Conservation INsight
July 21, 2021
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Indiana District Showcase Award Now Accepting Online Applications
Indiana’s District Showcase Award is designed to highlight the success of up to four local Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) in the Hoosier state. The award focus allows Districts the opportunity to share new project ideas or better ways to design and implement existing conservation projects, etc. The award is sponsored by the Indiana Conservation Partnership. 2021 District Showcase Award applications are now being accepted online and are due Wednesday, August 4.
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State Fair Pathway to Water Quality - Open Volunteer Spots
The Pathway to Water Quality exhibit is currently a "work in progress" as Indiana Conservation Partnership staff have been working hard to get it ready for the opening of the Indiana State Fair! Additional Exhibit and Demonstration space has been added in what was once the adjacent Boy Scout area. Volunteers are still needed for open spots to serve as Educators, Greeters and Ambassadors.
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Register Now for the Three Remaining VirTuesday Trainings
Each date/topic below will link you to the description and registration site:
These trainings are being recorded
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Indiana SWCDs - Submit Resolutions Now through Sept 17
Now is the time to consider and submit resolutions for the 2022 Annual Business Meeting. Resolutions to be presented at the 2022 Annual Business Meeting should be submitted using the Word document or the online form no later than Friday, September 17, 2021.
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VirTuesday Questionnaire for Districts - Submit ?'s in Advance
For the remaining three VirTuesdays, we are asking District Staff and Supervisors to visit this questionnaire to submit your questions and/or topics you'd like discussed during these presentations. Thank you!
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'SHOUT OUT' To Indiana's Delaware and Owen County SWCDs for their Write-Ups in NACD's Blog
Delaware County SWCD Improves River Flow, Aquatic Habitat and Recreation on the White River
By Katrina Stacey
In Muncie, Indiana, where there are numerous dams that are either degraded or no longer needed, the Delaware County SWCD found partners to help fund the removal of two low-head dams and the modification of a third along the White River.
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SWCD Helping to Restore Bottomland in Indiana
Owen County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) may be putting the town of Southport, Indiana back on the map through conservation efforts that include replanting acres of bottomland.
“This is great for forest management and forest restoration education,” Owen County SWCD Executive Director Devin Brown said.
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Nominate Your Conservation Leaders Today
Now is the time to send in your nominations for the 2021 NACD Service Awards. This opportunity offers national recognition to outstanding individuals and organizations for their work and leadership in soil and water conservation. Winners will be honored at the 2022 NACD Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla. on February 15. Nominations due August 31.
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August 6 Deadline
to Register for Fall Conference is Quickly Approaching
IDEA Annual Fall Conference is October 5-7. Registration deadline is August 6.
See website for more details.
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State Soil Conservation Board Meeting
Save the Date for the next SSCB meeting - September 21
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USDA Announces Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers
Farm Service Agency Will Begin Accepting Applications on July 22
WASHINGTON, July 20, 2021 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing up to $200 million to provide relief to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses that have experienced losses due to COVID-19 as part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Loggers and truckers can apply for assistance through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) July 22 through Oct. 15, 2021. The Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers program (PATHH) is administered by FSA in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service.
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USDA Announces Dates for Conservation Reserve Program Grasslands Signups
WASHINGTON, July 12, 2021 –– Agricultural producers and landowners can apply for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands signup from today until August 20. This year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) updated signup options to provide greater incentives for producers and increase the program’s conservation and climate benefits, including setting a minimum rental rate and identifying two national priority zones. The CRP Grassland signup is competitive, and USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will provide for annual rental payments for land devoted to conservation purposes.
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Community and Urban Forestry Assistance Grant Announcement
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources Community and Urban Forestry (CUF) program has opened its 2021 Community & Urban Forestry Assistance (CUFA) Grant application period. CUFA funds are provided by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USFS) Northeastern Area. They encourage communities throughout Indiana to advance their urban forestry goals through application to this program. Applications due August 13.
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Division of Fish and Wildlife |
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Wild Turkey Brood Reporting Period is July 1 - August 31
Help the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife monitor summer production of wild turkeys by recording wild turkey sightings during July and August using our online survey tool.
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Featured Pledge:
Waterfowl Management
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Indiana Agricultural Leadership Program
Class 20
Applications NOW Available
Interested in growing your leadership ability?
Now is the time to make that happen.
Indiana Agricultural Leadership Program
is seeking individuals who will step forward to lead agriculture and rural communities for today and tomorrow. They are seeking individuals who want to advance their skills and expertise in leadership; who desire to be more knowledgeable about those areas of public policy that impact agriculture and the process for impacting decision making at local, state and federal levels. Seeking individuals ready to be a "Difference Maker" for agriculture.
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Clean Sweep Waste Pesticide Collection Days Planned for August
The 2021 Pesticide Clean Sweep Project sponsored by the Office of Indiana State Chemist (OISC) offers statewide collection sites in Elkhart, Fountain, Knox, Harrison, Union and Hendricks counties in August. This is a great way for farmers, public and private schools, ag dealers, nurseries, golf courses, cities, towns, municipalities, county units of government and others to dispose of suspended, canceled, banned, unusable, opened, unopened or just unwanted pesticides (weed killers, insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, miticides, etc.) for free (up to 250 pounds per participant).
Those wanting to participate are required to complete and submit a planning form.
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Self-paced course
Estimated time to complete this course: 8–12 hours
Price: $200 $150 through July 23
Get the guidance and tools you need to craft a competitive grant proposal. This special promotion will end on Friday, July 23 at 11:59 pm ET.
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Pollinator Action Team Update |
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American Farmland Trust Shares Updated Soil Health Economic Calculator
New pricing data provides row crop farmers with a more accurate picture of the costs and benefits of their soil health practices, plus customized almond version
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 13, 2021 By Lori Sallet– Today, American Farmland Trust, the organization that for 40 years has been saving the land that sustains us and advancing the principles of regenerative agriculture, shares an updated AFT’s Retrospective Soil Health Economic Calculator (R-SHEC) Tool, providing farmers and the conservation community a means of evaluating the return on investment (ROI) of soil health conservation practices with 2020 price and crop data. The previous version of the tool used 2019 information. This updated pricing allows farmers to obtain a more accurate picture of the costs and benefits of their investments in soil health.
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W4L Series: Dive Into Pond Management
See website for details regarding registration
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2021 Indiana CISMA Conference: Why do We Manage Invasive Species?
August 4-7
The 2021 Indiana CISMA Conference will take place as a multi-format event with a combination of virtual and in person opportunities. The conference will offer continuing education credits via pre-recorded presentations from conference speakers, to be made available to registrants only. A live virtual meeting will take place the morning on Thursday, August 5. This year there will also be a virtual networking session on Wednesday, August 4.
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Job Postings :
Current list of Conservation Job Opportunities now posted on the IASWCD website.
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 :
July 22 - District Success with Women4theLand
July 26 - W4L: Pond Management Series
July 28 - Agronomy Field Day, Steuben Co.
July 30-August 22 - Indiana State Fair
August 2 - W4L: Pond Management Series
August 9 - W4L: Pond Management Series
August 14 - Pollinator Field Day, Dearborn Co.
August 24 - VirTuesday: Human Resource Management 101, Contract Employee vs. District Employee
September 21 - VirTuesday: Records Retention
September 21 - State Soil Conservation Board Mtg
October 5-7 - IDEA Conference for Indiana SWCD Staff
October 19 - VirTuesday: Turning Data into Action
*As more events begin to take place in person, please check the individual hosting organization's website and/or Facebook page for the latest information on locations, guidelines and details. Thank you.
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