tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43577387376426291522024-03-12T23:06:43.601-04:00Spotlight on StewardshipSoil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357738737642629152.post-56688709761482324832016-01-05T15:59:00.002-05:002016-01-05T15:59:35.500-05:00Youth Education<b>By Jennifer Thum</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">This
year was an exciting one, like most.
That being said, it seemed that youth education was one of the top
priorities for the Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) in Northeast
Indiana. I was fortunate enough to
assist several districts in their youth education events, and I wanted to
highlight the events in Adams, Wabash and Steuben Counties. Each county has similar programs, but each
with its own individual flair. They all
have the same objective, which is to teach our youth about the wonderful </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">world
of conservation.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The first event that I was able
to assist with was in Adams County. I
was asked to teach 6<sup>th</sup> graders on the importance of water
conservation though an activity called “common water” as outlined in the
Project Wet manual. The day was warm, so
the kids did not mind getting wet at all.
The event featured rotating stations displaying GPS systems, beef
calves, soils, pollinators and worms. This education event was done at the two
middle schools in Adams County over the course of two days. There were several volunteers on hand to help
with the event including, Purdue Extension, Natural Resource Conservation Service
(NRCS), Indiana State Department of Agriculture, the SWCD’s board of supervisors,
and even a local forester. It was a lot
of fun and a very rewarding day. In
total, we reached over 400 kids.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bellmont J.H. - Listening to Sill Sarfi</td></tr>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The
second event was in Steuben County, at Pokagon State Park in Angola. All of the 4<sup>th</sup> graders from their
county attended this event, which meant that I would be assisting over 300
kids. It was a little intense at first,
but they were all wonderful kids. For
this event, the kids rotated between stations and heard lessons on wildlife,
soil, forestry, fish management, 4H natural resources and water/water safety. At the end of the day, all the kids were given
a shirt that was designed by one of the students. The kids had to do a pre-test before the
event and then did a post-test following.
Upon reviewing them, those kids did learn a lot. The neat part was watching the kids asking
questions and being actively engaged.
They were learning and having fun at the same time, it was so wonderful
to see. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xIWcfAZ5np4/VowsienlyzI/AAAAAAAAAvE/Mn2AwA_um00/s1600/4th%2Bgraders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xIWcfAZ5np4/VowsienlyzI/AAAAAAAAAvE/Mn2AwA_um00/s1600/4th%2Bgraders.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4th Graders Arriving at Pokagon Park</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The last youth education event I
assisted with this year was for 4<sup>th</sup> graders at Wabash County’s annual
Ag Expo. It was similar to the other two
events, but the stations were different.
For their event, there were topics on ATV safety, dairy cows, water erosion
(shown by a stream table), birds of prey, pollinators and shearing of sheep and
alpacas. I assisted with the stream
table where the kids learned about the effects of erosion and pollution by
watching running water start at the top of the table and work its way
down. The kids could see the effect of
the water. At one point, one of the fake
cows that was standing at the top an embankment fell into the stream due to the
erosion of the bank. This got a good
laugh from the kids, but also allowed for a teachable moment. Not only was it entertaining, but they also
learned that we need to take care of our soil. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yoiGKAYTFYk/VowsiY7MvQI/AAAAAAAAAvI/p43DESWGTOY/s1600/stream%2Btable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yoiGKAYTFYk/VowsiY7MvQI/AAAAAAAAAvI/p43DESWGTOY/s320/stream%2Btable.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Stream Table</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I really enjoyed spending time
with the youth in those counties. Having
the kids outside the classroom to learn about conservation and to meet people in
the field that assist farmers and also protect our natural resources was really
beneficial. At all three events, the
kids got something out of each session, and in some cases even mentioned that
they were going to share what they had learned with their family. For me, personally, it was the “common water”
session that hit home for the students.
Kid after kid talked about rain barrels and how they wanted one for
their house. For them to take away at
least one thing that they learned to share with their parents is a wonderful
thing. While they might not be current
land owners, they will be one day and one of these events can help them in
understanding the importance and responsibility of taking care of our soil and
water. That is a wonderful thing. </span></div>
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Soil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357738737642629152.post-27918703309077057302015-10-30T11:23:00.000-04:002015-10-30T11:23:32.826-04:00Morgan County SWCD Fall Events<div class="MsoNormal">
By Leah Harmon</div>
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During September and October, Morgan County SWCD has hosted
and participated in events to highlight opportunities in conservation within
the community. Morgan County SWCD has a large focus on education, thus events
such as the Morgan County Career Expo and conservation tours are a great way to
reach their target audience. </div>
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The District and ISDA participated in the Morgan County
Career Expo, hosted by the Morgan County Economic Development Corporation. This
event allowed both Morgan County SWCD and ISDA representatives interact with
high school students from five schools within Morgan County. The SWCD used the
expo to gauge interest in forming a youth conservation board to engage young
people in conservation. Throughout the fair, SWCD staff talked to hundreds of
kids and almost 50 expressed interest in joining the youth conservation board.</div>
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In early October, Associate Supervisor Chris Parker
organized the District’s annual conservation tour in conjunction with Morgan
County’s Fall Foliage Festival. This year, the District toured Thiesing Veneer
and Indiana Hardwoods. At Thiesing veneer, the 25 participants learned about
the products that are created in the plant, where timber for veneer is sourced,
and how veneer is manufactured. Many participants said it was one of the best
conservation tours Morgan County SWCD has ever hosted. </div>
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Morgan County SWCD is reaching audiences of all ages through
these events. The Career Expo Targeted high school kids while the conservation
tour reached both adults and children. Hosting and participating in events like
these, helps the District tell its story to the general public in a way that is
accessible and helps to spread the word about conservation to a non-traditional
audience.</div>
Soil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357738737642629152.post-254846184474695102015-09-10T15:45:00.001-04:002015-09-10T15:45:46.773-04:00Western Lake Erie Basin – Agriculture taking action<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Each summer, Lake Erie goes
through a shift in color, as the normal dark blue of the water becomes mixed
with the swirls and swaths of vibrant green from algal blooms that spread
throughout the shallower sections of the lake. This vibrant green color comes
from a population explosion of algae - known as a cyanobacterium -
which is touched off by a combination of warm waters, sunshine and an abundant
supply of nutrients. “Blooms generally
occur where there are high levels of nutrients<b>
</b>present, together with the occurrence of warm, sunny, calm
conditions. However, human activity often can trigger or accelerate algal
blooms. Natural sources of nutrients such as phosphorus or nitrogen compounds
can be supplemented by a variety of human activities. For example, in rural
areas, agricultural runoff from fields can wash fertilizers into the water. In
urban areas, nutrient sources can include treated wastewaters from septic
systems and sewage treatment plants, and urban storm water runoff
that carry nonpoint-source pollutants
such as lawn fertilizers.” <span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span> “The severity of the Algal Bloom is dependent
on the phosphorus inputs from March 1<sup>st</sup> to July 31<sup>st</sup>,
which is known as the loading season. The cause of algae blooms is complex;
water temperature, lack of agitation, rainfall and runoff from farms and lawns,
zebra mussels and the impacts of climate change all can contribute to the problem.”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></div>
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Farmers and the agricultural
focused agencies and industry are doing their part to address this challenge. While
the Federal Government has several sources of funding made available to the
farmers in the Basin, it’s the education component that are getting farmers to
make the change from conventional farming to conservation farming. At these events, they are learning how the
nutrients that are coming off their fields play a part in the algal
blooms. The Soil and Water Conservation Districts
along with the Indiana State Department of Agriculture have been putting on
educational events for the farmers in the Basin. Those events include field
days, trips on Lake Erie, and educational workshops for both farmers and their
CCA’s. </div>
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The Allen County SWCD, the
Tri-State Watershed Alliance and the Soil Health Partnership organized a field
day in Harlan, IN. The field day
featured presentations on soil testing for soil health, the importance of cover
crops, what cover crops means for insurance, crop crops and herbicide
carryover, and hands on demonstration with cover crops planting equipment.
During lunch, there was a presentation on the WLEB RCPP and how farmers can
sign-up for the assistance. In addition, we asked the AG retailers, CCAs, and
farmers the amount of acres that have in the WLEB, and we had over 200,000
acres between all of them. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span style="text-align: center;">Cover crop hands on
demonstration</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Discussion on soil
sampling </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Steuben County SWCD partnered
with the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative (CCSI) to hold a field day
featuring Mr. Ray Weil. Dr. Weil is a
professor of soil science at the University of Maryland and teaches farmers the
importance of soil health. The event was held at Moody Farms in Fremont,
IN. The event was a huge success and we
were able to get several conventional farmers in attendance, who were very
engaged during the soil pit session. The
more educational event we can do, the better chance we have at reducing the
amount of runoff from our soils. The
farmers in the Basin have been actively involved in conservation farming for
years. For the past few years, the farmers
in Indiana have really set the pace regarding conservation and looking at
moving their farm operation towards the systems approach to conservation
farming, where you have a suite of Best Management Practices including
in-field, edge-of-field and in-stream practices.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Dr. Ray Weils </span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Dr. Ray Weil’s in a
soil pit </span></div>
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In effort to showcase how the
State of Indiana has been working on reducing the nutrients that flow into our
waterways, we have been working on a Nutrient Reduction Strategy that will capture
present and future endeavors in Indiana, which will a positive impact on the
state’s waters. This report will be completed by the end of October 2015. Voluntary conservation efforts from private
landowners in Indiana with support from the Indiana Conservation Partnership
have reduced nutrients and sediment from entering Indiana’s waterways. Since 2013, we have reduced; 1,209,756 tons
of sediment, 2,513,693 pounds of nitrogen and 1,250,592 pounds of Phosphorus.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span>
These reductions were reduced by our farmers using Best Management Practices
such as no-till, reduced tillage, cover crops, grassed waterways, wetland
enhancement, filter strips, nutrient management and riparian buffers. The data
is collected from the Indiana Conservation Partnership and then it’s aggregated
using the USEPA’s Region 5 model to show the total nutrient and sediment
reductions. If you would like more information about Indiana’s Nutrient
Reduction Strategy, please see <a href="http://www.isda.in.gov/">www.isda.in.gov</a></div>
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“Algal Blooms in fresh Water,” September 9, 2015, <u> http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/A-Bi/Algal-Blooms-in-Fresh-Water.html</u></span></div>
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“USDA To Expand Investment In Water Quality within Western Lake Erie Basin,”
USDA/August 29, 2015, <a href="http://www.usda.gov/">www.usda.gov</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 115%;">[3</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">]</span></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Indiana State Department of Agriculture.
(2015). Indiana Nutrient and Sediment
Load Reductions. [Flyer] NP</span></span></div>
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Soil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357738737642629152.post-45888910592398920512015-06-12T11:13:00.002-04:002015-06-12T11:14:40.303-04:00Fall/Winter Cover Crop and Tillage Transect in Scott County<b>By Laura Fribley</b><br />
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In late 2014, Indiana conservation agencies conducted a
cover crop and tillage transect. This
was the first time the survey was conducted statewide during this timeframe.
Data collected will help track trends in conservation tillage, energy
consumption, and cover crop information on the county, watershed, and statewide
level. Cover crops were a key focus of
the data collection. Due to the nature
of winter kill, decomposition, early spring planting, tillage, etc., it is
easier to accurately capture this information in the late fall or early winter
versus the spring.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-imXcz3Yhw9A/VXr2rXEVxVI/AAAAAAAAAso/eJUrab8sTTo/s1600/6.12.15.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-imXcz3Yhw9A/VXr2rXEVxVI/AAAAAAAAAso/eJUrab8sTTo/s320/6.12.15.1.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Picture: Ed Roll grabs
a handful of cereal rye that was drilled in as a cover crop. This is the fourteenth time Ed has helped
conduct the tillage transect survey in Scott County. </span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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The tillage transect follows a set, pre-determined route in
each county. Local personnel drive this
route and note information about each field marked in the survey. Scott County’s 2014 team included Kevin Baird
(ISDA Resource Specialist), Kari Harrison (Scott County Soil and Water
Conservation District (SWCD) District Coordinator), Jennifer Kipper (Natural
Resources Conservation Service District Conservationist), and Ed Roll (Earth
Team Volunteer).</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Picture: the Scott
County survey team pauses to look at a field planted in cover crops. It felt like walking on a sponge, which is
common in no-till fields not hardened by compaction.</span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Dan Smith, a board member of the SWCD, has been planting
cover crops for three years. “Cover
crops improve the soil and erosion.
Cereal rye has a root system like you wouldn’t believe,” he says. “My dad used to plant red clover, and this
was 50 – 60 years ago. He knew what he
was doing. When you see positive
results, you pay attention. I’ve been
no-tilling since 1992. It’s part of a
management thing- they go hand in hand.” Some of Dan’s fields are captured in
the tillage transect.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c8O3hVvqhM0/VXr2qwShMWI/AAAAAAAAAsw/A3NTauAMspI/s1600/6.12.15.3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c8O3hVvqhM0/VXr2qwShMWI/AAAAAAAAAsw/A3NTauAMspI/s320/6.12.15.3.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Picture: a close up
view of cereal rye planted after soybeans.</i>
<i>Cereal rye can be seeded later in
fall than other cover crops and still provide significant reduction of nitrate
leaching and exceptional weed suppression.</i></span></div>
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In early summer 2015, teams statewide will visit these same
points again and collect data, including a team in Scott County. The transect surveys have been collected
since 1990.</div>
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Find more statewide information about the cover crop and
tillage transect at: <a href="http://www.in.gov/isda/2383.htm">http://www.in.gov/isda/2383.htm</a>
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Soil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357738737642629152.post-35621160619004229872015-05-15T11:21:00.000-04:002015-05-15T11:21:25.110-04:00State Soil Conservation Board visits Culver, IN<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b>By Geneva Tyler</b></div>
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On May 12, 2015 the State Soil Conservation Board held their
most recent meeting at the Vandalia Depot, located in Culver, IN, which was an
active train station up until 1947. </div>
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Culver, IN is located adjacent to Lake Maxinkuckee, the 2<sup>nd</sup>
largest natural lake in Indiana, second only to Lake Wawasee. Lake
Maxinkcukee is “a 1,864 acre kettle lake located in the southwest corner of
Marshall County…and was formed approximately 15,000 years ago by the receding
glaciers”. The lake is fed by 21 underground springs and maintains
clarity to a depth of about 20 feet. (<a href="http://www.lakemax.org/">www.lakemax.org</a>).
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Following the meeting, those in attendance were privy to a
special presentation by Kathy Clark, Executive Director of the Lake Maxinkuckee
Environmental Council (LMEC), and Allen Chesser, Chairman of the LMEC.
Kathy and Allen shared the rich history of the lake which dates back to the Ice
Age as well as current efforts to keep the lake healthy for future
generations. The LMEC works closely with Culver Academy and agencies
within the Indiana Conservation Partnership to implement soil and water conservation
practices vital to maintaining the water quality that makes Lake Maxinkuckee so
inviting. Constructed wetlands have been created at critical areas in the
lake’s watershed to help filter incoming surface waters. In addition,
various urban practices are encouraged on residential sites directly
surrounding the lake. These urban efforts may include rain barrels, rain
gardens and maintaining as much green space as possible on individual
lots. The LMEC is also an educational resource for the watershed and provides
continuous information to landowners in the area regarding lake ecology,
nutrient management and water quality.</div>
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We thank the Lake Maxinkuckee Environmental Council for their conservation efforts and for their hospitality!”</div>
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Soil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357738737642629152.post-85348652515586088222015-05-04T14:46:00.000-04:002015-05-04T14:46:19.870-04:00Conservation Districts assist local contractors with NRCS guidelines<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #fdfefa; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 15.3333320617676px;">By: Jennifer Thum (ISDA) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Indiana’s
Soil and Water Conservation Districts are responsible for the review of erosion
and sediment control plans that are submitted to them. The purpose of the Rule 5 general permit is to
establish requirements to protect state waters from adverse effects of
stormwater discharge from construction activities. Each district is unique on how they handle
the erosion permit review process. In
the northeast portion of the state, there are some districts that handle all
the reviews and site inspections, some just review the plans, and some rely on
the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to review the plans. Like any relationship, communication is the
key to make sure both parties understand their role in what is required of
them. In order to make the review
process easier on both the contractors and SWCD staff, several northeast SWCDs
organized and held “contractor breakfasts” during the first quarter of this
year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Miami, Howard, and Wabash hosted a
Contractors Workshop on Thursday, February 12<sup>th</sup>, held in Peru. This workshop featured information on
drainage water management, Bio-reactors, 2-stage ditches and rip-rap, as well
as pre-construction and Installation Guidance.
One of the highlights was Amie Lester, NRCS CDT Leader and
Engineer. Amie talked about the rip-rap
sizing and the problems that they were having with the rock specifications and
the local quarries. Amie told the
audience what size rock to specifically ask for when they are working on an
NRCS project. Duane Riethman, NRCS NE
Area Engineer talked about drainage water management, bio-reactors, and showed
some before and after pictures of a farm field where a 2-stage ditch was
installed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MXcM_0M_RKE/VUd85t_eacI/AAAAAAAAAqw/YcwYU_eih0E/s1600/5.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MXcM_0M_RKE/VUd85t_eacI/AAAAAAAAAqw/YcwYU_eih0E/s320/5.15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Figure <!--[if supportFields]><span style='mso-element:field-begin'></span><span
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Duane Riethman, NRCS. </div>
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Picture taken by Sarah Lake, ISDA<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Figure <!--[if supportFields]><span style='mso-element:field-begin'></span><span
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Amie Lester, NRCS. </div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
Soil and Water Conservation Districts and Stormwater Management Partners of
Elkhart, Kosciusko and St. Joseph hosted a spring contractor workshop on February
24<sup>th</sup> in Nappanee. That
workshop featured topics on “Why is Erosion Control Important?” and “Financing
Erosion Control.” The contractors heard from
Dr. Nathan Bosch on why erosion control is so important to our safety and
welfare.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Both events were a
HUGE success and the contractors in the room walked away with knowledge and a
better understanding of the SWCDs role in the construction world. In addition, both events had ample time for
the contractors to speak with the Rule 5 reviewers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Soil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357738737642629152.post-39397106575823756552014-12-29T12:48:00.000-05:002014-12-29T12:48:06.840-05:00Youth Education Day at Limberlost Nature Preserve<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By:
Jennifer Thum (ISDA) and Bettie Jacobs (Jay Co. SWCD)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For
the past ten years, Jay County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD)
along with ecologists, historical storytellers, NRCS and the IDNR, have
organized and hosted a wetland educational field day at the Limberlost Preserve
located in Jay County. The event is for
ALL Jay County 5<sup>th</sup> grade students. There are seven elementary schools, and to be
exact, that is 256 kids in all. The
field day provides a unique opportunity for state biologists and enforcement
officers, ecologists, scientists, and conservationists to come together and
share their passion for nature with students who might otherwise not learn
about wildlife in their own backyard. This
was my first year as a District Support Specialist for the Indiana State
Department of Agriculture and I was able to volunteer at this event; I am so
glad that I did. During the event, I
wandered to each of the nine learning stations and saw firsthand the excitement
on the kids’ faces as they were having fun and learning about animal pelts,
beaver dams, the insects that call the wetland home, and my favorite station,
the history of Limberlost as told by Betty Drinkut. As a parent, I think it’s wonderful that the
school district and the local conservation district organize an event that
allows the children to step outside the classroom and experience nature through
educational presentations, demonstrations, and hands-on activities that teach
them about the environment, wildlife, and wetlands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When
the students arrive, they are accompanied by their teachers and chaperones through
a rotation of nine learning stations. The
learning stations are all based upon “Wetland Education”. The stations are 20 minutes in length and are
“manned” by staff of DNR, NRCS, and Friends of the Limberlost volunteers. Topics that are covered are:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Why Wetlands?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
– Explains to the students the benefits of a wetland. This learning station is manned by Al Schott,
DNR;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What’s Slithering?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
– Shares with the students some of the “cold-blooded” residents of the wetlands
including “preserved” species and a live snake. Manned by Curt Burnedette, the Educator at the
Limberlost Nature Preserve;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Birds of the Wetlands</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
– How the wetlands benefit our feathered friends. Manned by Connie Ronald, member/volunteer of
the Friends of the Limberlost;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Woodland Hike</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
– Students hike through a section of woods while trees are identified. Manned by two DNR staff members, Fred Affolder
& Lorraine Shier;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Insect Dig</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
– Living larvae and water dwellers are dug up from the wetlands. Students are then allowed the opportunity to
“sift” through harvested wetland bottom and discover/identify life! Manned by DNR;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Wetland Wildlife</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
– DNR Conservation Officers handle this station. They bring animal pelts for the students to
handle/identify and a Beaver Mount is made available as well. This past October we were really fortunate to
have a large, active beaver dam at this learning station site! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What do you see?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
– NRCS Jayson Mas handles this station. The Jay SWCD obtained local grant funding and
30 pair of binoculars were purchased, allowing each student the opportunity to
“search” the wetland area with “eyes”!
For many students, this is the 1<sup>st</sup> time they’ve ever used
binoculars!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Native Plants</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
– Consists of a short hike while native grasses and plants are identified. We are fortunate to have Ben Hess, the
Regional Ecologist of the DNR Division of Nature Preserves, sharing his
knowledge with the students at this learning station.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">History of the Limberlost</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
– Students learn how this area all came about, how it was originally a wetland,
and how several years attempts were made to drain and farm, unsuccessfully…. and
how Gene Stratton Porter was involved!
Ken Brunswick, retired DNR, generally handles this learning station and
even has an amusing, but true, story of how Limberlost got its name!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mrpOWL6BGHM/VKGSwIFT1DI/AAAAAAAAApk/-bjRfNGw_G4/s1600/curt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mrpOWL6BGHM/VKGSwIFT1DI/AAAAAAAAApk/-bjRfNGw_G4/s1600/curt.jpg" height="241" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Curt
Burnedette – Limberlost Nature Center, Educator. “History of the Wetlands”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3gG_fXRdIP4/VKGS0g-Re-I/AAAAAAAAAp0/PMt7PkaRs24/s1600/what%2Bdo%2Byou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3gG_fXRdIP4/VKGS0g-Re-I/AAAAAAAAAp0/PMt7PkaRs24/s1600/what%2Bdo%2Byou.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">“What
Do You See?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eVyd2QnoTug/VKGS0WbJjPI/AAAAAAAAApw/4vBJSyF2w0s/s1600/wetland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eVyd2QnoTug/VKGS0WbJjPI/AAAAAAAAApw/4vBJSyF2w0s/s1600/wetland.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">“Wetland
Wildlife”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lDPmGH5iHKE/VKGS06BS_HI/AAAAAAAAAp8/ubRE8K9baKA/s1600/why.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lDPmGH5iHKE/VKGS06BS_HI/AAAAAAAAAp8/ubRE8K9baKA/s1600/why.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">“Why
Wetlands?” - Demonstrating Bottom Soil
Remover<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uM_XdOV4yPA/VKGS0c_WFgI/AAAAAAAAAqI/ZMv2dEQLa_Q/s1600/insect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uM_XdOV4yPA/VKGS0c_WFgI/AAAAAAAAAqI/ZMv2dEQLa_Q/s1600/insect.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">“Insect
Dig”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JiwRBSyUrrY/VKGS0BhimXI/AAAAAAAAAps/EayN9pBG48I/s1600/active.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JiwRBSyUrrY/VKGS0BhimXI/AAAAAAAAAps/EayN9pBG48I/s1600/active.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Active
Beaver Dam – on site!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Soil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357738737642629152.post-15511573054934927922014-12-23T11:15:00.001-05:002014-12-23T11:15:53.325-05:00Local Leadership<div style="text-align: center;">
By Geneva Tyler</div>
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District Support Specialist, Indiana State Department of Agriculture </div>
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<span class="bqquotelink">“When your values are clear to you,
making decisions becomes easier.” These words are credited to Roy E.
Disney, nephew of the great Walt Disney, and while I may assume he uttered
these words with the Magic Kingdom in mind, this statement continues to carry
much truth. I would also perhaps flip Mr. Disney’s statement around and
say that our decisions also reflect our values, whether those decisions pertain
to what we have for lunch, what we choose to do in our free time, what line of
work we choose or how we care for our environment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="bqquotelink">Whether the only soil you claim is
contained in a potted tomato plant on an apartment balcony or you have been
blessed with thousands of acres to care for, how we value our natural resources
becomes apparent in the decisions we make. Our land and water are
incredible assets here in the Midwest and our local Soil and Water Conservation
Districts (SWCDs) provide great opportunities to have a voice in your
community, make decisions regarding the natural resource concerns in your
county, and influence decision makers, peers, and even the next
generation. Being led by 5 members of your community, the SWCD board
members’ decisions reflect the values of the District and the continued mission
that was handed them in 1937 by the State of Indiana. While science
and economics continue to influence farming practices and environmental
stewardship, the desire to conserve soil, improve water quality and leave the
general landscape healthier than when we came into it continue to be key values
to Soil and Water Conservation Districts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h2OkO7C9dgI/VJmTihXz_EI/AAAAAAAAAoc/U0UnbXq7lGM/s1600/IMG_0152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h2OkO7C9dgI/VJmTihXz_EI/AAAAAAAAAoc/U0UnbXq7lGM/s1600/IMG_0152.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> An empty lot has been transformed into a raised vegetable
garden, Marion County.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bnn6e7_JfRw/VJmTl3erpLI/AAAAAAAAAok/4juq5s5hfN8/s1600/IMG_0142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bnn6e7_JfRw/VJmTl3erpLI/AAAAAAAAAok/4juq5s5hfN8/s1600/IMG_0142.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">With the assistance
of the SWCD, raingardens have been installed in many urban areas.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fkYrGwnozpE/VJmTpabGalI/AAAAAAAAAos/mQTMGWOO83o/s1600/076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fkYrGwnozpE/VJmTpabGalI/AAAAAAAAAos/mQTMGWOO83o/s1600/076.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Lamprey barrier on Trail Creek, LaPorte County. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> A Benton County corn field after a rain shower.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LHO2XaG1w-8/VJmTz4eXuxI/AAAAAAAAAo8/KSoS3rZhmnc/s1600/036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LHO2XaG1w-8/VJmTz4eXuxI/AAAAAAAAAo8/KSoS3rZhmnc/s1600/036.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Photo taken at Tipton
County Fairgrounds at a Soil Health Workshop, one of many that are routinely
offered around the state. </span></span></div>
Soil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357738737642629152.post-5150111985721770972014-12-22T10:54:00.000-05:002014-12-23T11:16:05.250-05:00Improving Our Watershed in Jefferson County, One Place At A Time<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Submitted by: </i></b><i>Mike
Johnson, ISDA Resource Specialist Team Leader, Laura Fribley, ISDA District
Support Specialist Team Leader, and Kayla Hubbard, Jefferson County Soil and
Water Conservation District (SWCD) District Coordinator. </i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>Mike </i><i>works from the Clark County
office and services several Southeastern counties. Mike has been with the
Division of Soil Conservation for nearly 25 years. He raises grain, hay
and beef cattle on 350 acres in Clark County.
Laura’s based out of Floyd County and works with 16 counties in southern
Indiana. She has worked with the
Division since 2006. Kayla works out of the Jefferson County office near the
Fairgrounds and is a resident of the county.
She graduated from St. Andrews Presbyterian College and has worked for
the SWCD since 2011. These three work together on Clean Water Indiana (CWI)
grants, and other initiatives throughout the year.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Each year, county SWCDs have the option of applying for
competitive CWI grants. The CWI fund is
administered by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture under the direction
of the State Soil Conservation Board.
Jefferson County SWCD, located in southern Indiana along the Ohio River,
actively participates in the grant program.
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<i>“CWI grants have
really made an impact for Jefferson County producers, because it gives them
more incentive to put conservation practices on the ground. Without the grants
our district would not have the funds to give the amount of incentive dollars
to the nearly as many producers as we have in the last couple of years.” –
Steve Riley, Jefferson Co SWCD Supervisor <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X7OheWxyMLA/VJg9_L-q33I/AAAAAAAAAn8/Jc4gtTk6zqw/s1600/blog12-22-14-3-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X7OheWxyMLA/VJg9_L-q33I/AAAAAAAAAn8/Jc4gtTk6zqw/s1600/blog12-22-14-3-1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo: Wheat field following no-till
soybeans. The producers participating in the grant are required to no-till
their row crops, have a soil test and apply a cover crop. Photo by Kayla.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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How does this typically work locally? First, the SWCD and other local conservation
agencies determine what natural resource issues need to be addressed. Then, the SWCD applies for a grant outlining
their local needs and ways to address them.
Jefferson Co SWCD and surrounding counties have written great proposals
over the years and have secured multiple grants. Once they get the grant, the SWCD accepts
cost-share applications from landowners and awards the funds based on a variety
of criteria. The projects undergo a
“quality control” process too, meaning that it’s verified each project is
qualified, meets established specs, and is completed. Mike assists the SWCD a lot in this stage.</div>
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With these conservation grants, the SWCD has provided CWI
cost share to landowners who implement a variety of soil saving practices
including cover crops, forage and biomass planting, and residue and tillage
management. It’s a win-win for each, both
from an economic and water quality standpoint.
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WlEwTIlbKVI/VJg-E3woQzI/AAAAAAAAAoE/Fex9kPpCPLc/s1600/blog12-22-14-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WlEwTIlbKVI/VJg-E3woQzI/AAAAAAAAAoE/Fex9kPpCPLc/s1600/blog12-22-14-2.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo: this picture
shows a cover crop seeded after soybeans on highly erodible ground in Jefferson
County. The main component is crimson
clover. The producer no-tilled into it
in the spring. Photo by Mike.</span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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From spring 2013 to summer 2014, 28 practices were
implemented. This affects approximately
900 acres. Load reductions estimate
these practices have saved 3,736 tons of sediment from entering local water
bodies. For another perspective, that’s
about the same as filling: </div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">10,645 bath tubs</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">85 Olympic size swimming pools, or </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;">141 backyard 15’ diameter swimming pools </li>
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Wow! That’s
amazing. Each of these individual practices really makes a difference and
improves the local watershed, one place at a time.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fHxXm-6vgyM/VJg-IkEjncI/AAAAAAAAAoM/5dM5fEZUNIM/s1600/blog12-22-14-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fHxXm-6vgyM/VJg-IkEjncI/AAAAAAAAAoM/5dM5fEZUNIM/s1600/blog12-22-14-1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo: this is a hay field that was in row
crops two years prior. To receive cost
share, producers were required to convert row crops to forage or pasture. Photo by Kayla.</span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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For more information on CWI grants in your region of the
state, visit: <a href="http://www.in.gov/isda/2379.htm">http://www.in.gov/isda/2379.htm</a>
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For more information on the Jefferson County SWCD, visit
their website or FaceBook page:</div>
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<a href="http://www.jeffersoncountyswcd.com/">www.jeffersoncountyswcd.com</a>
or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JeffersonCountySWCD">https://www.facebook.com/JeffersonCountySWCD</a>
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Soil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357738737642629152.post-61245002928763031062014-11-25T16:37:00.000-05:002014-11-25T16:37:03.988-05:00Posey County and Vanderburgh County SWCD’s Use a Clean Water Indiana Grant to Build a Two-Stage Ditch <div style="text-align: center;">
<b>By Carrie Parmenter</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>District
Technician, </b><b>Posey County Soil and Water Conservation District</b></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d;"><br /></span></div>
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The SWCD’s are working in conjunction with the Posey County
Drainage Board, Posey County Surveyor, The Nature Conservancy, Indiana State Department
of Agriculture and the Natural Resource Conservation Service to install a ½
mile long two-stage ditch on Metz Lateral which is a tributary to Big
Creek. After months of canvassing the
two counties for possible sites, this site was chosen because of the severity
of erosion, easy access from a county road, suitable dimensions, and willing
landowners. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kdbpry51-wk/VHT1hQQnB3I/AAAAAAAAAnE/PEiAC_lj5kY/s1600/Metz%2BLateral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kdbpry51-wk/VHT1hQQnB3I/AAAAAAAAAnE/PEiAC_lj5kY/s1600/Metz%2BLateral.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Metz Lateral where the two-stage ditch will be constructed. </span></div>
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For those of you who aren’t familiar with a two-stage ditch,
it is designed to have two levels. The
lower level is called the bench and it is about two feet above the normal water
level. These benches are grassed and act
like little floodplains. The side slopes
are then taper back and also grassed.
The gentle slope and grass help stabilize the banks and provide
additional area for flood waters during the spring. The grass helps remove sediment and
nutrients which creates much cleaner water. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u6e8Id_FloA/VHT1pqkjYHI/AAAAAAAAAnM/uX02w89vaRk/s1600/two%2Bstage%2Bditch%2Bdesign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u6e8Id_FloA/VHT1pqkjYHI/AAAAAAAAAnM/uX02w89vaRk/s1600/two%2Bstage%2Bditch%2Bdesign.jpg" height="164" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo courtesy of The Nature Conservancy </span></div>
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There have been several two-stage ditches built in northeast
Indiana, but this is a new conservation practice for southwestern Indiana. The SWCD’s are planning to have events for
the public to come and see the two-stage ditch being built and we will showcase
the finished ditch. It’s our hope that
this practice will become much more common.
So watch the Posey County Soil & Water Facebook page for future
activities during and after construction! If you’d like to contact the Posey County
SWCD you can find us at <a href="http://www.poseyswcd.net/">www.poseyswcd.net</a>. </div>
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Soil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357738737642629152.post-20224057290457743422014-11-18T11:40:00.000-05:002014-11-18T11:40:55.586-05:00Meet Them Where They Are <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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By Courtney Hall<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Spencer County Soil
and Water Conservation District, Program Administrator</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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This year was the final year for the 2012
Clean Water Indiana Grant for Spencer County, a joint watershed-based project
between Dubois, Crawford, Gibson, Orange, Pike, and Spencer Counties. Spencer County consisted of roughly 9% of the
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In 2013, due to a wet fall, few cover crops were sewn in
time to be funded by the grant in the Hunley Creek Watershed, a small watershed
which drains north into the Patoka River through Dubois County from Spencer
County. Early in 2014, we sent out
notices to the producers of Hunley Creek Watershed. We had no response. We
sent out another notice to the producers with applications attached. We had one response. We published notices in the paper, Facebook and
our website. The Spencer County SWCD had
a slight problem: How to “spend” the last of our money for the grant when no
one seemed to be interested. It looked like we may have to give back the unused
portion of the money and risk not having cover crops cost-shared in this final
year of the grant. Our Supervisors began
speaking to every producer they knew in the watershed, which really helped, but
we were still falling short. We still
were facing a dilemma until an idea struck the staff of the SWCD and Nick Held,
our Purdue Extension representative.
Meet them where they are!</div>
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We scheduled a Cover Crop Seminar at 7 AM in the only town
in the watershed which had a meeting place! After sending a personal invitation
and calling every phone number for the producer we could find, we had several
producers show for the event. We had
Paul Giles, Associate Supervisor and veteran cover crop producer address the
crowd about what his operation has found with many years of trial and
error. Nearly every producer who came was interested
in applying for the cost-share program.
We had a total of 10 applications consisting of more than 450 acres of
cover crops. We were able to fund
cost-share assistance on more than 300 acres jointly with SWCD and the CWI funds. Jamen Frederick, Resource Specialist with the
Indiana State Department of Agriculture assisted Amy Sims, Spencer County
District Technician, to spot-check that the cover was germinating. Bringing conservation funds into our county,
helping educate our citizens and helping make our county a better place to
live, is part of our mission! To keep up
with our county, “find us” on Facebook or visit our website: <a href="http://www.spencerswcd.org/">www.spencerswcd.org</a>.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Paul Giles discusses Cover
Crops with the Hunley Creek producers at our Cover Crop Seminar</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Arial application of cover crops over a corn field </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">ISDA Resource Specialist Jamen Frederick with a tillage
radish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Amy Sims, District Technician, holding tillage radish.</span></div>
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Soil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357738737642629152.post-8130266393445888172014-06-25T12:52:00.000-04:002014-06-25T12:54:28.217-04:00Front Row Seat to Agricultural Production in Indiana<div class="MsoNormal">
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By Mike Johnson</td></tr>
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Mike Johnson, Resource Specialist Team Leader, works from
the Clark County office and services several Southeastern counties. Mike has been with the Division of Soil Conservation for nearly 24 years. He raises grain,
hay and beef cattle on 350 acres in Clark county.</div>
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As we are in the middle of high school, college and professional basketball; NFL playoff games; and later on this summer the Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400, everyone hopes to get the best seat possible and maybe even FRONT ROW SEATS. I have a front row seat to some pretty amazing events myself through Indiana agricultural production.</div>
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Windrow to Bale</div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;">Watching this little guy grow from birth to yearling</span></div>
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Watching this frost bitten seedling mature to 200 bushel corn</div>
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Soil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357738737642629152.post-11951640799909792832014-06-25T09:32:00.000-04:002014-06-27T09:02:13.996-04:00Getting Conservation Closer to Ground Level<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Despite some doubting minds (mine included) spring has
finally sprung and that means more to some of us than just the blooming
flowers, singing birds, sunshine and blue skies. To the educators of our area it means the
school kids are finally able to venture out of the classroom on some much
anticipated field trips. Pulaski County
Soil and Water Conservation District was lucky enough to be invited to design multiple
education programs throughout the year.
But nothing beats being able to expose young hearts and minds to the
wonder of our surrounding natural resources.
This spring allowed us to participate in 3 major outdoor learning
programs. </div>
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The first was a 4<sup>th</sup> grade field trip to the
Tippecanoe River State Park. A quick
survey revealed only about 15% of the 125 children had ever visited this gem of
a park a mere 5 miles from their school.
Even on a less than spring like day (40 degrees was our high with a
constant drizzle) the kids’ enthusiasm and excitement at being in a new and
interesting place was infectious. </div>
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Each class visited 6 stations consisting of Forestry taught
by District Forester James Pothoff; Erosion and Bank Stabilization taught by
Purdue Extension’s Natalie Daily and Chad Rushing; Park History taught by
Pulaski County SWCD’s Barb Rausch and yours truly; Mussels, Macros and Otters
with Pulaski County SWCD Educator Kathy Wyatt; and finally, the overwhelming
favorite of all the students, Community Service led by ISDA’s Julie Morris and
Deb Jimison. The kids even participated in a word scramble
over their lunch break to solve the clue “Preserve. Guard. Protect.”. After finding all 12 letters hidden around the
park students successfully spelled “Conservation”! </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Barb Rausch retells the Potawatomie </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tribes story of why the Tippecanoe </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">River is so curvy. (The fur hat on her </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">head is for more than just effect, it </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">was cold!!) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Kathy Wyatt braved the rain to </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">show the kids how important </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">otters, macros and mussels are </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">to indicating the health of local </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">waterways.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Deb Jimison and Julie Morris were so proud of the hard work done by little hands. Each 4</span><sup>th</sup><span style="font-size: x-small;"> grade class learned how to identify and remove invasive species from the park. The brush pile pictured is one of many</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack" style="font-size: small;"></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> containing autumn olive, garlic mustard and bush honeysuckle. The kids had to be practically dragged away from their workstations to move on to other sessions! But what 9 year old doesn’t love going to work with hand saws and giant pruners? </span></div>
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A few days later, and thankfully about 30 degrees warmer,
found us at the Rausch Family’s National Wetland with 120 2<sup>nd</sup>
graders. The almost 40 acres of wetland and forest provided the perfect outdoor
experience for these young minds to learn about animal tracking, furs, birds,
forestry, macros, and measurements. Each
class brought with them a large water filled jar that had been the home of the
class tadpoles for a few weeks. The
tadpoles were released into the wetlands and were cheered on by the young
stewards as they ventured into their new homes.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Taking Measurements with Mrs. Wyatt and </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Animal Tracks & Scat with Mr. Rausch, Forestry with
James and Birds of the Wetlands with Julie Morris</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">And, of course, what would a field trip be without a fun lunchtime game of “Turtle, Turtle, Otter”? For those who don’t know, that is the twist us SWCD folks put on the traditional “Duck, Duck, Goose”. I mean, who doesn’t love saying, “Turtle, turtle, turtle, turtle, turtle, OTTER!”? (Although, for some reason, I can never get anyone in the office to chase me; no matter how many times I tap the top of their head and say “You’re the otter!!” They </span><i style="font-size: small;">really</i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> aren’t amused when I run around and try to sit in their seat, especially since they typically never got up to chase me.)</span></div>
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Thankfully the beautiful weather held out for yet another
field day, this one organized by Jasper County Soil and Water Conservation
District’s Jody Wilson and located on the beautiful grounds of the Kankakee
Marsh County Park in Lake County. Jody
teamed up with Rensselaer Schools 8<sup>th</sup> graders, bringing them out to
learn about this long gone marsh from visiting speakers Rose Morgan (Newton
County SWCD), James Pothoff (DNR), Sarah Wolf (ISDA), and myself! Jody was even
able to recruit Jeff Manes and Jim Sweeney local history experts, as well as,
writer and contributor to the documentary “Everglades of the North”. </div>
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I was given the
opportunity to teach these young adults about animals both currently living in
and extinct from the grand marsh. Many
had never even seen some of the animals we had pelts for. The students even played along (with minimal
groaning and eye rolling) in a game to exemplify the importance of using our
natural resources wisely. </div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jyKjlfiRqJg/U6raCpW0ILI/AAAAAAAAAi8/s9knrgCdUFw/s1600/6-25pic9.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jyKjlfiRqJg/U6raCpW0ILI/AAAAAAAAAi8/s9knrgCdUFw/s1600/6-25pic9.png" height="181" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">None of the students believed beaver pelts were used as currency for early settlers. <br />
Buying groceries with beaver pelts? Crazy!</td></tr>
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Every day we come in to the office with a mission, get
conservation on the ground. So we focus
on our agricultural producers, promoting cover crops, advising on responsible
irrigation, encouraging conservation program sign up, water testing, and the
list goes on. We can’t forget an
important part of that mission is our young people. They may not currently be active stewards of
the land but if we are lucky more than a few of the 400+ students we exposed to
the beauty and value of our natural resources this past week will grow up to
care as much for this land as we do. And
even at their young age they can pass on our message to friends and
family. After all, it is much easier to
get conservation on the ground while you are still as close to ground level as
these small folks are.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Written By: Ashley Brucker,
Pulaski County Soil and Water Conservation District</span></span></i></div>
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</tbody></table>
Soil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357738737642629152.post-81185084965662635852014-01-02T06:34:00.002-05:002014-01-02T06:34:54.119-05:00ISDA Announces Meg Leader as Program Manager for Agriculture and Environmental AffairsINDIANAPOLIS – ISDA Director Gina Sheet is pleased to announce that Meg Leader is joining the department as Program Manager for Agriculture and Environmental Affairs. <br />
<br />
Prior to joining ISDA, Leader served as the conservation director of the Vermillion County Soil and Water Conservation District. A civil engineer by training, Leader is a graduate of Syracuse University. She has worked on conservation projects throughout California and the East Coast, including wetland replication in New England and storm-water runoff design in Los Angeles County.<br />
<br />
“The Division of Soil Conservation is pleased to welcome Meg Leader as our agriculture and environmental affairs program manager,” DSC Director Jordan Seger said. “Her extensive knowledge of conservation efforts throughout the United States, and experience with Indiana’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts, will serve our program participants well.”<br />
<br />
ISDA believes that conservation of soil is crucial to the continued viability of agriculture. ISDA’s Division of Soil Conservation personally works with land owners and farmers throughout the state, offering voluntary conservation programs aimed at establishing best management practices and benefitting bottom-lines.<br />
<br />
Leader, originally from a farm in upstate New York, currently resides in Terre Haute with her husband.<br />
<br />
About ISDA<br />
The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) was established as separate state agency by the Legislature in 2005. The Director is appointed by the Governor and is a member of the Governor’s Cabinet. Administratively, ISDA reports to Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann, who also serves as Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture. Major responsibilities include advocacy for Indiana agriculture at the local, state and federal level, managing soil conservation programs, promoting economic development and agricultural innovation, serving as a regulatory ombudsman for agricultural businesses, and licensing grain firms throughout the state.<br />
<br />
<br />
Media Contact:<br />
Ben Kenney<br />
Indiana State Department of Agriculture<br />
bkenney@isda.in.gov<br />
317-690-3303<br />
<br />
<br />Soil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357738737642629152.post-45119128074665579802013-12-30T09:00:00.000-05:002013-12-30T09:00:02.258-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JGIMD56zGv8/UqWhS6x2K0I/AAAAAAAAAg8/R_vylGCZZyQ/s1600/Bill+Bollman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JGIMD56zGv8/UqWhS6x2K0I/AAAAAAAAAg8/R_vylGCZZyQ/s200/Bill+Bollman.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
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By Bill Bollman</div>
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Veteran no-tillers are increasingly interested in cover
crops as a means to continue improving their soil’s health. The management
mindset is no longer sustainability of what may well be a degraded resource,
but one of improving and restoring that soil resource. The benefits to
establishing a cover crop are many and include: erosion control, reduces
nitrate and phosphorus losses, increases soil organic matter, increases
biodiversity, weed suppression, soil moisture management, minimizes soil
compaction and promotes biological nitrogen fixation.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p>The economical and environmental benefits have farmers
brainstorming on how to integrate cover crops into their production systems. The
best method to accomplish cover crop seeding may vary between operations due to
differences in geography and crop mixes involved, as well as differences in the
labor and machinery available.</div>
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Here are some of the different methods utilized to establish
cover crops:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6bUpafPRY1Y/UqWgiOFRlaI/AAAAAAAAAgc/X_vfONDo4CQ/s1600/figure+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6bUpafPRY1Y/UqWgiOFRlaI/AAAAAAAAAgc/X_vfONDo4CQ/s1600/figure+1.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Air Delivery Seeder behind Vertical Tillage Tool</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P_pls96ARXc/UqWgiAsihTI/AAAAAAAAAg4/stB7hVItwbg/s1600/figure+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P_pls96ARXc/UqWgiAsihTI/AAAAAAAAAg4/stB7hVItwbg/s1600/figure+2.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Air Delivery Seeder mounted on Grain Header </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QM-nFK-i4qU/UqWgiHl27OI/AAAAAAAAAgk/G1iKu_eC45o/s1600/figure+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QM-nFK-i4qU/UqWgiHl27OI/AAAAAAAAAgk/G1iKu_eC45o/s1600/figure+3.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rotary Harrow behind Broadcast Application</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rC6uYNzybow/UqWgisHotyI/AAAAAAAAAg0/FVBQ9sjrMn4/s1600/figure+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rC6uYNzybow/UqWgisHotyI/AAAAAAAAAg0/FVBQ9sjrMn4/s320/figure+4.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seeding with No-Till Drill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I1Ddj_3_g84/UqWgi5upvbI/AAAAAAAAAgw/rPFrmzmifi8/s1600/figure+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I1Ddj_3_g84/UqWgi5upvbI/AAAAAAAAAgw/rPFrmzmifi8/s1600/figure+5.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aerial Application into standing crop</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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For technical assistance in your area, please visit: <a href="http://www.in.gov/isda/2367.htm">http://www.in.gov/isda/2367.htm</a> </div>
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For more information on cover crops, please visit: <a href="http://ccsin.iaswcd.org/">http://ccsin.iaswcd.org/</a></div>
Soil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357738737642629152.post-18993217814067540612013-12-23T09:16:00.000-05:002013-12-23T09:16:00.075-05:00Working to Protect our Resources<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xl4zmzBGNrA/UqCLosXBewI/AAAAAAAAAfg/Tg-1lm-o460/s1600/George+Reger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Xl4zmzBGNrA/UqCLosXBewI/AAAAAAAAAfg/Tg-1lm-o460/s1600/George+Reger.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape>George Reger </div>
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Resource Specialist
- Team Leader</div>
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<u>Job Duties:</u> surveying, engineering, design and layout
projects. I also work with the local districts with conservation projects.</div>
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<u>Areas of Interest/Expertise:</u> Working the public and
delivering a conservation message to them.</div>
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<u>Background</u>: I
was raised on small farm in Boone Co. I was a 10 year member in 4-H, main
projects were swine and beef. </div>
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On August 29, Jessica Norcross and I show the stream bank
erosion table to the 4<sup>th</sup> graders from the Montgomery schools. The
demonstration show the student that <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a> without protecting our soils with cover crops
and reduce tillage the damage can be costly. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2hYBPQ6FTC8/UqCLOZ15M9I/AAAAAAAAAfQ/uSA79ofjeto/s1600/kids.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2hYBPQ6FTC8/UqCLOZ15M9I/AAAAAAAAAfQ/uSA79ofjeto/s1600/kids.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Montgomery SWCD coordinate
this field day and it was held the Cain’s farm.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tp4ArmgFqEE/UqCLJIfAlgI/AAAAAAAAAfI/Tm-Gy8Ss8eM/s1600/Reger.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tp4ArmgFqEE/UqCLJIfAlgI/AAAAAAAAAfI/Tm-Gy8Ss8eM/s1600/Reger.png" height="323" width="400" /></a></div>
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Our goals at the end of a grass
waterway that<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a> there will cleaner water. And looking
upstream we can see the effect s of soil health taking place. At the end of day
we should look back and be thankful for our resources. And hope tomorrow will
be as colorful as rainbow.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xYy4hOOymK0/UqCLRi_yRFI/AAAAAAAAAfY/7ghje4uhDSc/s1600/Rainbow.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xYy4hOOymK0/UqCLRi_yRFI/AAAAAAAAAfY/7ghje4uhDSc/s1600/Rainbow.png" /></a></div>
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Soil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357738737642629152.post-42098463904489108092013-12-19T10:15:00.001-05:002013-12-19T10:15:03.495-05:00Funds Available for Livestock Promotion<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">ISDA
– Office of Communications<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: grey; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Ben
Kenney </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
</span><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Abigail Maurer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: grey; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Director
of
Communications </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
</span><span style="color: grey; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Assistant
Director of Communications<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="DE" style="color: grey; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: DE;">Tel.:
317-690-3303
</span><span lang="DE" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: DE;"> </span><span lang="DE" style="color: grey; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: DE;">Tel.: 317-605-6960<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="DE" style="color: grey; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: DE;">E-mail: <a href="mailto:bkenney@isda.in.gov">bkenney@isda.in.gov</a>
</span><span lang="DE" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: DE;"> </span><span lang="DE" style="color: grey; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: DE;">E-mail: <a href="mailto:amaurer@isda.in.gov">amaurer@isda.in.gov</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Dec. 19, 2013<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Funds Available for Livestock Promotion</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">INDIANAPOLIS
– Indiana State Department of Agriculture is offering three grants to champion
Indiana’s livestock industry. The Indiana Livestock Promotion Grant, Indiana
Livestock Market Development Grant, and the 4-H/ FFA Youth Livestock Grant. The
deadline for all livestock grants is Feb. 1, 2014. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The 4-H/ FFA
Youth Livestock Grant is an opportunity for 4-H or FFA chapters to “pay it
forward.” Students can use the funds to help fellow students purchase breeding
stock to start a livestock operation or to add animals to an existing
operation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The Indiana
Livestock Promotion Grant is for qualifying organizations to submit project
proposals designed to promote the livestock industry in Indiana through shows,
sales, exhibitions, conventions, or similar events and programs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The Indiana
Livestock Marketing Development Grant is for qualifying organizations to submit
project proposals for value added feasibility studies, research projects,
market development, or other projects that encourage the development of
business and industry related to livestock production, processing and
distribution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The deadline
for grant applications is Feb. 1, 2014. For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.in.gov/isda/2474.htm">ISDA’s website</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Soil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357738737642629152.post-29251014345757723392013-12-09T09:30:00.000-05:002013-12-09T09:30:02.861-05:00Think Twice Before You Spray That Ditch<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XNsedysjLv4/UqWd8w1awsI/AAAAAAAAAfw/GVWiqEu7dYs/s1600/Don+Ryan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XNsedysjLv4/UqWd8w1awsI/AAAAAAAAAfw/GVWiqEu7dYs/s200/Don+Ryan.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
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By Don Ryan, Resource Specialist</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Don Ryan is a Resource Specialist with the ISDA Division of
Soil Conservation in Southwest Indiana, stationed in Daviess County. Don was raised on a small diverse livestock
and crop farm. He started his
conservation career in Daviess County as a district technician and has been
with the State for 26 years.</span><a href="" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
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Several years ago, I was asked to look at a ditch with a
producer. This ditch was behind her
house and just outside her horse pasture.
When I arrived, it was completely bare.
It had no vegetation, and the erosion was bad. She had sprayed it earlier because she
didn't like the tall grass and weeds growing out her back door. She stated that it had really gotten out of hand,
so she unknowingly traded in weeds and grass for a nasty looking brown and exposed
soil ditch by eliminating the vegetation. </div>
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Now, several years later, that ditch is mostly weeds and looks worse now
than it did before it was sprayed. Fortunately,
some grass is coming back.</div>
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There is a time and a place for everything. There are times when noxious weeds need to be
removed and the most effective way to take care of them is spraying. If broad leaf weeds are the major concern,
maybe a chemical specifically for those weeds could be used. Another option for weed control in ditches could
be a systematic approach of spraying and reseeding, that might take a couple of
years, so as to not have complete exposure at once.</div>
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An effective way to maintain a ditch is mowing and the good
ol' weed eater on those steep banks.
This is not always the most fun way to take care of things, but it is
very effective. Just keep in mind that you
don’t want to cut the grass too short.
The best way to protect that ditch from erosion is a good stand of grass
with strong roots.</div>
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One last thing to keep in mind! You are using a chemical in an open and
flowing water course. Please follow
label directions for best results and safety.</div>
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Soil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357738737642629152.post-73045807956575704832013-12-05T09:14:00.000-05:002013-12-05T09:14:12.618-05:002013 Sullivan County Wabash River Raft Trip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kZcblCx5Jjg/UqCJu00_5NI/AAAAAAAAAec/fwQYwTyCNc0/s1600/Bio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kZcblCx5Jjg/UqCJu00_5NI/AAAAAAAAAec/fwQYwTyCNc0/s1600/Bio.jpg" height="263" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">October 1,
2013 marked the 13</span><sup style="line-height: 115%;">th</sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Annual Wabash River Raft Trip organized by the
Sullivan County Soil & Water Conservation District. Eighth grade student
from around the area enjoy a day on the Wabash River learning about natural
resources. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xJ8-AyiBnOE/UqCJ7cFD-AI/AAAAAAAAAes/7TD_f0on_2I/s1600/group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xJ8-AyiBnOE/UqCJ7cFD-AI/AAAAAAAAAes/7TD_f0on_2I/s1600/group.jpg" height="297" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Numerous volunteers are needed to assist with getting the students
safely down the river in the rafts, making sure the lunch time break and
learning stations flow smoothly. </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XWXrDsJqgdg/UqCJ2wF5BOI/AAAAAAAAAek/6bubeuks4K4/s1600/rafts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XWXrDsJqgdg/UqCJ2wF5BOI/AAAAAAAAAek/6bubeuks4K4/s1600/rafts.jpg" height="315" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Students learn about river history, timber
along the river, water quality, soils and how they all effect waters that are
essential to life. DNR Officers are on hand to questions about fishing. There
was a station about how to apply for a permit to do construction in a flood
plain and students were urged to construct something to see how water flow
would affect it.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-khpmnHj1H5U/UqCKFWLaV5I/AAAAAAAAAe8/G7ycWazw3Cw/s1600/lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-khpmnHj1H5U/UqCKFWLaV5I/AAAAAAAAAe8/G7ycWazw3Cw/s1600/lunch.jpg" height="305" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> The eight mile trip had student looking for different resource
along the way and using GPS to mark set points along the way. The last 4 miles
of the 8 mile journey was a dash to the finish, all survived!</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0xVfOeZN_X8/UqCKBHRm9DI/AAAAAAAAAe0/aiR4x0aDRQ4/s1600/finish+line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0xVfOeZN_X8/UqCKBHRm9DI/AAAAAAAAAe0/aiR4x0aDRQ4/s1600/finish+line.jpg" height="293" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>Soil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357738737642629152.post-73113095361234169532013-11-20T08:49:00.000-05:002013-11-20T08:49:00.038-05:00On Farm Network Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ze6TcOWRLf8/Uooa59WAZEI/AAAAAAAAAeM/Se6ZiKuc6sY/s1600/Jamen+Frederick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ze6TcOWRLf8/Uooa59WAZEI/AAAAAAAAAeM/Se6ZiKuc6sY/s200/Jamen+Frederick.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
By<a href="http://spotlightonstewardship.blogspot.com/2013/06/getting-to-know-isdas-resource.html" target="_blank"> Jamen Frederick</a><br />
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This is Doug Hendrickson and his son Adam who farm in
Warrick County. They have taken
advantage of the On Farm Network guided stalk sampling tests for their
reclaimed mine land. They feel that it
is a great tool to assist them in checking their nitrate levels for corn
fields. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ekzETPL5xos/UooYRXAs9XI/AAAAAAAAAdw/PWWiVhskVZ0/s1600/DSCN0764%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ekzETPL5xos/UooYRXAs9XI/AAAAAAAAAdw/PWWiVhskVZ0/s640/DSCN0764%5B1%5D.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Don Ryan is demonstrating the sampling method for On Farm
Network where stalk samples are taken from mature corn plants and analyzed for
residual nitrate concentration in the stalks.
These samples along with aerial yield maps taken of the fields in summer
help farmers assess their cultivation and fertilizer application practices.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HFgSKz4R_Vk/UooYVS_XsQI/AAAAAAAAAd4/tYOr0BaTq0A/s1600/DSCN0757%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HFgSKz4R_Vk/UooYVS_XsQI/AAAAAAAAAd4/tYOr0BaTq0A/s640/DSCN0757%5B1%5D.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Some OFN samplin<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>g is
being done strategically on adjacent field areas where cover crops have been
planted next to areas where cover crops have not been used to assess
differences in nitrate use in corn.<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jQkBKB0cHa4/UooYZR7tBYI/AAAAAAAAAeA/ETMLAtA71WM/s1600/IMG_1805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jQkBKB0cHa4/UooYZR7tBYI/AAAAAAAAAeA/ETMLAtA71WM/s640/IMG_1805.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Soil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357738737642629152.post-31711332927093781022013-11-18T08:36:00.000-05:002013-11-18T08:36:19.056-05:00Indiana On-Farm Network<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_-REvFMge50/UooWM7Yl9UI/AAAAAAAAAc0/ZsDYEiYYfeo/s1600/Sarah+Lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_-REvFMge50/UooWM7Yl9UI/AAAAAAAAAc0/ZsDYEiYYfeo/s200/Sarah+Lake.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
By Sarah Lake<br />
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Sarah Lake works for ISDA out of Kokomo and the surrounding four-county area, and is also a leader for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program administered by the state. She grew up in the Fort Wayne<br />
area but an interest in environmental science took her to Purdue. After being graduated, she worked in county government before beginning at the ISDA Division of Soil Conservation.<br />
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Over 230 farmers across the state of Indiana are conducting
nitrogen evaluations on their own farms through the Indiana On-Farm Network
Program. The goal of the evaluations is
to collect data from right here in Indiana that will help producers maximize
profit while re<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>ducing environmental impacts. </div>
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There are 3 tools used to conduct the evaluations- Aerial
Photography, Corn Stalk Nitrate Sampling and Replicated Strip Trials. </div>
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Aerial Photography is taken of the fields enrolled in the
program while the crop is growing. This is done typically in August. Many things can be seen from this photography including
planter set-up issues, fertilizer application issues and drainage problems. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HDsRapPNrdQ/UooWsMZNRVI/AAAAAAAAAdE/KKkGYGc02F8/s1600/2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HDsRapPNrdQ/UooWsMZNRVI/AAAAAAAAAdE/KKkGYGc02F8/s1600/2.png" /></a></div>
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Corn Stalk Nitrate Sampling is conducted in late September
or early October after the corn plant stops taking up nitrogen. 4 sampling locations are chosen in each
field, typically in different soil types.
10 corn stalks are collected at each sampling point. The stalks are tested to see how much
nitrogen remained in the stalk after the ear of corn stopped growing. A high result indicates that more nitrogen
was available in the soil than the plant could use in this particular growing
season. A low result indicates there was
the potential the corn plant could need more nitrogen than was available that
year.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UNb4gE4bkdw/UooWv1h6GqI/AAAAAAAAAdM/oPU45VN064g/s1600/3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UNb4gE4bkdw/UooWv1h6GqI/AAAAAAAAAdM/oPU45VN064g/s1600/3.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fO_RcOz6sx4/UooWzhm4T0I/AAAAAAAAAdU/xv9mBcMow1w/s1600/4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fO_RcOz6sx4/UooWzhm4T0I/AAAAAAAAAdU/xv9mBcMow1w/s1600/4.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Replicated Strip Trials are set up for producers who would
like to see how their yield and efficiency is affected by using different rates
of nitrogen, different forms of nitrogen, different nitrogen application timing
or different placement of nitrogen. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tipton County producers wanted to determine the
amount of nitrogen remaining in the soil at the time of the Corn Stalk Nitrate
Sampling this year. Soil testing was
incorporated into their On-Farm Network program. </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tV9phngfqtA/UooW9YLyYqI/AAAAAAAAAdc/p87lteNc5Aw/s1600/5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tV9phngfqtA/UooW9YLyYqI/AAAAAAAAAdc/p87lteNc5Aw/s1600/5.png" /></a></div>
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Producers will meet with other participants in their area this
winter. Producers benefit not only from
their own data, but also by sharing information with each other. There are currently 18 On Farm Networks in
Indiana. Over 600 fields are tested
totaling over 40,000 acres.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kjSOUykFLIA/UooXDLNSRiI/AAAAAAAAAdk/5BpIM08iJtg/s1600/6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kjSOUykFLIA/UooXDLNSRiI/AAAAAAAAAdk/5BpIM08iJtg/s1600/6.png" /></a></div>
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On-Farm Network was developed in 2000 by the Iowa Soybean
Association. The Indiana State
Department of Agriculture was awarded a grant in 2010 to develop the program in
Indiana. The Indiana Conservation
Partnership along with the Corn Marketing Council and the Soybean Alliance
continue to support and grow this program. </div>
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For more information regarding Indiana On-Farm Network go
to: <a href="http://www.in.gov/isda/ofn/">http://www.in.gov/isda/ofn/</a>.</div>
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Soil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357738737642629152.post-43223936567674026912013-11-11T09:00:00.000-05:002013-11-11T09:00:07.459-05:00Working in Watersheds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hi I’m Sue a Resource Specialist with the Indiana State
Department of Agriculture, Division of </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Soil Conservation. I have worked for the
Division of Soil Conservation for 14 years serving the NW Central part of
Indiana. I graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Natural
Resources & Environmental Science, specializing in Aquatic Sciences.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With Soil & Water Conservation being the objective,
my position is charged with providing technical and educational services to the
local Soil & Water Conservation Districts, other units of government, and
landusers. One day I might find myself
surveying for a best management practice on a farm and the next, teaching a
group of students how to assess the health of their local waterbody. Conservation
work all starts with knowing your watershed and the health of your local
streams.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A watershed
is the total area of land that drains into a particular waterbody (wetland,
stream, river, lake, or sea). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Land uses and runoff in a watershed
determine the quality of surface water in smaller streams and waterways. They
can then influence the water quality of larger streams. For example, point
source discharges, urban runoff, runoff from landfills and runoff from
agricultural areas may contain sediments, organic material, nutrients, toxic substances,
bacteria or other contaminants. When these contaminants or pollutants are present
in significant concentrations, they may interfere with some stream uses. So it’s
important that watersheds be evaluated and assessed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A tool used to evaluate watersheds</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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I use to delineate or define watershed boundaries and evaluate other parameters
for my projects. This software allows
multiple layers of information, such as, topographic data, soils types, landuse
data, and hydrology data to be merged together so the watershed could be assessed.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This software also helps me to analyze
various attributes of a watershed so that I can provide more specific recommendations
to my clients for implementation of various conservation practices. Practices
such as conservation tillage, grassed waterways, rain gardens, rain barrels, 2-stage
ditches, water & sediment control basins, vegetative filter strips all help
to keep our waterbodies clean.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Biological assessment of your local waterbody or stream?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Simple observations of benthic macroinvertebrate
presences can also be used to analyze the ecological health of bodies of water.
</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Benthic macroinvertebrates are animals
that are big enough (macro) to be seen with the naked eye. They lack backbones
(invertebrate) and live at least part of their lives in or on the bottom
(benthos) of a body of water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Benthic macroinvertebrates
include aquatic insects (such as mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, midges,
beetles), snails, worms, freshwater clams, mussels, and crayfish. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Some species are more tolerant of pollution, while others cannot
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It is easy for citizens to become involved in
ecological monitoring or participate in a stream clean-up of local water bodies.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If you’re interested in such activities
contact your local Soil & Water Conservation District or Hoosier Riverwatch
at </span><a href="http://www.in.gov/idem/riverwatch/2338.htm"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.in.gov/idem/riverwatch/2338.htm</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Soil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357738737642629152.post-84311072359921927672013-11-04T09:00:00.000-05:002013-11-04T09:00:05.634-05:00Water History Lessons at the Pathway to Water Quality<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ev0JmuH48uQ/UnOcK4YW8cI/AAAAAAAAAaE/SelpzrquQKA/s1600/Sarah+Wolf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ev0JmuH48uQ/UnOcK4YW8cI/AAAAAAAAAaE/SelpzrquQKA/s320/Sarah+Wolf.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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Sarah Wolf is an ISDA Resource Specialist, serving Jasper,
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Pathway to Water Quality
committee asked me to serve as a Live Interpreter, teaching water history and
conservation, during the state fair to celebrate Pathway’s 20<sup>th</sup>
anniversary. Visitors enjoyed learning
how to wash clothes the old fashioned way, and all the while I was teaching
them how water was used 100 years ago. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The point I wanted to get across to them was that water was often used
for multiple tasks in the past, and we tend to waste a lot of water now because
using water is convenient. In the past,
because water had to be carried in buckets from the well, water was
conserved. Pioneers would wash clothes
with about five gallons, and then use that water to mop the floor or water
their garden. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dKt9znZGYP0/UnOdFqGaEGI/AAAAAAAAAak/10Ygmk6df7o/s1600/Sarah+wringing+clothes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="598" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dKt9znZGYP0/UnOdFqGaEGI/AAAAAAAAAak/10Ygmk6df7o/s640/Sarah+wringing+clothes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now we wash one load of
clothes in the washing machine with about 60 gallons, and that water is not
used for any other chore before sending it on to the sewage treatment plant or
septic system. The average household of
three people uses an estimated 200 gallons of water every day! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Visitors brainstormed ideas of how to use
less water, and hopefully they will consider changing just<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>
one water practice in their everyday lives.
Water is a precious resource that needs to be conserved and protected,
and together we can make a difference if we are mindful of how we use water!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Educators can find a water history
lesson plan that I complied for 5<sup>th</sup> grade students (adaptable for
younger students) at <a href="https://exchweb.in.gov/owa/redir.aspx?C=zs3PZXJ2ukaVrNso9uMZvyAMGpQ_qNAIN8_taTpUJ1ahoF1RqQhoaGTmLfQDutcbtUV770r6ZaQ.&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.google.com%2furl%3fq%3dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.iaswcd.org%252Fdistrict_tools%252Fpwq%252Fpdfs%252FWHC.pdf%26sa%3dD%26sntz%3d1%26usg%3dAFQjCNF1zeVEtLUhd23BCjt8r7UVQyXOcw" target="_blank">http://www.iaswcd.org/district_tools/pwq/pdfs/WHC.pdf</a>.</span></div>
Soil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357738737642629152.post-33647629699080965132013-10-28T10:20:00.003-04:002013-10-28T10:20:55.682-04:00The Four Cornerstones of Leadership: Leadership Institute<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vWPxo2050M8/Um5yB3PQgNI/AAAAAAAAAZc/Bvrdnb1DOcM/s1600/Geneva+Rawlins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vWPxo2050M8/Um5yB3PQgNI/AAAAAAAAAZc/Bvrdnb1DOcM/s320/Geneva+Rawlins.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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Geneva Rawlins is one of 5 District Support Specialists for
the IN State Department of Agriculture- Division of Soil Conservation providing
administrative support and leadership development opportunities for Indiana’s
Soil and Water Conservation Districts. </div>
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Ask anyone involved in any capacity within any community
about the successes and struggles of their cause and most likely the common
thread determining success or failure can be traced to leadership. Any
mission is dependent on leaders to envision, strategize and implement a plan
for success, and preserving our natural resources for future generations is no
different. Our local Soil and Water Conservation Districts depend on the
leadership of a Board of Supervisors to be at the forefront of the conservation
movement in order to effectively serve our counties, and the Leadership
Institute is one unique tool designed specifically to teach and challenge our
local natural resource leaders and Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
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A series of four workshops build on each other, starting
with defining what leadership is and how our personalities and perspectives
affect how we serve within leadership positions. Following workshops
examine how we may better communicate with and listen to those we serve, and
how Board dynamics effect the effectiveness and success of a Soil and Water
Conservation District. Finally, the Leadership Institute wraps up the
series by discussing how we may further impact our communities through
strategic planning and implementation. </div>
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Because each workshop is hosted in a different location, an
evening of networking is usually planned which also gives participants an
opportunity to experience a unique aspect of the local community.
The most recent Leadership Institute workshop was hosted in Lafayette, IN
and Supervisors and Staff from Soil and Water Conservation Districts across the
state participated in a Howl Night at the local Wolf Park, where they were
given limited interaction with the wolves through howling & communicating
with the wolves. </div>
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The next Leadership Institute workshop will focus on
communicating and building relationship in your community and with partnering
agencies and other organizations. This workshop will take place Dec 6-7
in Madison, IN, with a Christmas home tour to follow the evening of the 6<sup>th</sup>.
Please contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District for more
information!</div>
Soil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357738737642629152.post-57071692097722316842013-10-17T09:24:00.000-04:002013-10-17T09:24:14.632-04:00Indiana vs. Alaska<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By David Lefforge</div>
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David was raised on a farm, and has worked in soil
conservation for the 36 years. His job
descriptions have changed from Soil Scientist, to Urban Conservation
Specialist, to Resource Specialist as the agency has evolved from the State
Soil and Water Conservation Committee, IDNR, to the Division of Soil
Conservation, ISDA. David lives in
Bluffton with his wife, Julie. He has 2
grown children and 2 grandchildren.</div>
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My wife and I recently took a trip to <st1:place w:st="on">Alaska</st1:place> and thoroughly enjoyed that great
state. We visited the coastal
rain forests and southeastern <st1:state w:st="on">Alaska</st1:state>, including
<st1:place w:st="on">Denali</st1:place>. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-npGpq47oV7o/Ul_kGH8SjOI/AAAAAAAAAYs/vDQ68WONk40/s1600/IMG_0567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-npGpq47oV7o/Ul_kGH8SjOI/AAAAAAAAAYs/vDQ68WONk40/s640/IMG_0567.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Denali in the distance</span></td></tr>
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There was so much to learn about the geology, history, plant communities
and wildlife, across a variety of environments: Pacific coastal waters, fresh inland bodies of water, mountains, and glaciers.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-No-F9Wpp-hA/Ul_jfqqSw5I/AAAAAAAAAYc/7bXVhSV0HRU/s1600/IMG_0713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-No-F9Wpp-hA/Ul_jfqqSw5I/AAAAAAAAAYc/7bXVhSV0HRU/s640/IMG_0713.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ice Disintegrating near the bottom of a glacier
where melt has exceeded snow accumulation</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IIDkuZ5ZcIY/Ul_jaKupDXI/AAAAAAAAAYM/wOYncnh_2Eg/s1600/IMG_0529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IIDkuZ5ZcIY/Ul_jaKupDXI/AAAAAAAAAYM/wOYncnh_2Eg/s640/IMG_0529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Stream braided with outwash sediments from
glacial meltwater.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F5wTlgqkalQ/Ul_jfVe84II/AAAAAAAAAYY/riGcGytkbFk/s1600/IMG_0410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F5wTlgqkalQ/Ul_jfVe84II/AAAAAAAAAYY/riGcGytkbFk/s640/IMG_0410.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Soil and Rock contrast to the snow and blue
glacial ice.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9F9JrS31eSs/Ul_jfWmyXWI/AAAAAAAAAYU/0_NBpptzl80/s1600/IMG_0417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9F9JrS31eSs/Ul_jfWmyXWI/AAAAAAAAAYU/0_NBpptzl80/s640/IMG_0417.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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Sediment- Down to the Sea in Ice</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H9Ouv7m67EM/Ul_jP1N5OTI/AAAAAAAAAYE/Lm57IWKaXlc/s1600/IMG_0675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H9Ouv7m67EM/Ul_jP1N5OTI/AAAAAAAAAYE/Lm57IWKaXlc/s640/IMG_0675.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Aerial View of Lateral and Medial Moraines decorating
a Valley Train Glacier</span></td></tr>
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There are vast areas that are
undeveloped and beautiful. The Fall
color change, especially in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Denali</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">National Park</st1:placetype></st1:place>, was a
highlight of our trip. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RUl5KPEm6Aw/Ul_jC5QIUyI/AAAAAAAAAX8/jJceKb67WOI/s1600/IMG_0493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RUl5KPEm6Aw/Ul_jC5QIUyI/AAAAAAAAAX8/jJceKb67WOI/s640/IMG_0493.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Foraging moose standing in the colors of Fall</span></td></tr>
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Unfortunately that beauty is based on thin soil, steep
land, and a cold climate. Consequently,
there was little evidence of agriculture in <st1:place w:st="on">Alaska</st1:place>.
The economy of <st1:place w:st="on">Southeast Alaska</st1:place> is
limited to tourism, fishing hunting, and forestry. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b8hMn1d9unM/Ul_kSS3fsFI/AAAAAAAAAY0/mnrS5hTZpzw/s1600/IMG_0543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b8hMn1d9unM/Ul_kSS3fsFI/AAAAAAAAAY0/mnrS5hTZpzw/s640/IMG_0543.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Bear foraging on blueberries(red leaves)among
the willows</span></td></tr>
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Evidence of current and past glaciers were everywhere in <st1:state w:st="on">Alaska</st1:state>. <st1:place w:st="on">Alaska</st1:place>
is a theater for viewing glaciers; seeing glacial moraines, braided streams,
and ice disintegration features in their infancy. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pBpu8meivX0/Ul_kcjxY3TI/AAAAAAAAAY8/rCMyxqAkMKU/s1600/IMG_0214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pBpu8meivX0/Ul_kcjxY3TI/AAAAAAAAAY8/rCMyxqAkMKU/s640/IMG_0214.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Blue Glacial Ice calved from a glacier into a
mountain lake impounded by a recessional moraine</span></td></tr>
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These are the same features we see evidenced
in the glaciated soils of <st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place>
where glaciers were last seen 10-15,000 years ago. </div>
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As pretty as it was, <st1:place w:st="on">Alaska</st1:place>
made me appreciate the natural resources we have in <st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place>. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LC9LakTYFQk/Ul_koNBQaLI/AAAAAAAAAZE/GvTEbCRowcg/s1600/IMG_0165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LC9LakTYFQk/Ul_koNBQaLI/AAAAAAAAAZE/GvTEbCRowcg/s640/IMG_0165.JPG" width="470" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Coastal Rain Forest-Trees growing from decaying
tree, essentially no soil<br /><br /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rNb0XmZftMg/Ul_kwcEAvaI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/GErUDGq603M/s1600/IMG_0518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rNb0XmZftMg/Ul_kwcEAvaI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/GErUDGq603M/s640/IMG_0518.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Pasture Stocking Rates for Dall Sheep are quite
low (See white specks?)</span></td></tr>
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We have Prime Farmland and a climate well
suited for agriculture. We have
woodlands and wildlife… but we also grow row crops and raise livestock.
Agriculture is a valuable part of the Indiana Economy.</div>
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<st1:place w:st="on">Alaska</st1:place> is a nice place to
visit, but I choose to live in <st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place>.</div>
Soil Conservationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11203523135507432512noreply@blogger.com0