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Call for Abstracts: 2025 Annual Conference of SWCDs | |
The Indiana Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts is inviting presentations for the 2025 Annual SWCD Conference in January at The Westin in downtown Indianapolis. The conference serves as a training and networking opportunity for Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors, Staff, and Conservation Partners, with over 350 attendees expected. Presentation topics should align with three session tracks: On the Ground (conservation implementation/technical), District Management, and Policy, Outreach & Education.
Deadline for submission: March 28 at 12:00 pm (Eastern)
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Increased Funding Helps Soil Conservation in Indiana
Article by Tom Bechman, Indiana Prairie Farmer (Feb 28, 2024)
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Ray Chattin, Vincennes, Ind., and Les Zimmerman, Clinton, Ind., were instrumental in helping achieve a major increase in state funding for soil conservation in Indiana.
“The funding is historic considering it is the first increase for Clean Water Indiana in 23 years,” Chattin says. “It more than doubles financial resources available from the state for conservation."
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2024 CCSI-SARE Fundamentals of Soil Health
Tuesdays in April
Register by March 25.
This train-the-trainer event provides a foundation for understanding how cover crops and no-till systems may be incorporated into Midwestern cropping management, along with impacts on soil health.
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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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'The Dirt' - Urban Soil Health Newsletter | | | |
NACD Reforestation Survey-Your Input is Needed! | |
NACD is collecting information on conservation district and district partner involvement in reforestation, specifically in seedling production and nursery capacity.
The data will be shared through NACD communication channels as well as with key partners like the Forest Service, NRCS, and state forestry agencies.
This ongoing data collection effort is a crucial resource for NACD and its partners, helping us refine programs, advocate for funding, and inform technical assistance for reforestation on private lands.
If you have questions or additional things to share, please contact NACD's Forestry Program Manager, Annica McGuirk, annica-mcguirk@nacdnet.org.
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NACD Forestry Education Materials Available!
NACD's annual Stewardship Week is coming up, and this year students will learn about forestry under the theme "May the Forests Be With You, Always!"
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Stewardship Week: Resources Available | |
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The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) organizes an annual Stewardship Week, a significant initiative aimed at promoting the conservation of natural resources. In 2024, the 69th Annual Stewardship Week will be held from April 28 to May 5, with the theme "May the Forest Be with You, Always." This theme highlights the vital role forests play in soil and water conservation and emphasizes responsible forest stewardship.
During Stewardship Week, conservation districts across the United States engage in various activities to celebrate and raise awareness about the importance of natural resources. These activities include educational initiatives such as poster and photo contests for students, workshops, community events, and collaborations with local schools. The goal is to foster a deeper understanding of the critical relationship between forests, soil, water, and overall environmental health, inspiring individuals of all ages to become advocates for conservation.
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Indiana NRCS Celebrates Women Contributions to Agriculture | (March 1, 2024) - Today marks the official beginning of National Women’s History Month throughout the United States. The annual observance started as a weeklong event in 1980 under President Jimmy Carter and was lengthened to the entire month of March starting in 1987. Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, which is observed March 8, offer the chance to honor the contributions of women and their ongoing impact on American society and the world. In Indiana, this includes the continued contributions of female landowners and producers to agriculture throughout the state. |
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2024 Northwest Black Loam Conference Date Announced
Legacy Taste of the Garden is partnering with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Indiana to host this year’s Indiana Black Loam conference series. The events are part of a cooperative agreement with NRCS and Connecting Kids Inside Out to support and advance equity goals by providing critical outreach and technical assistance to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and Historically Underserved farmers and producers throughout the State of Indiana.
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State Soil Conservation Board Meeting, March 12 | The State Soil Conservation Board (SSCB) will meet on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. (Eastern) at the Indiana Soybean Alliance Building (8425 Keystone Crossing, Indianapolis, IN). | |
Newsletter: Indiana Agriculture Insider | | | |
The Indiana District Employee Association (IDEA) acknowledges the significant impact of all district employees on Indiana's landscape. Regardless of roles, employees contribute to and carry out the vision of SWCD Supervisors and local officials. IDEA aims to enhance and recognize conservation efforts through leadership, support, and education. IDEA Region Directors are available to assist employees in fulfilling this vision. Visit the website for more information. |
Save the Date:
2024 Fall Conference
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Don Aron Scholarship
The objective of the Don Aron Scholarship is to provide financial support to a District Employee or member of their immediate family who is participating in a resource conservation curriculum while enrolled in an accredited college or university. Attainment of a degree is not required. Deadline to apply is March 15.
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Membership - $25/person
Membership form available online here.
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Farmers, Ranchers Now Can Make USDA Farm Loan Payments Online | |
USDA’s Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) has launched Pay My Loan, an online customer
self-service feature on farmers.gov that allows many borrowers to make payments on
their direct loans online.
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FSA News - Upcoming Program Deadlines | |
Indiana FSA News Bulletin - February 27, 2024
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Emergency Preparedness for Rural Families | |
Emergency Preparedness for Rural Families is an upcoming four-part extension workshop for women in agriculture will focus on emergency preparedness for rural families. The series will focus on farm and ranch emergency management, first aid, fire protection, and hazardous materials.
Dates: March 5, 7, 12, & 14
Time: 5:30-8:30 pm Eastern
Cost In-person Sessions: $60
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Facilitative Leadership: Three Day Workshop | Held throughout the state, 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. |
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Beginner's Guide to Grant Writing Workshop
For over 20 years, Purdue Extension's Beginner’s Guide to Grant Writing program has empowered Hoosiers to enhance their communities through grants. Participants draft proposals, learn grant processes, and develop skills in proposal development, relationship-building with funders, and confident communication. The 2-day workshop equips attendees with proposal outlines and practical experience.
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Leadership & Civic Engagement Programs
Read about Extension's various leadership and engagement workshops.
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Nongame Wildlife Fund News: Falcons, Eels, Frogs and Bats |
Grasslands for Gamebirds and Songbirds Initiative | The Grasslands for Gamebirds and Songbirds Initiative (GGS) program provides technical and financial assistance to improve or develop grassland and pollinator-friendly habitats in selected regions in the state. |
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Pollinator Week 2024:
June 17-23
| Pollinator Week is an annual celebration in support of pollinator health that was initiated and is managed by Pollinator Partnership. It is a time to raise awareness for pollinators and spread the word about what we can do to protect them. |
Pledge of the Month: Pet Poo | It may difficult to grasp that the little deposits your pets leave each day are adding up to a big water quality mess. But it's true! Clear Choices, Clean Water provides a page where you can pledge to pick up your pet's waste and make a difference! |
NCR-SARE Announces 2024 Professional Development Call for Proposals | The 2024 North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program’s (NCR-SARE) Professional Development Program call for proposals is now available online. Proposals are due at 4pm central on April 3, 2024. |
Training: Facilitating Peer to Peer Education with Women and Historically Underserved Producers | |
March 14
1:00-3:30 pm (Eastern)
Join American Farmland Trust’s Women for the Land Initiative for a 2.5-hour virtual training
session targeted towards extension educators and other agricultural service providers. Learn tools for
developing peer-to-peer educational opportunities which will be grounded in our Learning Circle
methodology.
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Timing is Everything in Cover Crop Termination
Timing can be everything with cover crop termination, and it can often take some trial and error to figure out what works best.
This week's videos and podcast explore a few farmers' experiences with finding the right time to terminate, taking into account contributing factors such as weather.
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Ted McKinney Receives 'Friend of Farmer' Award
Article by C.J. Miller, Hoosier Ag Today (Feb 29, 2024)
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Indiana native Ted McKinney, who serves as CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), recently received the “Friend of Farmer Award” from the Indiana Corn Growers Association and the Indiana Soybean Alliance Membership and Policy Committee.
McKinney received the honor during Commodity Classic in Houston on February 29 in recognition of his hard work in improving policy for Indiana farmers and producers. Prior to serving as NASDA CEO, McKinney was the USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs from 2017-2021. McKinney also previously served as Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA).
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National Conservation Planning Partnership opens a Survey on Conservation Planning Needs, Barriers, and Opportunities
NCPP is inviting all partners to share their opinions by completing a survey on conservation planning certification, advancement, and the overall conservation planning process.
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Survey of Agricultural Lenders Reveals Opportunities for Collaboration with Conservation Professionals
Agricultural lenders are often farmers’ closest financial partners, and they have significant influence on a farmer’s financial decisions, including whether to invest in conservation practices. A recent survey of 179 agricultural lenders in the Upper Midwest revealed there may be promising opportunities for collaborations between them and conservation professionals in supporting farmers’ conservation decisions.
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Webinar: Putting Citizen Science Data to Use
March 13 at 3 pm (Eastern)
Citizen science is a powerful engagement and education tool in protecting and improving water resources. But how is the data collected through citizen science programs used?
This edition of The Current webinar series will feature two citizen science programs - the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network and Lakes of Missouri Volunteer Program - and explore how the data collected by volunteers is being used to inform decision-makers and influence future research.
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