For the Week of March 17-21, 2008 >> click here for the printer friendly version

In This Week's Edition . . .

• 2009 Annual Conference Call for Abstracts
• New District Support Specialists Join DSC Team
• District exchange
• Save the earth, choose AgLearn!
• Wood-Land-Lakes RC&D Newsletter
• Hats off to Vanderburgh County SWCD
• Hoosier Farmers Asked to Participate in Online BMP Survey
• Watershed Moment: Phosphate Ban News & Additional Resources
• Attention CCE Computer Users: Deadline for Mandatory Training Approaches
• YSI Foundation Minding the Planet 60th Anniversary Grant
• Workshop set for landowners interested in conservation
• Livestock Producer Meetings
• Projects WET and WILD trainings
• Green Site Planning Workshop at Marian College EcoLab!
• Photo contest of Goose Pond underway
• Upcoming Workshops/Seminars
• Your IASWCD board/staff
• Conservation Districts Can Assist with Energy Efficiency
• Workshops will be held on work force expectations

A Report from the Executive Director, Jennifer Boyle

2009 Annual Conference – Call for Abstracts. The 2009 Annual Conference planning committee is taking a new approach to soliciting presentations for the conference.  A Call for Abstracts is being distributed around the state to generate renewed interest and expand our pool of speakers in order to bring an outstanding Annual Conference to you in 2009. Districts, individuals, universities, agencies, organizations and others are invited to submit an abstract for a conference workshop. Please review the information found in the Call for Abstracts. Click here for the Word or PDF format. Most importantly, the deadline for submission is May 16, 2008. 

New District Support Specialists Join DSC Team. Welcome to Nathan Stoelting and Sarah Slater-Atwater. They join the Division of Soil Conservation staff as new District Support Specialists. Nathan comes to the Division from the Clay County SWCD where he served as the conservation technician. He is working in the North-Northwest Region of Indiana serving Districts in Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Starke, Pulaski, Cass, Carroll, White, Benton, Jasper and Newton counties. Sarah Slater-Atwater formerly worked for IDEM and JF New. She works is the South-Northeast Region serving SWCDs in Miami, Wabash, Huntington, Wells, Adams, Jay, Blackford, Grant, Madison, Delaware and Randolph counties.

District Exchange/News. The Posey County SWCD seeks a part-time District technician responsible for the technical aspect of conservation projects. The full job description is available by contacting the SWCD at 812.838.4191, ext. 3, or via e-mail. Resumes are due by April 1 to the office by mail, e-mail or fax: click here for the mailing address.  

The Nature Conservancy staff in Brown County would like to know if any District has a seed spreader to spread oats on a 13 acre tract of land. They are interested in talking with them. Please contact Cathy Paradise, Brown County SWCD, at 812.988.2211.

The Randolph County SWCD is selling their Compaq laptop computer purchased in May 2004. They will accept bids until April 4, 2008, at 4 p.m. All bids must be either mailed or hand-delivered to be received by the SWCD by April 4 at 4 p.m. Click here for the details and contact information.

Save the Earth, Choose AgLearn!

1. Course material are all online – Less Waste
2. Books are fully digitized – Save Paper
3. No need to drive to a live class – Save Gas
4. No leftover refreshments – Save Water
5. No need to cool or light a classroom – Save Energy

Learning just got easier. Logon today at http://www.aglearn.usda.gov/.

Wood-Land-Lakes RC&D Newsletter. Click here for the spring issue of the Wood-Land-Lakes RC&D newsletter.

Have a good week,
Jennifer

Hoosier Farmers Asked to Participate in Online BMP Survey

Continuing the momentum of the highly successful national BMP Survey, the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) is partnering with the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) in West Lafayette, and The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) in Washington, D.C., to conduct a second Best Management Practices (BMPs) survey specific to Indiana farms.

As with the national survey, the goal of the online survey is to collect information indicating the barriers to adoption of BMPs and nutrient management plans. Results of the nationwide survey were recently gathered and analyzed and are overwhelmingly positive, indicating U.S. farmers are adopting conservation practices in high numbers.

If you operate a farm in Indiana, please take 10 minutes to complete this important survey. Click or paste in your browser, http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=QgePleWFy1uErGqKGzbHAg_3d_3d. Or, visit CTIC’s Web site and click on “Indiana Farmers Take BMP Survey.” CTIC will be collecting information until April 15.

For more information about the national survey and to view the results, click here, then click on “BMP Survey Results.” Contact Courtney Schmidt, CTIC Communications Director, or 765.494.6956, or Megan Kuhn, ISA Communications Director, 317.347.3620, ext. 306, with questions.

Attention CCE Computer Users: Deadline for Mandatory Training Approaches

Every year NRCS employees and partners, including District employees, technical service providers and contractors who have access to government information systems are required to complete security awareness training under the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) of 2002.

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) recently learned that partner course completion percentages to date fall significantly below the required 100 percent completion. NRCS is required to report 100 percent training course completion to USDA by April 1, 2008. NRCS may also be required to deactivate accounts for those who do not complete the training. NACD encourages all CCE computer users to complete the training as soon as possible. The deadline to complete this training is March 31, 2008.

Security awareness training for fiscal year 2008 is available on the USDA’s AgLearn site at http://www.aglearn.usda.gov/. If you have trouble accessing the training course through AgLearn, please contact your state NRCS training officer. For more information on the Computer Security and Privacy Basics training requirements, click here to view the official NRCS bulletin.

YSI Foundation Minding the Planet 60th Anniversary Grant

The YSI Foundation will award a special $60,000 grant this year in honor of its 60th Anniversary. The grant will go to an organization focused on protecting water resources. Since 1990, YSI has publicly demonstrated commitment to its core values and being a good corporate citizen through its 501(c)(3) Foundation. This year the Foundation is pleased to recognize the important work local volunteer monitoring organizations are doing to improve the quality of the nation’s water.  

Goals of Grant
The YSI Foundation will award $60,000 to an organization that demonstrates a need for capacity building in a volunteer monitoring organization, whose work focuses on activities throughout an entire watershed.  The YSI Foundation defines capacity building as any of the following: 

1.  assistance with staffing, or
2.  the development or enhancement of outreach and training programs, or
3.  infrastructure development. 

Examples of the types of projects and programs that are eligible for funding with this grant include:

1. New watershed volunteer monitoring programs that are being developed and implemented.
2. Existing watershed volunteer programs in need of additional staffing such as a coordinator or administrative support.
3. Existing watershed volunteer programs that have an opportunity to extend their program through community outreach, training, and education. 
4. Existing watershed volunteer programs in need of office space, supplies, equipment, etc.

Workshop set for landowners interested in conservation

Natural Resources Management for the Landowner is a two-part workshop on April 17 and 19 that will benefit owners of small acreages and large land parcels. The first session will be 6 to 9 p.m. April 17 at the Purdue University Whitley County 4-H Center. The second part will be 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 19 at the Purdue Harrold Forest in Etna, Ind. "This program will help participants whether they are new to rural life or are simply interested in improving woodlands, grasslands or wetlands on their property," said Brian MacGowan, Purdue Extension wildlife specialist.

The first part of the workshop will introduce participants to the terminology and management techniques that are needed. MacGowan will lead a session that is an introduction to wildlife and habitats, which will include the basic requirements of wildlife, management concepts, the four basic habitat components for wildlife and how to increase value of your property for wildlife.

Purdue forester Don Carlson will lead a session on woodlot and wetland management. This will include basic woodland management concepts, how woodlands function and how to approach a property resource management plan.

The second part of the workshop will provide participants with many examples of what types of management practices and techniques they can consider for their property. "The second day will give participants a firsthand look at the topics that were presented on the first night," MacGowan said. "They will be given a tour of the Purdue Harrold Forest and a neighboring private property."

The tour will feature tree plantations, regeneration opening with deer fencing, tile lines, wetlands, and warm season grasses and food plots. There also will be a fire demonstration if conditions are appropriate.  Registration is $10 per person by April 11 and will include refreshments, lunch and workshop materials.

This workshop is sponsored by the Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Whitley County Soil and Water Conservation District, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Purdue Extension Whitley County, Wood-Land-Lakes RC&D and Merry Lea Environmental Center of Goshen College.

Livestock Producer Meetings

Ways to Grow and Beyond has scheduled a series of meetings for local livestock producers to discuss the need and feasibility of a new multi-species processing plant to serve Southern Indiana. The meetings will now include IP Video access in three additional counties on Wednesday, March 26. They are Franklin, Hancock and Harrison counties.

A federally inspected facility capable of processing a wide range of animals such as beef, pork, deer, goats, lamb, chickens, turkey, pheasants, quail, bison, elk, llamas, rabbits, shrimp and other seafood is under consideration. An alternative also under consideration is the renovation/expansion of some existing processing facilities to better meet producer needs. Input is needed from producers about their current production, desired production, processing needs and interest in such a facility. Meeting times and locations are:

• Thursday,  March 20, 7 p.m., Lawrence County Fairgrounds
• Wednesday, March 26, 7 p.m., Scott County Courthouse, Conference Room G-24
  • 7 p.m. (via IP Video connection), Harrison County Annex Building, STE 109, 124S. Mulberry, Corydon
  • 7 p.m. (via IP Video connection) Hancock County Extension, 802 N. Apple Street, Greenfield
  • 7p.m. (via IP Video connection) Franklin County Extension, 1010 Franklin Avenue, Room 214,  Brookville
• Thursday, March 27, 7 p.m., Southeast Indiana Purdue Agriculture Center (SEPAC), Butlerville

Ways to Grow and Beyond is a regional entrepreneurial effort in 19 counties in Southeastern Indiana working to create an environment for an entrepreneur to try a new venture. The organization is overseen by a steering committee with representatives from Purdue Extension, the Purdue New Ventures Team, USDA NRCS, Historic Hoosier Hills RC&D, White River RC&D. Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Indiana Farm Bureau, local government, the Small Business Development Center, Land Trust and economic development personnel.

Producers interested in the study but unable to attend a meeting may complete a survey sheet or obtain more information by contacting Kathy Altman, Agribusiness Consulting, 211 S Main Street, Monticello, IN, 47960, 574.583.8050.

Projects WET and WILD training

Join Indiana Projects WET and WILD for a two-day workshop featuring Project Webfoot and Flying WILD, wetlands and bird curricula for educators grades 4-6. Project Webfoot curriculum and materials includes the WOW! The Wonder of Wetlands Educators Guide, background information, lessons and techniques for teaching about wetlands.

For more information about Project Webfoot and to view a list of materials included in the educator kit, please visit www.projectwebfoot.org. Flying WILD provides an introduction to bird biology, identification and migration.  Through a generous sponsorship by Ducks Unlimited, participants will receive curriculum materials ($300 value) and lunch both days at no cost. To register, contact Marie at the Natural Resources Education Center at 317.562.1338 or by email.

The training dates are April 17 and 18, 2008. Triple H Gun Club, Linton, 8:30 - 3 pm both days; Project Webfoot and Flying WILD at Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area; and November 6-7, 8:30 - 3 pm both days. Location TBA.

Green Site Planning Workshop at Marian College EcoLab!

The 2008 Green Site Planning Workshop will be held on Wednesday, April 16,  at the Marian College EcoLab.  Traditional participants at this annual workshop include members of the planning, landscape architect, developer, engineer, local government plan reviewer, and water quality specialist professions.  But anyone interested in learning more about innovative ways to use native vegetation with storm water management in site plan development is invited. 

This year’s event will allow attendees to learn about and see creative practices used to beautify the landscape, as well as provide needed stormwater control.  Potential attendees are required to pre-register by Tuesday, April 8th to ensure space is available!  The $30.00 registration fee includes the program, refreshments, a box lunch, and tour. The theme for this year’s session is “Plant Green, to Be Green, to Save Green.” This is a great chance to get out to the Marian campus and see their EcoLab on the former estate of James Allison at 3200 Cold Spring Rd., on the west side of the city. 

The workshop will begin at 9:00 a.m. with a welcome from Paula Baldwin, chair, Hoosier Heartland RC&D. Jill Hoffman, Empower Results, will open the session with a message on the “State of Our Waters and Natural Cleaning Mechanisms.” Tim Method, Environmental Coordinator, DPW, City of Indianapolis, will follow with a talk about “Local Initiatives to Achieve Green Success.” Click here for other speakers.

Photo contest of Goose Pond underway

Attention amateur photographers. Combine your spring nature walks and love of photography with a trip to Goose Pond.  The Friends of Goose Pond, a non-profit organization, is sponsoring a calendar photo contest featuring photos shot at Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area within the past two years. For a complete list of contest rules and entry information, go to: www.clcinfo.org/greene_schedule.php.

Maps and additional information about the Goose Pond FWA can be found online by clicking here.
Suggested photo subjects include landscapes, seasons, activities, flora and fauna.