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For the Week of June 23-27, 2008
In This Week's Edition . . .
A Report from the Executive Director, Jennifer Boyle
Master Farm Conservationist and Conservation Farmer of the Year Awards. Applications for the 2008 Master Farm Conservationist and Conservation Farmer of the Year are available online - click here. There are a few changes to the awards so read the applications carefully (new information is in bold). Applications are due to the IASWCD July 15, 2008. If you have any questions, please let me know.
Showcase Your District. The Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts invites SWCDs to Tell Your District Story to the Association and members of the Indiana Conservation Partnership. We want to see first-hand how a Soil and Water Conservation District successfully tells their story to customers: promoting conservation, getting practices on the ground in their county / region, and how Districts work closely with conservation partners. This is a great opportunity to showcase the work of Districts, and share successes with Indiana Conservation Partnership leaders and other Districts around the state! Plus, we're providing a free conference registration to each of the four Districts we visit this fall. The deadline to submit your application electronically is July 1 to Jaclyn Casale. If you have any questions, contact me, 317.692.7519 yet this week (I'll be on vacation next week).
And finally, 2008 IASWCD Dues. Once again, we give a special thanks to the Districts that have supported the IASWCD with payment of their 2008 dues Adams, Allen, Bartholomew, Blackford, Benton, Brown, Cass, Clark, Crawford, Dearborn, Decatur, Delaware, DeKalb, Dubois, Elkhart, Fayette, Fountain, Franklin, Fulton, Gibson, Grant, Green, Hamilton, Harrison, Hendricks, Henry, Howard, Huntington, Jasper, Jay, Jennings, Kosciusko, Knox, LaGrange, Lake, LaPorte, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Martin, Miami, Montgomery, Morgan, Newton, Noble, Orange, Perry, Porter, Posey, Pulaski, Putnam, Randolph, Ripley, Scott, Spencer, St. Joseph, Switzerland, Tipton, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Vigo, Wabash, Warren, Warrick, Washington, Wayne, White and Whitley. Please take the time to read over the important information in the dues brochure on how your dues support SWCD activities in the state.
Have a good week,
Jennifer
Congratulations to 63 River Friendly Farmer Recipients
The Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts received excellent applications for the 2008 River Friendly Farmer Award. The applications highlighted tremendous work being done to help preserve and improve soil and water quality throughout our state. Thank you, Districts, for working with farmers in preparing these applications so that we can all acknowledge the great work being done here in Indiana.
Congratulatory letters have been mailed to the recipients last week. These River Friendly Farmers will be honored at our annual state ceremony on Wednesday August 13 during Farmers' Day festivities at the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis. We invite SWCD staff/s and supervisors to join us that day for the ceremony that begins at 2 p.m. in the 4-H Exhibit Hall auditorium (2nd floor).
The recipients' day starts earlier with the Farmers’ Day Parade 10 a.m. We invite award winners to ride in the parade as a special way to acknowledge their award. Afterwards, they are free to visit the fairgrounds until the ceremony at 2 p.m. After the ceremony, everyone is invited to join us in the Exhibit Hall for a reception.
>> Click here for the list of the 2008 River Friendly Farmer award winners. Again, thank you to everyone who helped make recognizing these farmers possible by working with them and making sure the applications were sent in. Without all of you working so hard in your Districts acknowledgment like this wouldn’t be possible!
 Another Flood Update from Indiana's NRCS State Conservationist
Another update on the conditions in Indiana and the impacts to NRCS is available online >> click here. The update also includes the latest map of Presidentially declared disaster counties, up to 37. Finally, since pictures are worth a thousand words, attached are some additional pictures of flood damage affecting Indiana landowners.
 Last week was a flurry of activity as NRCS Damage Survey Teams continued to assess damage and submit requests for funding. Engineering, Programs, Administration and Technology staff all played a role in pulling information together to submit to headquarters. Public Affairs staff coordinated communication efforts, updating EWP Web page information, assisting with a multi-agency press conference, coordinating interviews and providing information to partners.
Be sure to check out the latest information on the flooding disaster available on the NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Web page. Please be aware that to be eligible for EWP assistance, damage must have a minimum cost of $2,000.
 NRCS is working closely with FSA to assist with their Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). ECP sign-up begins today, June 23, and the following counties have elected to participate: Benton, Putnam, Hendricks, Monroe, Owen, Brown, Morgan, Clay, Fountain, Vigo, Decatur, Sullivan, Pike, Dubois, Daviess, Martin, Knox, Johnson, Marion, Greene, Lawrence, Jackson, Parke, Vermillion, Bartholomew, Jennings, Rush, Shelby, Randolph, and Gibson. To be eligible for ECP assistance the eligible damage must have a minimum cost of $1,000.
Hope everyone is drying out and finding the help they need as we all move forward to clean up after the flooding. I'll keep you all updated as we learn more.
Soil and Water Conservation Districts Could Do More
, editor, Indiana Prairie Farmer Magazine
The swirling flood waters that have only recently receded were often brown and ugly. There are many reasons for that in flood situations. But what stands out to many is that they were brown very quickly. Perhaps there's no better illustration that there is still work to do in helping Indiana's 92 soil and water conservation districts improve water quality within the state. The problem is that the state of Indiana continues to provide only limited funding to districts for carrying out monumental jobs.
If legislators need a peek into what districts could accomplish given proper funding, they need look no further than Knox County. A recent visit there found that with limited staff, the district carries out a variety of programs. "We are proud of what they have been able to accomplish," says Ray Chattin, a farmer, landowner, timber man and associate supervisor on the Knox County SWCD. He also currently is co-chairman of the legislative committee of the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
The Knox County SWCD receives over $100,000 in local funding from county government, more than twice what it receives from state coffers. For 2007, the district brought in more than $2 million to the county, partly through grants and cost-share projects. That's a payback for the county of $20 to every dollar invested.
>> click here for the rest of this excellent article
Promote Clean Water Indiana funding this summer and fall to the public
 County fairs are in full swing across Indiana along with numerous field days and other events that engage Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the public. These activities all lead up to this fall and Organization Day for the Legislature on Tuesday, November 18, followed by the opening day of the 2009 Indiana General Assembly on January 6, 2009.
These public events are excellent opportunities to talk about Clean Water Indiana (CWI) and why it is so important for the 2009 Indiana General Assembly to include funding in the next biennium budget for the program. The Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (IASWCD) Legislative Committee has worked hard this spring to develop some key materials to help you in this task.
The promotional materials are available to download from the IASWCD Web site in Microsoft Word, Publisher or Adobe PDF file formats.
USDA Includes Indiana in Grants for Conservation Initiatives
Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced $14 million in Conservation Initiative Grants (CIG) to fund 45 projects in 40 states to develop and refine cutting-edge technologies and approaches that will help farmers conserve and sustain natural resources on their operations. One of the grants for $255,014 goes to the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), which is headquartered in Indiana.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers the Conservation Initiative Grants, which are part of the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program. NRCS provides technical oversight for each project, and the grantee carries out the work to assist in addressing some of the Nation’s most pressing natural resource concerns.
NRCS State Conservationist Jane Hardisty said, “We are very pleased that CTIC is receiving this grant to promote no-till and cover crops in Indiana.” CTIC will collaborate with the Midwest Cover Crop Council and other partners on this project that will use cover crops to facilitate the transition to continuous no-till. Incorporating cover crops into a continuous no-till rotation can multiply the environmental and economic benefits. Hardisty added, “The comprehensive approach of this project provides the technical and social support that farmers will need during the transition period to continuous no-till.”
Working in Indiana and Ohio, the project will provide crop consultants to assist farmers in each state with this transition, as well as targeted workshops to help educate farmers about the practices. One of the objectives is to provide a Cover Crop Matrix for the Midwest to aid farmers in choosing the correct cover crop for their location and operation. In addition, CTIC will create social networks for support and advice through farmer-to-farmer communication. >>Click here for the Indiana NRCS Web site
INDIANA ASSOCIATION OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION Districts
OFFICERS:
President: Jim Droege, Posey Co.
Vice President: Paula Baldwin, Marion Co.
Secretary: Ray McCormick: Knox Co.
Treasurer: Jeff Meinders, Ripley Co.
REGION DIRECTORS:
Board Roster / Region Map
North-Northwest: Larry Strole, Newton Co.
South-Northwest: Kenny Cain, Montgomery Co.
North-Northeast: Tom Crowe, Allen Co.
South-Northeast: Bobby Hettmansperger, Wabash Co.
North-Southwest: Bob Weaver, Johnson Co.
South-Southwest: Ray Chattin, Knox Co.
North-Southeast: Brad Dawson, Dearborn Co.
South-Southeast: Brad Ponsler, Jennings Co.
IASWCD STAFF:
Executive Director: Jennifer Boyle, 317.692.7519
Watershed Information Specialist: Elizabeth Trybula, 317.692.7514
Communications Manager: DeeDee Sigler, 317.692.7374
Project Assistant: Jaclyn Casale, 317.692.7325 |
