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For Indiana SWCDs: Legislative Bill Tracker | IASWCD Executive Director, Liz Rice, has been sending weekly legislative update emails to Indiana Soil & Water Conservation District Staff and Supervisors. These trackers keep Indiana Districts abreast of statehouse happenings during session. These updates are also posted on the iaswcd.org website on the CWI page. |
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IASWCD Announces Director
of New Resilient Indiana Program: Meg Leader
| Indianapolis (February 7, 2024) - Meg Leader has been hired as Director of the new Resilient Indiana Program. The Resilient Indiana Program will help Indiana's Soil and Water Conservation Districts meet their needs for on-the-ground technical assistance. Liz Rice, IASWCD Executive Director, states, "Meg is very familiar with conservation efforts in Indiana and nationwide. Her knowledge of and passion for enabling locally-led conservation is inspiring and we are thrilled to have her on the team." |
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Indiana Proclamation of Invasive Species Awareness Week, February 25-March 2, 2024 | | |
CCSI Soil Health Newsletter | |
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NOW HIRING! SW Program Manager
The Program Manager of the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative is a position embedded within the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and is responsible for identifying local level partnerships, facilitating
and supporting their efforts to increase the adoption of soil health practices and systems on Indiana cropland.
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Urban Soil Health Newsletter: The Dirt
Check out the USH newsletter with information including highlights from each quadrant of the state, upcoming events and more!
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FY24 Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Competitive Grants Program | |
The Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) has announced its FY24 Competitive Grants Program. This funding opportunity is open to all nonprofits, local governments, Native American Tribal governments and organizations, and schools and supports a wide range of activities through Planning Projects and Implementation Projects. Project funding can range from $75,000 to $350,000 for a project. Priority will be given to organizations with proven capacity to carry out meaningful community-focused work in urban agriculture or innovative production. Applications for this award will close April 9.
If you are interested in learning more about the UAIP Competitive Grants Program or would like to apply, please see the links below:
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USDA Makes Record Investment in Private Lands Conservation As Part of Investing in America Agenda
In fiscal year 2023, USDA supported more than 45,000 conservation contracts, more than any year in the 89-year history of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), totaling over $2.8 billion in financial assistance to producers for conservation efforts.
(state-by-state data)
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Hoosier Headlines: Indiana's NRCS News | | |
USDA Launches New Working Lands Climate Corps to Train Future Conservation and Climate Leaders | |
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 12, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a new effort to train the next generation of conservation and climate leaders. As part of President Biden’s historic American Climate Corps initiative, the Working Lands Climate Corps will provide technical training and career pathway opportunities for young people, helping them deliver economic benefits through climate-smart agriculture solutions for farmers and ranchers across the country, now and in the future. The Working Lands Climate Corps, in its first cohort, will aim to create service opportunities for more than 100 young people. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is working in partnership with AmeriCorps, The Corps Network and the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) in this effort. | | |
Federal Grant Funds Available for Specialty Crop Industry | INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 15, 2024) —The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), is seeking project proposals from Indiana’s specialty crop sector for funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. “Beyond traditional row crops and livestock agriculture, Indiana is home to a robust specialty crop sector,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “I look forward to seeing what projects are selected for this year’s funding allocation as we continue to support this impressive sector of our agricultural economy.” |
District Support Specialist Update | Pertinent information for SWCDs such as important deadlines, Board Certification Program update, Clean Water Indiana training funds and more! |
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For data requests or printable pdf versions of CWI reports, etc., please send your requests to this link
https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/2a1a2557c61b4e688b028032c37697a4.
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Thum to lead Soil Conservation Division
INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 12, 2024) — Jennifer Thum has been promoted to Soil Conservation Director for the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA). Thum has worked for the department for over a decade and was most recently deputy soil conservation director.
"Soil conservation and water quality initiatives are critical for Hoosier farmers and our numerous partners across the state, and they need a strong leader to enhance conservation practices," said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. "Jennifer has been a dedicated public servant for over 10 years with ISDA and I am looking forward to her leading the largest division at the department with energy and grace."
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What does an IDEA membership include?
- A regional director who is willing to assist one-on-one with district staff orientation and serve as liason between District Employees and the Indiana Conservation Partnership.
- Training and networking opportunities to boost job performance and district output.
- Reduced registration fees to the annual IDEA Fall Conference.
- Recognition of your years of service as a District Employee.
- Voting privileges during the annual IDEA Business Meeting and/or in the event a special vote is held.
For 2024 membership, please fill out the online membership form. Fee: $25/person
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IDEM Office of Water Quality Newsletter: Riffles & Pools | Articles include Salamander Success, Hoosier Riverwatch Feature, Upcoming Workshops and more! |
Nominations for Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence
| Presented annually since 1994, the Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence (GAEE) recognize Indiana citizens, government agencies, businesses, organizations, and educational institutions for outstanding achievements that positively impact Indiana’s environment. Nominations due by March 1 at 5 pm (EST). |
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Articles include 2024 ARC-PLC Program information, Resources for Indiana Maple Producers and Urban & Innovative Producers, and more! |
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Purdue Extension Offers Virtual Inheriting Farmland Workshop | |
February 27 and March 5
12 pm - 2 pm (EST)
The Purdue Extension Land Lease Team invites those who have inherited or who might inherit farmland soon to attend the two-session virtual workshop, “Navigating Farmland Inheritance.”
Register by February 26 @11 pm ET.
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Fields of Resilience: Women's Ag Risk Management Series | |
Fields Of Resilience: Women's Ag Risk Management Series is a 4-part series of monthly afternoon Zoom webinars covering timely agriculture risk management topics. The afternoon webinars will begin on the 4th Friday at noon EST. This workshop series is open to anyone interested. Sessions are as follows:
February 23rd: Is Your Farm Ready for Succession? - Ed Farris, Purdue University
March 22nd: Weather & Climate Tools to Mitigate Farm Risk - Beth Hall, Midwestern Regional Climate Center
April 26th: Artificial Intelligence in Farm Management - Andrew Holden, Ohio State University
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Facilitative Leadership: Three Day Workshop
Facilitative Leadership is a three-day workshop for both new and experienced leaders, managers, facilitators and graduate students who would like to develop or improve their facilitation skills. The workshop, originally developed by Michigan State University Extension, provides hands-on learning experience through fast-paced interactive tool-building activities and practical application in small groups. It is designed to build and strengthen the skills and personal confidence necessary to lead and facilitate productive meetings. Click button below for upcoming dates and locations.
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Division of Forestry: 2024 Community & Urban Forestry Newsletter | Topics include: Inflations Reduction Act Grant, Meet the New Urban Forestry Specialist, Arbor Day Events and more! |
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Indiana Invasive Species Conference | |
June 13, 2024
Abe Martin Lodge, Brown County State Park
This conference includes a combination of the SICIM Annual Partners Meeting and the Annual CISMA Conference.
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NCR-SARE Seeking Agribusiness Rep for Administrative Council | |
North Central Region - Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (NCR-SARE) is accepting applications for an agribusiness seat on its Administrative Council (AC). Seeking an agribusiness representative who is interested in making agriculture more sustainable and who has some knowledge about sustainable agriculture.
NCR-SARE Administrative Council members must live and work in one of the 12 states that make up the North Central SARE region: IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, and WI.
Deadline: March 15
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New Podcast Episode: "Edible Landscaping" | In this episode of ATTRA’s Voices from the Field podcast, NCAT Horticulture Specialist Guy Ames talks with Matthew Lebon about edible landscaping, or the practice of integrating edible plants into ornamental landscaping. The two delve into the intricacies of shaping the land with food in mind, emphasizing the value of growing foods locally and sustainably. |
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Featured Pledge: Litter & Plastics
Check out the CCCW website for resources regarding this pledge and share with your followers.
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Planning Your Spring Outreach?
Now is a great time for all SWCDs to schedule their spring and summer women’s learning circles. If you are interested in hosting a women’s learning circle in 2024, even if you aren’t ready to set a date, we want to hear from you. Women4theLand provides the support to make your circle successful!
Contact W4L Coordinator Heather Bacher at hbacher@women4theland.org to get on the 2024 list or to learn more about this ICP initiative. Sign up for e-news at www.women4theland.org
Communication Tip: When talking with women farmland owners, be sure to including discussion of their values and what they’d like to see on the farm in the future. Recognizing values can help identify the right practices to achieve desired outcomes.
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Indiana Lakes Management Society (ILMS) 35th Annual Conference
March 21-22, 2024
Potawatomi Inn
Pokagon State Park,
Angola, IN
Learn about in-lake treatment options to address nutrient levels and invasive plants, hear case studies of sediment management, habitat restoration, and watershed management plan development, and get updates on water quality monitoring from around the state. There will also be a regulatory and permitting roundtable to ask questions.
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