Conservation INsight August 15, 2018

IASWCD News

Deadlines Approaching for SWCD Region Meetings District Supervisors and Staff - Join us for an optional tour (at 3 of the locations) and an evening of beneficial training, discussion and networking! A light-hearted competition between regions will take place based on attendance. Bring a canned good/non-perishable to the meeting and receive extra points for your region! Specific meeting agendas and updates can be viewed on the  IASWCD Conservation Calendar . (RSVPs due one week prior to the meeting date.)  Register at:  tinyurl.com/RegionMeetings2018 Flyer:   Region Meetings

Northwest - August 30 Northeast - September 10 Central - September 13 Southwest - August 20 Southeast - August 22

IASWCD Resolution Submission Districts - if you would like to submit a resolution for consideration, please fill out this  Google Form . Resolutions are  due to the IASWCD office by Friday, September 7, 2018 .

Upcoming Conservation Awards Friend of Conservation, Supervisor of the Year and Conservation Farmer of the Year Awards information on the IASWCD Awards page . Nominations due by September 7 .

CCSI News CCSI Awarded Funding: NCR-SARE Announces 2018 Research & Education, Graduate Student, and Professional Development Grant Awards The North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) Program is pleased to announce the  projects recommended for funding  for the Research and Education, Graduate Student, and Professional Development competitive grant programs. Forty-eight projects were awarded a total of more than $4 million through these three NCR-SARE grant programs, which offer competitive grants for researchers, graduate students, organizations, agricultural educators, and others who are exploring sustainable agriculture in America’s Midwest. For the 2018 Research and Education program, NCR-SARE awarded $3.01 million to 16 projects ranging from $98,561 to $200,000.  Read more

NACD News

New York High School Named 2018 NCF-ENVIROTHON Champions The 2018 National Conservation Foundation (NCF)-Envirothon competition concluded, with The Mount Academy team from Esopus, N.Y., winning first place. Read more NACD Sends Letter to FARM BILL Conference Committee WASHINGTON, D.C.  – The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) sent a  letter  to the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate members assigned to the 2018 Farm Bill conference committee. The letter outlines the organization’s legislative priorities for the 2018 Farm Bill. NACD supports a final bill that includes level funding for the Conservation Title, retains the current conservation delivery system within the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), and ensures the identity and purpose of the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) are maintained. “We’re one step closer to getting this farm bill done,” NACD President Brent Van Dyke said. “Both agriculture committees have spent the better part of two years getting prepared for this moment. We encourage the conference committee to protect the locally-led, voluntary, incentive-based conservation model. Conservation districts enable decision-making to occur at the local level, which only serves to make farm bill conservation programs more effective. This committee has the opportunity to ensure that continues to be the case.” Read more

NACD Announces 2019 Annual Meeting Call for Breakout Sessions NACD is now  accepting applications for breakout sessions  for the 2019 Annual Meeting. Applications must be submitted to NACD Northeast Region Representative and Policy Specialist Eric Hansenat  eric-hansen@nacdnet.org  by Friday, September 14. Read more NACD Signs Cooperative Agreement with National Wild Turkey Federation WILLIAMSBURG, Va.  - The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) during the organization’s conservation forum and tour in Williamsburg, Virginia. The MOU between NACD and NWTF establishes an agreement to enhance the productivity of wild turkey and other wildlife habitats on private lands. Read more

NOMINATE YOUR CONSERVATION HEROES TODAY! NACD’s deadline for the Friend of Conservation Award and the Distinguished Service Award nominations are due Aug. 31.  Visit NACD’s website  for full award descriptions and nomination requirements.

IDEA News

2018 IDEA Fall Conference "Review the Basics, Renew Your Mind, Regenerate Your Passion" October 2-4, 2018 Fourwinds Lakeside Inn & Marina, Bloomington, IN Book your room now! Conference brochure Registration link

ISDA News

Indiana Agriculture Insider July 31 edition

USDA-NRCS News New Farmers.gov Soil Health Page with Resources Visit the new farmers.gov/soilhealth page  for additional resources on managing for soil health.

New Indiana State Conservationist Announced Indianapolis, IN, July 25, 2018 ‒ The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Indiana welcomes new state conservationist, Jerry Raynor.  Jerry will oversee 80 local service centers, four area offices, and eight conservation delivery teams across the state and over 200 employees who work directly with farmers and landowners. Jerry is a native of North Carolina and has spent a majority of his 26-year career as part of the conservation partnership there. Jerry began his career with NRCS as a student trainee and he spent most of his early years in field and area office conservationist positions. Read more

2018 Conservation Innovation Grant Project Funding Announcements Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) are competitive grants that drive public and private sector innovation in resource conservation. Authorized by the 2002 Farm Bill, CIG uses Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) funds to award competitive grants to non-Federal governmental or nongovernmental organizations, American Indian Tribes, or individuals. Producers involved in CIG funded projects must be EQIP eligible. More about CIG

Purdue Extension News

Public Field Days The Purdue Agricultural Centers (PACS) offer public field days, workshops, and other events. These events provide educational opportunities for commodity producers, crop/livestock advisers, and others seeking knowledge in crop production, farm management, land use, and other issues. View Upcoming Field Days Info

Other News Investments in pollinator health research WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced 14 grants totaling approximately $10 million for research to help sustain healthy populations of pollinators, which are crucial to the nation’s food security and environmental health. The funding is made possible through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program, authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. “One-third of all U.S. crop production requires pollination by animals – primarily honey bees, but also wasps, flies, butterflies, moths, beetles and bats,” said Acting NIFA Director Tom Shanower. “Recent declines in both managed and wild pollinators are of paramount importance to our nation’s food security and the vitality of natural resources.” Read more

Deadline Approaches for Continuous Conservation Reserve Program Enrollment Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Richard Fordyce reminds producers that the deadline to sign up for enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is Friday, Aug. 17, 2018.

American Farmland Trust awarded soil health grant WASHINGTON —  American Farmland Trust , the organization behind the national movement No Farms No Food®, was awarded a highly competitive  2018 Conservation Innovation Grant from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service . Authorized by the 2002 Farm Bill, CIG helps develop the tools, technologies and strategies to support next-generation conservation efforts on working lands. Read more Photo cred: Sannse Proposed Terrestrial Invasive Plants Rule The public comment period is open for the proposed terrestrial plant rule. Please use the following link:  https://www.in.gov/nrc/2377.htm  to access the NRC rule webpage. At the bottom of the page is a list of rules that are open for comment. The terrestrial plant rule is listed last. Click on the “comment on this rule” link and you will be directed to a page that allows you to input personal data in required fields (name, city, county, email address) and a section to write a comment about the proposed rule. If your comments require more space than allowed with the electronic form, please mail your comment with the LSA document number (LSA #18-316) to the following address: Natural Resources Commission, Division of Hearings,  100 North Senate Avenue, Room N103, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 -2200.

Registration opens for Partners in Community Forestry Conference Registration is now open  for the Partners in Community Forestry Conference, which will take placeNov. 7-8 in Irvine, Calif. The meeting is the largest international gathering of urban forestry practitioners, advocates, researchers and government leaders. Conference Agenda & Information Registration Two Workshops Available for ICP Staff Purdue Extension Organic Agriculture , with support from  Indiana SARE , is offering two professional development trainings in September for Indiana Conservation Partnership (ICP) staff. Registration is free, but space is limited. Please read below for details about the trainings, being offered in Jefferson and Huntington counties on September 5 and 13, respectively. Host farms: September 5 - Brawner Farm is a multi-generation family farm that produces certified organic milk, and certified organic and conventional grains on approximately 2000 acres based in Jefferson County, Indiana. Brawner Farm is a member of Organic Valley, the largest organic farmer cooperative in the US. September 13 - BioSteward Farms, owned and operated by Andy Ambriole, produces certified organic and transitional grains, including corn, soybean, wheat, barley, and oats on approximately 1400 acres in northeast Indiana.   Please contact Michael O'Donnell at  modonnel@purdue.edu  or 765-284-8414 with any questions.  View Agenda and Register for September  5/Brawner Farm training View Agenda and Register for September 13/BioSteward Farms training

Invasive Species Training for ICP Employees Featuring Dawn Slack, TNC as Keynote Speaker. Various additional speakers featured at each site. Four dates, four locations. $10/person. Bring your own lunch and drink. View the individual dates on the  IASWCD Events Calendar  for specific agendas and site instructions. August 16 - NW Training August 23 - SE Training August 29 - NE Training August 30 - SW Training

Proposals being accepted for 2019 Indiana Small Farm Conference We hope you'll consider submitting a proposal to present next year at the 7th annual Indiana Small Farm Conference (SFC) in Danville, Indiana, February 28-March 2.S hare your knowledge, passion, and innovation with others! All proposals should cover:  *  Timely, practical farming content  *  Best practices  *  Successes and failures Read more Southern Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management (SICIM): NEW Videos Identifying Invasive Species Videos capturing invasives in Indiana and interviewing the people who manage them.

Job Postings  : Current list of Conservation Job Opportunities now posted on the  IASWCD website. District Administration Manager, LaPorte County Soil & Water Conservation District Resource Conservation Specialist, Clinton County Soil & Water Conservation District 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  : August 15 - River Friendly Farmer Awards Ceremony August 16 - ICP Invasive Species Training August 20 - SW SWCD Region Meeting August 21 - Native Plant Stewardship Class, Brown Co. August 22 - Drainage School August 22 - SW SWCD Region Meeting August 23 - ICP Invasive Species Training August 28 - Leadership Institute August 28-30 - Soil Health & Sustainability, Beck Ag Ctr August 29 - ICP Invasive Species Training August 30 - NW SWCD Region Meeting August 30 - ICP Invasive Species Training August 30 - Davis Purdue Ag Center Field Day September 5 - Organic Agriculture Professional Development Training September 5-6 - IAFSM Conference, Evansville September 6 - Tri-State Technical Training Field Day September 7 - IASWCD Awards Deadline September 7 - SWCD Resolutions due September 10 - NE SWCD Region Meeting September 13 - CENTRAL SWCD Region Meeting September 13 - Organic Agriculture Professional Development Training September 28 - SSCB Meeting, NRCS, Indianapolis October 2-4 - IDEA Fall Conference, Bloomington, IN October 30 - SSCB Meeting, TBD November 30 - Leadership Institute December 7 - Leadership Institute For a complete list of upcoming conservation events,  go to the Events Calendar on the IASWCD website .

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