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Conservation INsight
June 8, 2022
IASWCD News
2022 ISDA/NRCS/SWCD
Partnership Meeting
for Staff
July 28 in Hendricks County
9:30am - 2:30pm
(Check-in 8:30am-9:15am)
$12/person (includes lunch)

Registration Now Open!
View the IASWCD Partnership Staff Gathering webpage for more details including speakers, agenda and lunch menu!
TODAY! JUNE 8 DEADLINE!
River Friendly Farmer Award Nominations
Annually, each Indiana county Soil and Water Conservation District may nominate up to two farmers for the River Friendly Farmer Award. Nominate those who do an outstanding job of protecting their rivers, lakes and streams through their every day conservation management practices on the farm.
Nominations due June 8. Signature Forms due no later than July 15. Please reach out to Amy Work (amy-work@iaswcd.org) if you have any questions.
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Registration Now Open!
Summer District Meetings
in August for all 92 Indiana SWCDs
IASWCD and ISDA are planning four Summer District Meetings. Attend the night that is most convenient for you and your district. Time for dinner and networking will be included.
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Meetings are from 5:30-8:30 pm
(with check-in at 5 pm) (ET)
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Topics include:
Dan Griffith, Keynote Speaker,
will present on "Strategies for Addressing Difficult Conversations"
and
USDA will present on Farm Bill 2023
ICP News
Invasive Plant ID Training for ICP Staff, Now Free
Spend time in the field learning to identify many of the invasive plants throughout Indiana. Register soon as these workshops may fill quickly. Space is limited to maximize the training experience. Receive a take-home Plant ID booklet. Hosted by the ICP Training Committee and SICIMthese sessions will be held from 10 am to 2 pm (Eastern). Bring your own lunch. These training sessions are now free of charge. Each location has its own registration site. Click button below for more details on the ICP website.
  • June 21 - Rogers-Lakewood Park
  • June 22 - Shades State Park (FULL)
  • June 23 - Salomon Farm Park (FULL)
  • June 24 - Cope Environmental Center
CCSI News
Seats are limited and have been reserved by agency. We will be taking waitlist names. On June 1, any unused seats will be distributed to waitlisted individuals and any remaining seats will be opened to the general public.
Three Day Soil Health Training for ICP Staff and Extension Educators
  • What: Soil Health and Sustainability for Midwestern Field Staff
  • When: June 21-23 in person
  • Where: Beck Agricultural Center at the Agronomy Center for Research and Education, West Lafayette.
  • Pre-requisites: Several months (ideally over a year) experience working for your respective agency AND completed either undergraduate soils class or CCSI-SARE Core Soil Health and Cover Crops Training
Urban Soil Health Program News
Virtual USH Monthly Program Call 
NOTE: Time change of this update call to 1pm-2:30pm Eastern due to the ICP Webinar from 9am-10:30am.
June 14 Call
Agenda (Eastern time)
  • 1:00 – 1:15 – Intros, Regional updates, new Resources
  • 1:15 – 2:00 – Highlight – Daniel Mays farm – Frith Farm (Author of the No-Till Organic Vegetable Farm) – by Kevin Allison (recently toured the farm)
  • 2:00 – 2:15 – Highlight - Monroe County – Urban / small farm work
  • 2:15 – 2:30 – Partner shares, Q&A
If you have questions about the Southwest region, contact Holly McCutchan directly at holly.mccutchan@in.nacdnet.net
You must register in advance to receive the Zoom link: https://bit.ly/UrbanUpdates
NACD News
2022 Summer Meeting Registration
The lineup of speakers for NACD's 2022 Summer Meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico is expanding daily. You are not going to want to miss addresses from NRCS Chief Terry Cosby, or panels including experts in forestry, biology, coastal conservation, ecological restoration, and more! See the current lineup of speakers on NACD's website and check back regularly for updates.
IDEA News
NCDEA: North Central & Northern Plains Joint Leadership Meeting
The National Conservation District Employees Association (NCDEA) Joint Leadership Meeting will take place on August 16 and 17 in Sioux Falls, SD. The planning team has worked hard to draft an agenda focused on Conservation District Boards and long-term planning. Participants will have an opportunity to hear from and work with other District leaders and leave with new tools to help engage board and staff members. Cost: $110 and includes lunch on both days as well as applicable Eventbrite fees. This will be a great opportunity to engage and network with other District Staff from across other states and learn new perspectives on managing district offices and boards.  
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SAVE THE DATE!
IDEA Fall Conference
October 25-27
Abe Martin Lodge, Brown County
ISDA News
ISDA's Grant Writing and Grants Management Workshops
For the best learning experience, please join these trainings live at the dates & times listed below.
  • Grant Writing Workshop: June 23, 1:30PM EDT
  • Grants Management Workshop: July 12, 10AM EDT
  • View the flyer for more details and links to join these workshops
ISDA's Newsletter:
Indiana Agriculture Insider
USDA-NRCS News
In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar. Violent protests erupted in the nearby streets for the next six days. One year later, on the first anniversary of the raid, the first gay pride march was held in NYC and cities throughout the country. Fifty-three years later, that one day event has spread to encompass the entire month of June, during which Pride Month is annually celebrated. The Indiana Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) is observing this important heritage month by honoring the work that has been accomplished and all that must still be done to promote inclusion for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) employees, landowners and farmers.
Check it out . . .
USDA Advances Food System Transformation with $43 Million for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production, Adds New Urban County Committees
Funding is First Part of $75 Million Investment to Support a Fairer Food System and Expand Access to Nutritious Food
WASHINGTON, June 3, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announces significant investments to support urban agriculture, including $43.1 million for grants and cooperative agreements as well as six new urban county committees to help deliver key USDA programs to urban producers. These actions support USDA’s efforts to strengthen the food supply chain and transform the food system to be fairer, more competitive, and more resilient.
Purdue Extension News
NCR-SARE's 2022 Heroes
includes Roy Ballard, Indiana
In 2012, the NCR-SARE Administrative Council created the NCR-SARE Hero Recognition to highlight, recognize, and pay tribute to those who have made significant contributions to NCR-SARE and/or National SARE. NCR-SARE is pleased to announce that Roy Ballard and Tom Coudron have been named the 2022 NCR-SARE Heroes.
IDNR News
MyDNR: Indiana's Outdoor News
Other News
Women4theLand:
Discussion Leader Information
and Meet Up

June 16 at 12 pm (Eastern) - Zoom session
For anyone interested in learning more about W4L and becoming a Discussion Leader.
Formerly known as facilitators, discussion leaders help guide the programs supported by W4L. We will discuss the role and responsibilities of discussion leaders with information you can share with your supervisors, and also announce an upcoming training date. For any questions, please contact Heather Bacher, state coordinator,at hbacher@women4theland.org.
White River Alliance Newsletter: Currents
Indiana Envirothon Committee
to meet June 27
The Indiana Envirothon Committee will have their summer meeting on Monday, June 27 in Indianapolis. The meeting will be 9 AM to 2 PM EDT at the Indiana Farm Bureau Building on S East Street, Indianapolis.
 
Agenda items include a critique of the Regional and State Contests, prep for the national Envirothon, and working on some organizational items such as the by-laws and officer elections.
 
This would be a great opportunity to come and see what we’re all about! Any ICP staff are encouraged to attend and become involved with this worthwhile natural resources outreach program. Contact Judi Brown, Dubois County SWCD with questions. 812-482-1171 Ext. 3446.
Audubon Great Lakes
Indiana Poll Reveals Strong Bipartisan Support for Protecting Wetlands
INDIANA (May 10, 2022) – Indiana has lost more than 85 percent of its wetlands – important natural infrastructure that buffers communities against flooding, absorbs carbon pollution, and provides habitat for vulnerable birds and other wildlife. Today, in recognition of American Wetlands Month, Audubon Great Lakes released findings from an Indiana state-wide poll, which shows that Hoosiers, overwhelmingly, do not want wetlands protections weakened. 
Videos now available from Leadership for Midwestern Watersheds
The Leadership for Midwestern Watersheds meeting was held two months ago in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Whether you attended or not, you can now view recordings of several presentations from the event.
Woodland Owner Nominations for Charles Deam Award, Now Open
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 the forest landowners who are demonstrating exceptional management of their forest resources.
This year you can submit a name online at https://forms.gle/FdtRsG27ixT8gBu78. Nominations can be made by any person or organization. The nominator should contact the landowner and get permission before making the nomination and provide basic contact information for the landowner. Self-nominations are not accepted. Any private landowner possessing 10 acres or more of woodland property within the state of Indiana and who has owned the property for no less than 1 full year is eligible. The owner must have a written forest management plan that has been approved by a professional forester.
Register for the 77th SWCS International Annual Conference by June 22
Join us at the 77th SWCS International Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado, on July 31-August 3, 2022. This year’s conference will feature the latest ideas, technologies, and practices and foster a dialogue around their scaling. Through workshops, sessions, symposia, tours, exhibits, and demonstrations, cutting-edge research and practice developments in soil health, water quality, and resource management will be shared. The early registration cutoff is June 22, 2022, and the online registration cutoff is July 20, 2022.
Pollinator Partnership Newsletter
The Nitty-Gritty of Soil Health
Yes, growing good food requires growing good soil. But what does that look like on (and in) the ground? Let these farmers tell you. Taking the extra time to consider soil health practices has paid back exponentially for them. In this busy start to the growing season, these good ideas bring you back to the foundation. Take a breath today and remember the soil.
Featured Monthly Pledge:
Native Plants and Pollinators
Last month we talked about using less fertilizer on your lawn… Now let’s talk about what you SHOULD add to your lawn, native plants! There are so many benefits that come with using native plants in your landscape.
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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.
Upcoming Conservation Events:
June 8 - RFF nominations due
June 14 - ICP annual webinar
June 20-26 - Pollinator Week
June 21 - ICP Invasive Plant ID Training
June 22 - ICP Invasive Plant ID Training (FULL)
June 23 - ICP Invasive Plant ID Training (FULL)
June 23 - Grant Writing workshop, ISDA
June 24 - ICP Invasive Plant ID Training
July 12 - Grant Management workshop, ISDA
July 28 - ISDA/NRCS/SWCD Partnership Meeting
July 29 - District Showcase Award applications due
July 31-August 3 - SWCS International Conference
August 23 - Summer District Meeting
August 25 - Summer District Meeting
August 29 - Summer District Meeting
August 31 - Summer District Meeting
Sept 7-8 - Indiana Water Summit
For a complete list of upcoming conservation events, go to the Events Calendar on the IASWCD website.*
*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.