Jordan Seger named director of ISDA’s Division of Soil Conservation

Jordan Seger has been named the new director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture Division of Soil Conservation.

Seger, 26, has been a program manager in Agricultural and Environmental Affairs for the Soils division since April of 2012. He worked for a year with ISDA field staff prior to that. He attended Indiana University, from where he was graduated with a B.S. in Public Affairs. Seger grew up in the Jasper area and was involved with his family’s poultry operation prior to joining the department.
“I am very happy to announce Jordan’s appointment as director,” Director Gina Sheets said. “His service to the department, the agribusiness community and the state, have been invaluable. He brings a great combination of knowledge, understanding both the complexities of modern farming operation and the importance of environmental stewardship. He will continue to be a big part of the department’s effort to help landowners make sound conservation work in harmony with and toward a better business operation.”

Seger said he is happy to have the opportunity.
“I am excited to serve Indiana agriculture and the Administration in this new capacity, and I’m anxious to work more closely with the Ag industry and the ISDA field staff who work directly with farmers throughout the state,” he said. “Indiana is quickly becoming a national icon for conservation with local, state, and federal entities all working in partnership toward common environmental stewardship and profitable production goals. The ISDA – DSC will continue to work with landowners to ensure agriculture flourishes and Indiana farmers remain on the cutting edge with conservation technologies to help preserve our valuable resources.”

The ISDA Division of Soil Conservation works to increase agricultural economic benefits by assisting Indiana’s farmers in the application of advanced agronomic technologies while improving upon Indiana’s soil health and water quality.

For more information, contact Robert Ziegler at 317-690-3303 or rziegler@isda.in.gov

Celebrate a couple Ag-friendly holidays (and the start of summer) this week

By Logan Garner

Logan is the Water Quality and Initiatives Program Manager for the Indiana State Department of Agriculture-Division of Soil Conservation.

It’s time to celebrate!  You may not know it, but this week is particularly ag-friendly.  That’s right, there are a couple lesser-known holidays this week, and today is one of them.  Besides, the summer solstice is in a few days and the beginning of most everyone’s favorite season is reason enough to be happy.

2009 photo contest winner, “Heirloom”.

Today (June 17^th) is national Eat Your Vegetables Day.  Yes, it’s a real thing.  And while it may seem like a day meant to goad your kids into having a balanced meal, it’s also an opportunity to celebrate your local farms and the produce they supply to your grocery stores and farmer’s markets.   So why not visit your neighborhood food hub and stock up on farm-fresh veggies?  It may seem a little early to some, but asparagus, lettuce, beets, broccoli and even carrots are all in season!  If today’s feast day isn’t reason enough for you make a produce run (or if you just don’t feel like eating vegetables right now), maybe tomorrow’s will help…

June 18^th is international picnic day.  I don’t know how these days are chosen, but it doesn’t matter much to me.  What does matter is that you don’t just have an excuse to get outside today for good food and good company, you are encouraged to! 

If you’re one of those people who doesn’t give much credence to these low-echelon holidays, chin up.  Summer officially starts on Friday.  If nothing else, at least celebrate that.  Summer in Indiana means picnics almost any day you like, fishing, fireworks and farmer’s markets…not to mention the best sweet corn in the world, grown by our own Hoosier farmers.

Happy Eat Your Vegetables Day and happy International Picnic Day.  Here’s to a great summer in 2013.

Getting to Know ISDA's Resource Specialists

By Linda Powell, Resource Specialist

Linda Powell spent 15 years working on her vegetable and flower produce farm in western Vanderburgh county and finished a degree from USI in 2005 completing a BS in Biology with an emphasis in plant science.   Before taking the resource specialist position with Indiana State Dept of Agriculture, she spent two and a half years in Gibson county as a watershed coordinator for the district working on 319 grants for BMP installation.  Linda serves clients in South West Indiana Gibson, Posey and Vanderburgh Counties.

Jamen Frederick is the newest addition to Indiana State Dept of Agriculture's list of Resource Specialists in the Southwest area of the state.  Jamen grew up on his family’s farm in Pike County and he is very involved in the family business.  

He graduated from Vincennes University with a degree in Ag business and finds time to assist his dad with farming operations.   They had planted rye and crimson clover cover crop with ISDA Emergency Drought Assistance. 

 As you can see in these pictures, he is planting into cover crop that has gotten about 4 feet tall because of left over nitrogen and wet conditions.  It had been sprayed 3 days before and he started planting on May 14^th.   

Jamen is also an accomplished hunter and fisherman with bow fishing being one of his specialties.  We are very proud to have Jamen with us on the Indiana Conservation Partnership team here in the Southwest.   His dedication and passion for working with ag production and natural resources is a great asset to our team