2024 Annual Conference of Indiana SWCDs |
SWCD Supervisor Scholarships Available for SWCD Conference - Due Friday, November 10 | If your SWCD Supervisors are unable to attend the 2024 conference due to budget restrictions, consider applying for an IASWCD Scholarship. One application per District will be accepted for consideration and must be submitted by end of day on November 10. | Save up to $60: Early Bird Registration Discount Ends Next Week! | SWCD conference registration discounted rates good through November 16. Sign up to save $$$. | SWCDs: Register Your Delegates for the 2024 Annual IASWCD Business Meeting | Each SWCD in good standing (fully paid annual dues) with the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts will have the opportunity to have one SWCD Supervisor delegate participate in the IASWCD Business Meeting on January 9, 2024 during the Annual Conference. The vote of the District will be cast by the delegate or the alternate. One delegate and an alternate shall be selected by each District before the date of any Association meeting and their names shall be submitted to the Association electronically no fewer than ten days prior to the meeting. All such delegates and alternates shall be officially elected and/or appointed supervisors or associate supervisors. Delegates must be registered by December 29. |
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Clean Water Indiana Breakfast at the Statehouse
Tuesday, January 9
7:00 am (Eastern)
Indiana Statehouse Atrium
Join us as we bring conservation to the legislature on the very first day of the session. If you are attending the 2024 SWCD Conference it is included. If you are not attending the conference, you can still register to attend this very important breakfast (here) by choosing "Meals Only" in the Registration Type drop box.
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Conservation Family Loss, Lisa Waggoner
Lisa Michelle (Petro) Waggoner, 60, of the Bengal Community of Shelby County, IN passed away Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at her residence surrounded by her loving family. Lisa was previously an educator for the Johnson County SWCD.
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Indiana Farm Featured in Guided Tour of
Soil Health Systems & Farm Economics
Indiana's Rulon Enterprises LLC was featured in a multi-year collaboration project with NACD, the Soil Health Institute (SHI) and NRCS, which highlights the positive impacts of improving soil health on farm profitability and resilience. Extensive interviews were conducted with 30 farmers implementing soil health management systems (SHMS) across 20 states to learn about their experiences with adopting those systems and to assess the impact of that adoption on net farm income.
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Check out the CCSI website for Upcoming Soil Health Events! | |
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National No-Till Conference Discount Offered to the Indiana Conservation Partnership
ICP staff and supervisors are eligible for a discounted registration rate for the 32nd Annual National No-Tillage Conference. The regular registration rate of $549 is reduced by 45% for members, bringing the cost down to $299. This includes access to all educational sessions, meals, and networking functions from January 10-12, 2024, at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown.
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What is a Soil Health Working Group?
Working Groups are partnerships between conservation agencies, farmers, gardeners, non-profits, environmental advocates, and more.
A local group is responsible to advise on issues and promote opportunities that relate to urban and small farm soil health.
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Economics of Soil Health Systems: A Guided Tour | The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) entered into an agreement with the Soil Health Institute (SHI) and the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) to facilitate a project entitled “Economics of Soil Health Systems to Enhance Adoption and Environmental Benefits.” The purpose of this agreement is to assess, demonstrate and communicate the economics of soil health-promoting practices and systems to increase adoption of soil health management systems to achieve environmental and on-farm benefits. |
What's Up In Washington: Government Affairs Update | |
Congress is working to develop and pass a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the federal government after the current CR expires on November 17. A government shutdown will occur unless federal funding legislation is passed before that deadline. NACD encourages districts to communicate with their local NRCS offices to prepare for a potential shutdown.
Congress and agriculture committee leaders are also exploring attaching an extension of the 2018 Farm Bill to a CR. Agriculture committee leaders in the House and Senate are continuing to develop a new Farm Bill, but several significant policy decisions still need to be resolved.
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Friends of NACD District Grant Program, Applications Now Being Accepted
NACD recently announced the launch of its application period for the 2024 Friends of NACD District Grants Program! Now in its fifth round of funding, the Friends of NACD District Grants Program is an initiative of NACD’s volunteer board members, who dedicate time to creating and advocating for new opportunities for conservation districts to grow their programs and capacity. The 2024 program will award top ranking applicants up to $2,500 each to conduct new activities or test novel approaches to their operations.
| NACD Newsletter: eResource | | | |
Indiana NRCS Accepting Applications to Improve Wildlife Habitat for At-Risk Bird Species | November 8, 2023 - Curtis Knueven, acting state conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Indiana announced today that applications are being accepted to improve wildlife and pollinator habitat throughout the state. While applications are accepted year-round, interested producers should submit applications to their local NRCS office by Dec. 8 to be considered for the current funding period. Applications received after Dec. 8 will automatically be considered during the next funding cycle. |
NRCS Accepting Applications for Targeted Watershed Funding in Indiana | November 3, 2023 - Curtis Knueven, Acting State Conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Indiana announced today that NRCS is accepting applications until Dec. 8 to be considered for targeting funding to improve water quality through NRCS’ National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) and the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI). |
Southern Indiana Sentinel Landscape to Lead New Regional Conservation Partnership Program | |
November 7, 2023 - The Southern Indiana Sentinel Landscape (SISL) partnership is excited to announce approval of a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) for the 3.5-million-acre SISL area.
RCPP is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds innovative solutions to natural resource challenges. The Natural Resources Conservation Service within the US Department of Agriculture oversees the federal program.
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Funding available to Western Lake Erie Basin farmers to improve water quality
November 6, 2023 - Funding is now available from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Indiana to help Western Lake Erie Basin producers implement conservation practices on their land. This funding is provided through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) and will assist farmers in implementing practices designed to keep nutrients on fields and improve their watershed.
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USDA Streamlines RCPP, Invests Unprecedented $1 Billion in 81 Conservation Projects
USDA is making historic investments to the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) and streamlining the program to make it work better for producers and partners. This combination will deliver conservation at a scale never before achieved through RCPP. This year, more than $1 billion is being invested to advance partner-driven solutions to conservation on agricultural land through 81 projects.
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Indiana Grazing Bites - November 2023
Written by: Victor Shelton, Retired NRCS Agronomist
The autumn colors and a few frosts and light freezes have reminded us that the growing season has come to a pause and winter weather is in the foreseeable future. Are you ready for winter?
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ISDA Newsletter: Agriculture Insider |
Soil & Water Conservation District Finance Training | |
December 7
Indiana Farm Bureau, 225 S. East Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Register by December 4.
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2023 Farm Service Agency County Committee Elections Underway | |
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin mailing ballots on Nov. 6th for the Farm
Service Agency (FSA) county and urban county committee elections to all eligible agricultural
producers and private landowners across the country. Elections are occurring in certain Local
Administrative Areas for these committee members who make important decisions about how
Federal farm programs are administered locally. Producers and landowners must return ballots to their local FSA county office or have their ballots postmarked by Dec. 4, 2023, for those ballots to be counted.
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Manure Management Webinar | |
Thursday, December 7
6 pm - 8 pm
Must register to receive the Zoom link
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DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife Newsletter: Wild Bulletin |
Grasslands for Gamebirds and Songbirds (GGS) Program | The Grasslands for Gamebirds and Songbirds Program provides technical and financial assistance to develop and/or improve grassland wildlife friendly habitat in selected regions of Indiana. |
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USDA Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production | The Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Advisory Committee (UAIPAC) is one of several ways that USDA is extending support and building frameworks to support urban agriculture, including issues of equity, climate resilience and nutrition access. The 2018 Farm Bill directed USDA to create this committee to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on the development of policies and outreach relating to urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production practices as well as identify any barriers to urban agriculture. |
NCR-SARE Youth Educator Grant Proposals Due Nov 9 | |
The 2024 North Central Region - Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (NCR-SARE) Youth Educator Grant Call for Proposals is now available. This is a reminder that proposals are due by 4:00 p.m. Central Time on Thursday, November 9, 2023.
Youth Educator Grant projects provide opportunities for youth educators in the North Central Region to teach young people about sustainable agriculture (farming and ranching that is ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially responsible).
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River Assessment Field Team (RAFT) Updates, Upcoming Events and more! |
2024 Pollinator Steward Certification Training
There are limited spaces for the 2024 virtual Pollinator Steward Certification (PSC), so register today to reserve your spot in this educational program offered only by Pollinator Partnership. PSC empowers people with the scientific know-how to make a real difference for pollinators, people, and the planet.
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