader joined NACD as the association's Projects and Partnerships Coordinator. Leader comes to NACD from the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, where she served as the director of soil health. Prior to that, she was the conservation director of the Vermillion County SWCD in Indiana.
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National Conservation Foundation
Releases 2018 Annual Report
The National Conservation Foundation (NCF) has released their
2018 Annual Report
.
The annual report highlights the NCF's programs, including the NCF-Envirothon, and provides an overview of the foundation's financials from fiscal year 2018 and the Next Generation Leadership Campaign and its goals.
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Did You Know:
There's a Soil and Water Conservation Merit Badge?
The Soil and Water Conservation Merit Badge was introduced in 1952 to increase awareness about individuals’ role in and knowledge of conservation.
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NACD 2020 Annual Meeting Theme Contest
The 74th NACD Annual Meeting will be held February 8-12, 2020, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
NACD is
now accepting submissions
to the annual meeting theme contest, through the end of the month. This year's theme should focus on the concept of innovation. The person who submits the winning theme will receive one complimentary registration to the 2020 Annual Meeting and a ticket to the 2020 NACD Appreciation Banquet.
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2019 IDEA Fall Conference
October 1-3
Clifty Inn, Madison, IN
It's time to register and reserve your room! Please view the agenda with breakout sessions prior to registration as you will need to choose your sessions at registration. Registration deadline: August 30.
Hotel rooms can be reserved at Clifty Inn by calling 1-877-LODGES-1
or online at
www.indianainns.com
.
Rate is $91/night with group code 1001 ID. Space is limited.
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NRCS Announces Changes to Strengthen Technical Input in Conservation Programs
NRCS is expanding the technical input in program development and technical services in program delivery. The 2018 Farm Bill made several changes expanding the membership on the State Technical Committee and expanding the avenues through which technical service providers can be certified. Other changes include the administration of the, Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act Program, Healthy Forests Reserve Program, and the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program.
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Map of the Month: May
Soil surveys are evolving from the polygon-based format to the raster-based (pixel-based) format. These maps show the striking contrast in the consistency and detail of information between the two formats.
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Update on
Terrestrial Plant Rule
The Terrestrial Plant Rule (312 IAC 18-3-25) designates 44 species of plants as invasive pests. This rule makes it illegal to sell, gift, barter, exchange, distribute, transport, or introduce these plants in the State of Indiana. According to
Dawn R. Slack,
Director of Stewardship, TNC; Chair, Invasive Plant Advisory Committee Project; and, Coordinator, Indiana Invasives Initiative, SICIM, the rule became effective April 18. There are two phases to the rule. Effective immediately, if a plant on the list is not present in Indiana, it is illegal to introduce it to the State. (Note: all plants on the list are present in the state.) Second, species on the list that are already in Indiana will be prohibited for sale, trade, distribution, barter, gift, exchange, transportation or introduction in one year, 18 April 2020. For a list of plants and additional information see DNR link below.
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USFS Launches New Stewardship Strategy Website
The USDA Forest Service has a new Shared Stewardship Strategy to address forest resource challenges by working collaboratively to identify priorities for landscape-scale treatments. The agency
launched a website
to provide more information about the strategy.
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U.S. Forest Service Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Grants Program
2019 request for proposals for the U.S. Forest Service Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant program. Funds will be distributed across the following three program areas:
- Forest Insect and Disease Mitigation,
- Reduce Runoff from Degraded Sites through Green Infrastructure, and
- Enhance Coastal Wetland Filtration
Deadline for applications: June 28, 2019
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Newsletter Pledge of the Month: Lawn Fertilizer
- How Does Fertilizer Impact Water?
- Indiana's Fertilizer Impacts the Gulf of Mexico... Really?
- What Can You Do To Reduce Nutrient Runoff In Your Yard?
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New CTIC Executive Director Mike Komp Takes the Helm
WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (April 24, 2019)—The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) welcomes its new Executive Director, Mike Komp. The role will call upon Komp's skills to build collaborative networks that help promote and champion conservation farming systems, secure funding for new programs, and—increasingly—help analyze and disseminate digital data on conservation practices. As interest in sustainable farming practices grows among farmers, consumers, and policymakers, CTIC's role is expanding, noted Terry Tindall of J.R. Simplot, Chair of CTIC's Board of Directors. So is the role Komp has been selected to fill.
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2019 Conservation in Action Tour
The 2019 CTIC Conservation in Action Tour will be held August 20-21, 2019 in central Iowa. From our starting point in Des Moines, we will examine a wide range of edge-of-field systems, in-field solutions, and management practices.
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THE DROP
A monthly e-newsletter from the North Central Region Water Network
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Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association - Stewardship Award
In appreciation of Charles Deam’s contribution toward many of the forestry programs and information that we now enjoy, the Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association sponsors the Charles Deam Forest Stewardship Award contest which seeks annually to find forest landowners who are demonstrating exceptional management of their forest resources. Nominations can be made by any person or organization by June 15.
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Register Your Event Today!
Register
your nature event or camp today. Your event will be promoted by ICAN & part of a statewide kids and nature initiative. Registration is free and all types of events and hosts are welcome!
When you register your event, you can request free decals and #ICANPlay30 stickers!
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North American Lake Management Society (NALMS)
2019 Call for Abstracts is Now Open
for their 39th International Symposium to be held in Burlington, Vermont, November 10–15, 2019. Abstracts are due by May 17.
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Congratulations to Rossville FFA for taking 1st place, winning overall, at the Indiana State Envirothon competition at Ivy Tech in Noblesville on April 24. They will now represent Indiana and travel to
North Carolina State University
,
Raleigh, North Carolina, July 28 - August 2. Good Luck!
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Soil Health Institute Invites Applications for Posters for Fourth Annual Meeting
The Soil Health Institute (SHI) is currently accepting invitations to give poster presentations during their fourth annual meeting "Soil Health: A Global Imperative." SHI's
annual meeting
will be held July 16-18 in Sacramento, CA. Poster presentations are due by 5:30 pm on Saturday, June 1.
View the poster proposal form
on SHI's website.
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Job Postings
:
Current list of Conservation Job Opportunities now posted on the
IASWCD website.
- Conservation Technician, Adams County Soil and Water Conservation District
- Soil Health Program Manager, Indiana State Department of Agriculture
- Program Manager, Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative
- Office Manager, Kosciusko County SWCD
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.
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Upcoming Conservation Events
:
May 18 - Making a Difference...Dearborn Co.
May 20 - World Bee Day
May 21 - State Soil Conservation Board meeting
May 27 - Memorial Day
May 28-June 5 - Stewardship Week
May 30 - Pond Clinic, Wayne Co.
June 14 - DEADLINE: River Friendly Farmer nominations
June 17-23 - Pollinator Week
June 20 - Using Native Warm Season Grasses/Grazing
July 16 - Agronomy Field Day, Steuben Co.
July 16 - State Soil Conservation Board meeting
July 25 - Woodland Mgmt Workshop, Boone Co.
August 14 - River Friendly Farmer Awards event
August 20-21 - Conservation in Action Tour
September 17 - State Soil Conservation Board meeting
October 1-3 - IDEA Fall Conference, Clifty Inn
October 29 - State Soil Conservation Board meeting
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