Conservation INsight
January 30, 2019
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2019 SWCD Annual Conference Evaluation
If you attended the 2019 Annual Conference of Indiana SWCDs at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown on January 14-15, 2019, please fill out an evaluation form. We read every form and use the information to make improvements. Please submit by Monday, February 4. Thank you!
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Statehouse Visits for Districts
IASWCD is helping coordinate visits to the Statehouse during the months of February through April. With the request for additional Clean Water Indiana funding on the table, it is important that Districts meet with their local legislators. A minimum of three people from a District must be committed to attend (any combination of Supervisors and/or Staff). The visit will include an overview of the legislative process, a quick tour of the Statehouse, and then meeting with your legislators. The IASWCD lobbyist, Cress Hizer, will lead this effort and be with the groups on each visit. An additional IASWCD officer or the Executive Director may also be in attendance as needed. This is a great opportunity to become more comfortable with advocating for soil and water conservation issues. YOUR VOICE is IMPORTANT!
Dates currently available:
February 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 March 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 April 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11
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2019 IASWCD Executive Board Officers (L to R): Marc Roberts, Treasurer; Bobby Hettmansperger, Vice President; Roger Wenning, President; and, Jeff Baker, Secretary.
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L to R: Stacey McGinnis (Noble County SWCD) with Greg Flory (Noble County, Supervisor of the Year) and Tom Bechman, Indiana Prairie Farmer
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L to R: Brad Ponsler, IFB/IASWCD with Conservation Farmer of the Year, Susan & Mike Brocksmith (Knox County)
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2019 Conservation Planning Boot Camp Deadlines Approach
NACD, through partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is offering spaces for conservation district employees to attend Conservation Planning Boot Camp. This premier, three-week course offers conservation district technicians and planners the opportunity to learn how to develop and implement conservation plans, systems and practices. Tuesday, February 5 is the last day for state or territory associations to submit Conservation Planning Boot Camp participant information to NACD for consideration for the March 26 – April 11, 2019 session.
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NACD Forestry Notes
Forestry Notes is a monthly publication NACD produces in collaboration with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. Each edition includes prime examples of district-led forestry projects and partnerships focused on finding and implementing solutions to modern forestry challenges.
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2018 Farm Bill Breakdown
Read NACD's Blog posts regarding the breakdown of the 2018 Farm Bill. Topics include Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Forestry and Urban Conservation. Check it out!
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Attending the NACD Annual Conference?
Don’t Forget to Pack-A-Book
NACD’s Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, will mark the 12th annual “Pack-A-Book” community outreach program. Since its inception, more than 1,300 natural resources books have been donated to elementary schools on behalf of NACD. The 2019 recipient of Pack-A-Book donations will be Kuentz Elementary School in Helotes, Texas
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Poster Contest
Due by June 7, 2019
2019 Theme: "Life in the Soil: Dig Deeper"
There will be five (5) grade divisions: K-1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12.
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Clean Water Indiana (CWI)
The Clean Water Indiana program was established to provide financial assistance to landowners and conservation groups. The financial assistance supports the implementation of conservation practices which will reduce non-point sources of water pollution through education, technical assistance, training, and cost sharing programs.
Check out the new CWI program informational video.
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Map of the Month: January
Block Diagrams—Simple Lines, Complex Landscapes
Block diagrams reduce the innumerable details of a crowded landscape to a relatively few simple lines. As such, they are very effective for communicating how and why soils differ from one place to another. Not only can block diagrams show current soil patterns, they can also show changes in soil patterns over time.
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American Farmland Trust Reveals Positive Conservation Results of Women-only Learning Circles -- Need for Continued Work
Dekalb, IL (January 18, 2018)
– Today,
American Farmland Trust
, the organization behind the national movement “No Farms No Food,” published its Women for the Land program report, “Testing the Women Landowner Conservation Learning Circle Model.” The
report, along with illustrative profiles and videos
, further supports previous research that women landowners are important in the broader implementation of conservation practices on farms. The interviews also show women-only learning circles work as a means for expanding conservation actions and women who participated want to learn more.
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Soil Science Division is now named Soil and Plant Science Division
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service sent this bulletin at 01/07/2019 12:07 PM EST
In October of 2018, several branches in the USDA-NRCS were reorganized. One of the reorganization actions involved renaming the Soil Science Division to the Soil and Plant Science Division (SPSD) to better reflect the work being done in both soil and ecological sciences.
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USDA Continues to Seek Public Input on its Updated Wetland Determination Guidance
Farmers are reminded that updated guidelines for wetland determinations are posted and available for public input. The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to remind the public that the 60-day comment period for the updated guidance is open through February 5.
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2019 Midwest Women in Agriculture Conference
February 20 and 21, 2019
Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, IN
Registration is now open for the 2019 Midwest Women in Agriculture Conference. Conference attendees have the chance to listen to Michelle Miller (a.k.a. "The Farm Babe"), Kim Bremmer, agribusiness professionals, past Purdue Women in Agriculture Award Winners, and Extension personnel during this two day event.
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Upcoming Women in Ag Webinar
April 18, 2019 @ 12 Noon EST
In this webinar, Gina Anderson, Purdue Extension ANR Educator, will talk about the placement of native plants in the home landscape and their importance to pollinators.
Read more
...
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Succession Planning Workshops
Ten dates and locations are now scheduled for these workshops between January 22 and March 5. See flyer for information and registration.
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New Name, New URL, New Email Addresses!
It's official as of January 1, 2019. INPAWS is now INPS and their website and emails have changed to recognize their new name, the
Indiana Native Plant Society (INPS)
. The new web address is:
IndianaNativePlants.org
, and the generic emails they use have changed from *@
inpaws.org
to
*@IndianaNativePlants.org.
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Since 1988, River Network has been at the forefront of expanding national interest in protecting the waters of our country, encouraging diversity in the environmental movement, and helping engaged community members and local organizations take a stand for their waters.
NEW! River Network now offers a
FREE membership option
in addition to paid membership for groups and individuals.
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Indiana State Fair announces 2019 Theme
January 3, 2019, INDIANAPOLIS, IN – To pay tribute to the heroism of everyday Hoosiers, the Indiana State Fair announces that its 2019 theme is
HEROES IN THE HEARTLAND
presented by Indiana Donor Network. Throughout the 17-day event, slated for August 2 -18, the Indiana State Fair will salute Hoosier farmers, first responders, educators, members of the Armed Forces, and many others who keep us safe and make us proud. The Fair will celebrate our nurturers, protectors, guardians and guides. Additionally, each day during the fair, Super Heroes featured in box office movies will be highlighted.
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Great Places: NEWSLETTER January 2019
Conservation news from around your world
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Request for Applications
The North Central Region Water Network is currently accepting applications for mini-grant funding. For this year’s request for applications, the Network will provide funding in two categories:
- Applications addressing opportunities and actions arising from the December 11-13, 2018 North Central Region One Water Action Forum. Notes from each working session can be found on the One Water Action Forum website.
- Applications addressing other water-related extension priorities in the North Central Region.
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Nature Play Days, June 8-16, 2019
Registration of Play Days now Open!
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!
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EEAI 2019 Conference
SAVE the DATE: November 1-3, 2019
McCormick's Creek State Park
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Job Postings
:
Current list of Conservation Job Opportunities now posted on the
IASWCD website.
- Big Creek Watershed Coordinator, Posey County SWCD
- Soil and Water Technician, Marshall 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
:
February 1 - Clinton County: Equipment Set Up for Soil Health
February 2-6 - NACD Annual Meeting
February 18 - President's Day
March 6 - Southern Indiana Grazing Conference
March 12 - Elkhart County: Soak Up Your Resources
March 10 - Daylight Savings Time starts
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The
IASWCD YouTube Channel
now features the 2018 District Showcase Award Videos for Adams, Bartholomew, Marion and Porter County Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
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