Clean Water Indiana Breakfast at the Statehouse | |
|
Last week, during the IASWCD Conference, Indiana's Soil and Water Conservation Districts, conservation partners and supporters met with legislators at the Indiana Statehouse. Throughout the atrium, individuals were able to discuss important conservation issues and thank legislators for the historic increase in funding in the Clean Water Indiana (CWI) program.
CWI provides funding to districts and organizations who work day-to-day educating their communities on the importance of and benefits provided by conservation systems.
Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch made a few remarks on the well-attended event and the educational soil demonstrations and informative displays.
THANK YOU to all who were able to attend this inaugural event!
| |
Bill Tracker From Cress Hizer, IASWCD Lobbyist
Welcome the 2nd Session of the 123rd Indiana General Assembly!
The 2024 "short" session of the Indiana General Assembly Biennium Session convened on Monday, January 8th and is off to a very busy start. Committee hearings were held that same day and bill filing lists are being handed down daily. With the bill filing deadlines, Legislative Services Agency (LSA) will be working overtime to get all proposed bills drafted and published. Bills are already moving to the floors and leaders have made their goals clear this week with releases of priorities. Being an election year certainly will be a driver as well!
(Read more of Cress' report by clicking the button below. View future Legislative Updates on the IASWCD website.)
| | |
|
2024 SWCD Conference Evaluation
due Jan 26
Conference attendees - Please send in your conference evaluations via this online form by January 26. We value any and all feedback!
| | |
|
|
Soil Health Newsletter
Check out the CCSI Newsletter for upcoming events and programs!
| | | |
View the Request for Proposals (RFP) Webinar for Project Grants Online | |
If you missed it, you can view the Request for Proposals (RFP) for project grants for NACD's Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program webinar. Proposals due March 15.
Learn more about this funding opportunity, and access the RFP and key resources for project grants on NACD's website.
| |
|
February 10-14
Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina
Registration closes January 19
| | | |
FY23 Indiana NRCS Annual Report | |
Damarys Mortenson, State Conservationist
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Indiana continued its conservation work across the state this past year despite some unique challenges with the increased funding from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Along with the help of our conservation partners, the agency helped farmers and forest landowners throughout Indiana implement conservation practices on their working lands, which help conserve natural resource such as soil, water and wildlife as well as boost producers’ bottom lines. This year, we also placed emphasis on serving our small and urban farmers and look forward to many more opportunities to assist these customers in the future. Attached is the FY23 Indiana NRCS Annual Report sharing a few of our highlights.
|
View the Latest Indiana NRCS News | Indiana Grazing Bites - January 2024 Issue | |
|
Boots to Business Reboot for Veteran Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
USDA will partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration to present the online Boots to Business workshop for veterans, service members and military spouses on January 22, 2024 from 10 am to 5 pm (Eastern). In this full-day webinar, attendees will learn about agriculture-based business ownership and the key steps for evaluating business concepts, plus the foundational knowledge needed to develop a business plan.
| | | |
Clean Water Indiana Training Funds Available for SWCDs | CWI Training funds are now available for SWCD supervisors and staff for trainings that fall between March 16, 2023 and March 15, 2024. The funds will be available in the form of reimbursements, up to $1,000/District and are reserved for training registration fee reimbursements only. Reimbursement requests are submitted via GMS, and invoices must be attached to the application. Please contact your District Support Specialist with any questions. |
New SWCD Staff & Supervisors | Please contact your District Support Specialist (DSS) to schedule an in-person or virtual New Supervisor training. A recorded video is also available. | |
|
District Support Specialist Update
Check out the update for important deadlines and other pertinent district information.
| |
Upcoming Deadlines
o March 15: Training reimbursement requests due in GMS
o March 31: Annual Meeting deadline
o March 31: Annual Financial Report due in GMS
| | | |
USDA Reopens Signup for Continuous Conservation Reserve Program | INDIANAPOLIS, January 16, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now accepting applications for the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (Continuous CRP) signup. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages agricultural producers and landowners in Indiana who are interested in conservation opportunities for their land in exchange for yearly rental payments to consider the enrollment options available through Continuous CRP, which also includes the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) offered by FSA partners. Additionally, producers participating in CRP can now apply to re-enroll, if their contracts will expire this year. |
|
| | |
|
Registration is open for the 2024 Indiana Small Farm Conference — Indiana’s premier annual event for the state’s small and diversified farming community. The 12th annual conference and trade show will take place Feb. 29 - March 1 at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds in Danville, Indiana.
Join this year’s keynote speaker, Michael Kilpatrick, founder of Growing Farmers and host of the top-rated “Thriving Farmer Podcast,” to network and learn about thriving in challenging times and adding help to your farm.
| |
Women in Agriculture Newsletter | | | |
Wild Bulletin: IDNR Division of Fish & Wildlife News | Leap into 2024's outdoor opportunities: Go trapping, volunteer, and join us for our Waterfowl Workshop |
IDNR Division of Forestry News | Read updates on the Inflation Reduction Act Grant, Big Tree Registry and more! | |
| | |
Event Funds Available from NCR-SARE: Applications Due Jan 31 | The North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) program has limited funds available to support conferences and educational events relevant to sustainable agriculture. Applications received by January 31 will be informed by February 7th. | A New Outreach Toolkit for Conservation | |
A new toolkit is available for conservation professionals to use in planning and executing conservation outreach.
Developed by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) in consultation with an advisory council of conservation professionals and farmers, this new outreach toolkit will help support on-the-ground efforts to expand the use of crucial soil health practices, to reach new audiences of farmers, ranchers, and landowners, and build communication skills of conservation professionals.
|
2024 Indiana Water Summit: August 21-22 | The Indiana Water Summit is an apolitical and inclusive annual forum developed to examine the complex interests and issues that face our water supply. The Summit’s subject matter seeks to remain consistent with and build upon current legislative actions in order to provide a broad planning perspective, weaving together diverse topics that together demonstrate the interdependency of water issues and the science behind the state of the waters. |
National Cover Crop Summit: March 12-14 (online event) | Three days of free online learning to energize your cover crop management program. |
Newsletter of the Indiana State Climate Office, Purdue University | |
|
Save the Date for the 2024 Indiana Invasive Species Conference
June 13
Brown County State Park, Abe Martin Lodge
| |
2024 SWCD Awards and Scholarships Now Open
The SWCS awards program is designed to recognize individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions in advocating the conservation of soil, water, and related natural resources. Submit your nomination by March 27.
SWCS also has scholarships for members at every level, including students at the undergraduate and graduate levels and working conservation professionals. Deadline: March 27.
| |
IWF Annual Conference
Saturday, February 3
Drury Plaza Hotel, Carmel/Indianapolis
Join IWF and other wildlife lovers to learn about how waterways throughout our state are benefiting wildlife. From the Ohio River to the South, all the way to the Kankakee River in the North, Indiana has an abundance of waterways where wildlife can thrive. Unfortunately many of these waterways are seriously impaired. Learn what IWF and our partners are doing to improve water quality throughout the state to benefit humans and wildlife alike.
| Indiana Nature News: monthly update from TNC | Registration for the 2024 Pollinator Steward Certification Program is Now Open | | | | | |
