Conservation INsight
August 3, 2022
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Summer District Meetings
in August for all 92 Indiana SWCDs
Due to supply shortages, caterers are more strict and need our final numbers much earlier than usual. Please pay attention to the sign-up deadlines* below and sign up as early as possible.
Thank you!
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.
Presentations:
Dan Griffith, Keynote Speaker,
will present on "Strategies for Addressing Difficult Conversations"
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Jerry Raynor, NRCS, and Julia Wickard, FSA, will present and lead discussion on Farm Bill 2023
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Meetings are from 5:30-8:30 pm
(with check-in at 5 pm) (ET)
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August 25 - City of Greensburg Gov't Building (Decatur County); Register: https://bit.ly/SDM_Aug25 *DEADLINE TO REGISTER: AUG 11
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SWCD Resolution Submission
Resolutions to be considered at the 2023 IASWCD Annual Business Meeting in Indianapolis at the Westin on January 10, 2023 must be submitted by emailing the form to Joe Schmees, or through the online form. Deadline: end of business on September 16, 2022. Resolutions will be reviewed by the IASWCD committee and returned in final version to all SWCDs by November 1, for consideration at local board meetings prior to the Annual Business Meeting. A summary of the resolution process can be found on the IASWCD website, Annual Conference webpage. If you have any questions, please reach out to Joe or any of the IASWCD board members.
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In case you missed it . . . |
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e-Survey for CCSI 2022 Strategic Plan
You are invited to participate in a survey that will be used to help us revise the current Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative (CCSI). (You can find the current CCSI Strategic Plan, along with our Mission, Vision, and Values Statements on our website CCSIN.org/about.)
When the plan was updated five years ago, over 375 individuals took part in the process - many by taking an e-Survey. That input was central to shaping our Strategic Plan. With that in mind, we are again asking individuals and organizations who utilize CCSI services, provide advice to CCSI, and/or partner with CCSI on events and projects to complete a survey. It should take about 15 minutes to complete
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Urban Soil Health Program News |
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Upcoming Events
August 9
Pinney Purdue Vegetable Field Day
August 25
Beginning Farmer Tour – Soil Health - Tippecanoe
September 20
Produce Growers Workshop (urban / small farms) – Adams County (Amish-oriented)
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Registration Deadline: September 5
2022 Indiana District Employee Association Conference
Oct. 25-27
Abe Martin Lodge, Nashville, IN
Abe Martin Lodge room reservation number is #812-988-4418, code #1024ID
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Urban agriculture pioneers are taking action in their communities, growing not only fresh, healthy produce, but also providing jobs, beautifying their neighborhoods, and offering access to fresh, healthy food in areas where grocery stores are sparse.
As American agriculture continues to grow in new directions, NRCS conservation assistance is growing along with it. NRCS provides technical and financial assistance for urban growers in areas such as:
- Soil Health
- Irrigation and Water Conservation
- Weeds and Pests
- High Tunnels
Starting an urban farm comes with a unique set of challenges and opportunities. USDA can help with the challenges of conservation, and support urban farmers in their efforts to achieve local, healthy, sustainable food for their communities.
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(July 22, 2022) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages urban producers and others to attend the second public meeting of the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production on August 5. The Committee will discuss new urban conservation practices, focus areas and priorities for the Commission, and the new Farm Service Agency (FSA) urban county committees, among other topics.
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Indiana Urban/Small Farm Conservation Planning 101: Getting Customers Started
August 22
1-4 pm (Eastern)
NCPP was established in 2015 to emphasize the critical role that conservation planning plays in advancing voluntary conservation efforts on private lands. NCPP represents the efforts of five key national conservation partners working together to reinvigorate conservation planning by enhancing and strengthening the effectiveness of planning and our partnership workforce. As NCPP efforts grow, we are looking to expand the partnership to leverage all of the possible resources in the conservation planning arena.
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Ask the Expert: A Q&A on Measuring Voluntary Conservation Outcomes Across the Nation’s Croplands with Evelyn Steglich
By Elizabeth Creech, Natural Resources Inventory and Assessment·Jul 28, 2022
In this Ask the Expert, Evelyn Steglich answers questions about the latest USDA report on voluntary conservation outcomes across the nation’s cultivated croplands. Evelyn is the Acting Modeling Team Lead for USDA’s Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP), an effort led by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to quantify the effects of conservation on private, working lands.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today it will invest $25 million this year for the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials program.
Through CIG, partners work to address our nation's water quality, water quantity, air quality, soil health and wildlife habitat challenges, all while improving agricultural operations. The On-Farm Trials component of CIG supports widespread adoption and evaluation of innovative conservation approaches in partnership with agricultural producers. This year’s funding priorities are climate-smart agricultural solutions, irrigation water management, nutrient management and soil health.
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“Diverse Corn Belt project seeks participants for August focus group!
The Diverse Corn Belt project is a USDA-funded project out of Purdue University working to understand opportunities and barriers to agricultural diversification across the Midwest. We are recruiting farmers to participate in focus groups to discuss opportunities and barriers they face related to diversification. Focus groups will be held at the following dates/locations. In effort to get good coverage of the entire state, we are recruiting farmers from ~60 miles from each location.
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August 8th – NW Indiana (Newton County)
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August 9th – NE Indiana (Adams County)
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August 10th – SW Indiana (Knox County)
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August 11th – SE Indiana (Shelby County)
Each focus group will last 2 hours and participants will be provided a meal and $100 as a token of our appreciation. We are recruiting two “types” of farmers; Farmers who have experience with diversified agriculture practices/products (extended crop rotations, grazed livestock, horticultural food crops, small grains, agroforestry, etc.) and farmers who have experience with more traditional agriculture practices/products (corn/bean).
If you are a farmer interested in participating or know someone who is (traditional corn/bean, or more diversified) you can…
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Contact Emily Usher, project manager, at eusher@purdue.edu or (765) 496-0997, or
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Take this quick survey to indicate interest and we will follow up
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Becoming the Employer of Choice
Virtual Program via Zoom
August 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, & 16
9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Eastern
While this virtual training has a focus in agriculture, the leadership and management principles and techniques can be applicable across different types of businesses.
Attendees will gain effective and practical approaches to managing human resource challenges on the farm. The program consists of seven modules addressing how different leadership styles are used on the farm; reducing mis-hires and turnover through hiring best practices; learning about organizational culture and how it impacts employee motivation and engagement; identifying keys to create a motivating environment; learning how to effectively communicate expectations to employees; developing skills to provide effective feedback; and learning ways to address and work through conflict. Cost: $40
If you have questions about this event or need reasonable accommodations, contact Amanda Mosiman at bailey1@purdue.edu
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MyDNR: Indiana's Outdoor News |
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Newsletter: Currents
Including their New LIVE Podcast!
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5th Annual Indiana Water Summit
The Water Summit will be held over two days, September 7 and 8, at The Athenaeum in downtown Indianapolis. Each day will run from 9:00 am - 3:30 pm with optional events at the conclusion of each day. A draft agenda for each day is available on our website.
Early bird registration is now open! Take advantage of these special prices now through August 12! Note: If you are with a water or wastewater utility, the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) will pay for your attendance on Day 1, September 7 – Regional Water Planning. There is a separate registration link for you to take advantage of this opportunity.
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Aug 11, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM EDT
Teter Organic Farm, 10980 E 221st St, Noblesville, IN 46062, USA
Join conservation professionals for a day that includes veggies, pollinators and more at Teter Organic Farm in Noblesville, IN.
The training will include:
- Farm tour and discussions
- Urban farm conservation planning
- Small farm soil health
- Pollinators – promoting their presence and protecting their health in an urban setting (tent.)
- Lunch will be provided
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2022 Indiana Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) Conference:
INVASIVE SPECIES AND LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY
August 17 - In-Person Conference
August 18-20 - Statewide Field Days
Click the link below for agenda, cost
and all the details.
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“The Nature of Oaks” Webinar with author Doug Tallamy
September 13 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Join IFWOA on this Zoom webinar as we learn from Dr. Doug Tallamy about our amazing oaks and their ecological contributions.
Free for IFWOA members, $5 for nonmembers, registration is required to receive the Zoom link.
Oaks sustain a complex and fascinating web of wildlife. The Nature of Oaks reveals what is going on in oak trees month by month, highlighting the seasonal cycles of life, death, and renewal. From woodpeckers who collect and store hundreds of acorns for sustenance to the beauty of jewel caterpillars, Tallamy illuminates and celebrates the wonders that occur right in our own yards and restorations. He also shares practical advice about how to plant and care for an oak, along with information about the best oak species for your area. The Nature of Oaks will inspire you to treasure these trees and to act to nurture and protect them.
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Grant Funds for Forestry Education
The Indiana Forestry Educational Foundation (IFEF) is pleased to announce the availability of competitive grant funds to help educate and inform woodland owners and/or the public about forestry, woodland management and other Indiana forestry related topics.
If you have an idea for an education product or event for 2023, please consider submitting an application. The opportunity for award of IFEF grants, which are available up to $500.00 grant awards, and up to $1000 awards for special projects, are available for application through September 18. Awards will be announced in November.
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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:
August 10 - River Friendly Farmer Award Ceremony
August 17 - CISMA Conference, in-person
August 18-20 - CISMA Conf Field Days
August 23 - Summer District Meeting
August 24 - Upper Wabash River....field day
August 25 - Summer District Meeting
August 29 - Summer District Meeting
August 31 - Summer District Meeting
Sept 1 - Soil Health Field Day, Clay Co
Sept 7 - New Cover Crops & Old Eqpmnt, Porter Co
Sept 7-8 - Indiana Water Summit
Sept 20 - Urban and Small Farms, Adams Co
*As events sometimes have to pivot from in-person to virtual, we encourage you to 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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