One more day for Indiana SWCDs to nominate a River Friendly Farmer from their community. These award recipients will be honored during the Indiana State Fair on August 9.

Save the Date for these upcoming Summer Summits. You won't want to miss this time to network in your region and participate in this learning opportunity. More details to follow.

• August 1: S-SW region, Petersburg
• August 8: S-SE region, Corydon
• August 15: S-NE region, Muncie
• August 22: S-NW region, Thorntown
• August 24: N-SW region, Greencastle
• August 29: N-SE region, Greensburg
• August 31: N-NW region, Rensselaer
• September 7: N-NE region, LaGrange



These summits will be held in-person in the evening and include dinner.

More details to follow!

IASWCD Board Member, Roger Wenning, Shares Mental Health Journey

Out of the darkness: Farmer shines light on mental health

By: Allison Lund, Indiana Prairie Farmer

Farmers prioritize their livestock, plant and soil health, but among those should also be mental health. With stressors so different from other professions, it is increasingly important for farmers to keep mental health top of mind.

Early bird registration for NACD's 2023 Summer Meeting closes in one month! Sign up to attend before June 23, 2023 to save up to $100 on registration costs. Hosted in partnership with the North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts, the 2023 Summer Meeting will take place in Bismarck, North Dakota from July 15-19, 2023. 

The National Conservation Planning Partnership (NCPP) created the Hugh Hammond Bennett Awards for Conservation Excellence in 2017 to honor the legacy of Hugh Hammond Bennett by recognizing producers and conservation planners from within the NCPP partnership who have exemplified outstanding service through development and implementation of sound conservation planning and other conservation techniques.

This year, we are looking to slightly change the process. Instead of having the nomination form open in the Fall, we are planning to open the nomination form on July 1st with a deadline of September 1st. This change is to ensure there is a sufficient amount of time to engage the regional award process. More information to come in NCPP's next message later this month. 

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to NCPP and we look forward to receiving your nominations! 

Application Period Now Open for Regional Conservation Partnership Program

The application period is now open for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). RCPP leverages a voluntary approach to conservation that expands the reach of conservation efforts and climate-smart agriculture through public-private partnerships.

Read the following press release for more information: USDA Announces Availability of $500 Million to Better Support Partners, Producers as Part of Investing in America Agenda

Toward the end of the year, ISDA will have a training with State Board of Accounts and the Indiana Department of Revenue, tentatively. In order to tailor the training, please submit any questions you may have at the button below.

ISDA is hosting a virtual CWI Info and Networking Session on June 15 at 12pm Eastern. See flyer for more details.

ISDA's Monthly Newsletter

Partnership is Key for Conservation Success in Indiana; New Record for Conservation Practices Set

INDIANAPOLIS (May 15, 2023) —The Indiana Conservation Partnership (ICP) announced its 2022 conservation accomplishments. The ICP works with Hoosier landowners to provide technical or financial assistance for the implementation of conservation projects. In 2022, landowners supported by the ICP installed more than 47,000 new conservation practices, up over 15,000 from 2021.

October 4-6

French Lick Resort, French Lick, IN

USDA Offers Indiana Producers Many Conservation Choices with Continuous CRP

Indianapolis, May 31, 2023 – Agricultural producers and landowners in Indiana interested in conservation opportunities for their land in exchange for yearly rental payments can find many possibilities through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (Continuous CRP). This option offers conservation benefits similar to others, like General and Grassland CRP, but also offers unique flexibility and several program choices. 

WASHINGTON, May 31, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline for the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two and Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP) to July 14, 2023, to give producers more time to apply for assistance. The original deadline was June 2.  

November 15-16, 2023

12:00 - 4:00 pm (EDT)

Beck Ag Center, 4550 US-52, West Lafayette, IN 47906

December 13-14, 2023

Tippecanoe County 4-H Fairgrounds, 1406 Teal Road, Lafayette, IN 47905

Contact: Steven McKinley (mckinles@purdue.edu)

New Heat Reduction Funding from the

Federal Highway Administration

Sponsors: U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) 

To fund projects addressing climate resilience of transportation systems, including improving highways, public transportation, ports, and intercity passenger rail. Selected projects will use innovative and collaborative approaches to risk reduction through the use of nature-based solutions, including conservation, restoration, or construction of shade trees, native vegetation, bioswales, marshes, wetlands, breakwaters, reefs, and dunes.

Closing date: August 18

June 29

9 am - 4 pm (EDT)

Hamilton County Fairgrounds, Noblesville, IN

Fee: $25 (includes lunch)

Deadline to register is June 16

Nominate a River Hero or Emerging Leader

All too frequently, the individuals and groups working toward healthy, resilient rivers; safe, affordable drinking water; and climate-resilient communities aren’t celebrated in the moment. The essential work, whether a marathon or a sprint, is often overshadowed by the long road ahead. River Network’s awards, presented at River Rally, are designed to recognize that, while another challenge might be right around the corner, there is great progress happening by champions across the network, and this progress deserves our appreciation and celebration!

Deadline to nominate is August 31.

New Trainings Aim to Close Knowledge Gaps About Financial Impacts of Conservation Agriculture Practices

A two-part training for conservation professionals and educators:

What You Need to Know to Help Farmers Do Conservation Profitably

You know farmers want to learn how conservation pencils out, but do you find yourself unsure how to answer a farmer’s questions related to the costs, benefits, and return on investment (ROI)? This training will help you talk with farmers about what is known about the ways cover crops, conservation tillage, and managed grazing impact farm profitability.

"The Fundamentals of River Science: Applied Geomorphology and Ecology" workshop will be hosted August 7-11, 2023 in Fergus Falls. To register, complete and submit the registration form found in the 2023 brochure.