The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1105696
The Press-Dispatch Pike County Planter SWCD Newsletter September and October 2017 D- 1 Pike County SWCD SUPERVISORS Norman Dillon, Chairman Paul Lake, Vice Chairman Kelly Atkins, Supervisor Josh Collins, Supervisor Tom Rudolph, Supervisor Brad Smith, Associate Supervisor STAFF S. Erica Burkemper-Fischer, District Administrator Emily Kelly, Agronomic Technician Julie Loehr, Watershed Coordinator Vince Pitstick, NRCS District Conservationist SWCD/NRCS HOURS Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Due to the nature of the work that the SWCD and NRCS staf f performs, at times there will be no one in the office. Call 812-354-6120 ext. 3 before visiting. Farm Service Agency COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Amy R. Barber amy.barber@in.usda.gov SENIOR FARM LOAN OFFICER Corey Heldt Corey. heldt@in.usda.gov PROGRAM TECHNICIANS Amy Foust, Lisa Gladish, and Brenda Nicholson COUNTY COMMITTEE (COC) Jeffrey K Brenton, Chairperson Christian Rudolph, Vice-chair Katrina M. Seitz, Member FSA OFFICE HOURS: Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-4:30pm April, May and June 2019 VOLUME 10, ISSUE 2 Special section published quarterly by The Press-Dispatch Pike County Soil and Water Conservation District Newsletter Pike County Planter Planter DISTRICT MEETINGS The Soil and Water Con- ser vation District has set its 2019 monthly board meetings for the first Tuesday of ever y month. These meetings will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the USDA Ser vice Center confer- ence room in Petersburg, Ind. The meetings operate under an open door policy. Meetings are subject to unexpected cancel- lation the day of a scheduled meeting if a quorum cannot be met. For more information or to be added to the SWCD meeting email chain, contact the SWCD office at 812- 354-6120 ex. 3. Beacon Ag Group is a department of Beacon Credit Union. Each account insured up to $250,000 by American Share Insurance. By members' choice, this institution is not federally insured. *Crop and livestock insurance and equipment leasing are offered by Plan One Financial Services, LLC DBA Beacon Ag Service, a wholly owned affiliate of Beacon Credit Union and not insured by American Share Insurance. Positioning your family business for the next year has never been more critical. Let's face it, today's market presents new challenges and relying on the past does not guarantee a sure path forward. That's where the conversation starts. Beacon Ag Group was founded on the promise of sharing expert knowledge with the members we serve. As ag people serving ag people, we know that making the right decision means having more options. We listen to your unique challenges and guide the way toward financial success. Let's talk. It all starts with A conversation. CONTACT BEACON AG GROUP AG LOAN OFFICER BRANDON DECKER OR BEACON AG SERVICES* CROP INSURANCE SPECIALIST KALLIE BURKE-SCHUCKMAN TODAY AT (800) 825-6703 OR BEACONAGGROUP.ORG | Fab Five awarded with 2018 Hoosier Chapter Group Conservation accomplishment The Soil and Water Conser vation Society's Hoosier Chapter awarded the 2018 Hoosier Chapter Group Conser- vation Accomplishment Award to the SWCDs of Gibson, Pike, Posey, Van- derburgh and Warrick counties during their annual meeting in December 2019. These SWCDs, nicknamed the Fab Five by their peers and partnering agencies, have formed a strong partnership that has been instrumental in the movement for healthier soil and cleaner water. Over the past six years—and going strong— the partnership has hosted more than 40 workshops, round tables, conferences and expos geared towards informing landowners and producers how to implement and improve natural re- sources through successful conser vation practices. From conducting workshops geared towards urban conser vation to planning/playing host to the first Eastern Native Grass Symposium held in Indiana, the Fab Five have outdone themselves with top-notch education efforts for all ages, impacting an estimated 60,000 people over time. The partnership has succeeded in not only hosting numer- ous events but using these events as a way to promote county, state and federal cost-share funding; this has resulted in the southwest having one of the highest workloads of conser vation implementa- tion in the state. Over one million in cost share funds have been awarded in various ways to the SWCDs, which was then applied on the ground in the five counties. With no signs of stopping, the Fab Five look for ward to continuing to educate the public and raise awareness to improve natural resources for genera- tions to come. Harold Thompson, the SWCS Hoosier Chapter's outgoing president pre- sents the Group Conservation Accomplishment award to Chris Lee, NRCS CIT Team Leader and fan of the Fab Five, on behalf of the Fabulous Five SWCD's who could not attend due to another event. Ornamental tree becomes serious problem Caller y pear, also known as flowering pear or Bradford pear, is among the most popular ornamental trees in the United States. The white flowers produced by the tree are one of the first signs of spring in the Midwest and Caller y pear is a common feature of plantings, urban trees, and housing addi- tions. Unfortunately, the species is an aggres- sive invader of native forest, savanna, and prairie habitats across the eastern United States. Expansion of Caller y pear is a serious problem as the species outcompetes and suppresses native species that are much more desirable for wildlife habitat and forest health. Caller y pear can be easily identified by its charismatic white flowers that appear in March/April as one of the first plants to bloom. It also has distinct waxy, egg-shaped leaves and some varieties, especially where escaped, have large thorns. The fruits of the tree are small, typically the size of a dime or smaller with rough, brown skin. When first produced in spring, the fruits are quite hard but they soften over the course of the spring and summer, typically being consumed by a variety of birds and small mammals in late summer and fall. Caller y pear trees grow ver y quickly and produce pollen and fruit as early as three years. The abundant fruits are quickly dispersed by birds, including European Star- lings and American Robins. This results in new Caller y pear trees growing in a variety of habitats where birds travel and roost in- cluding forest, fields, and under powerlines. Their continued use as an ornamental tree further contributes to the problem of expan- sion. In addition to their negative impacts on forests and wildlife, Caller y pears are not a good choice for landscaping. Their tight branch angles and overall poor structure means they readily break under windy and icy conditions. This presents a danger to people and nearby structures where they are planted. Controlling this invasive species can be a challenge. Caller y pear has a deep, strong taproot that limits pulling even small stems. Additionally, it actively stump sprouts mean- ing when cut or girdled follow up herbicide treatment is necessar y to kill an individual plant. Finally, the general form of most stems is rather spindly with leaves close to the stem (and each other). This means spray herbicide application has limited success. As is the case with many invasive species, successive mechanical and/or herbicide treatments are most successful in effectively controlling and eradicating this species. Contributing to the challenge of eradicat- ing the species is the fact that the trees are actively available for retail and wholesale purchase by developers and consumers. Eliminating existing landscape and invad- ing specimens is important, but consumers should also avoid purchasing and planting ornamental pear trees. For a list of retailers who sell native plants and do not sell inva- sive species, visit GrowIndianaNatives.org. The Pike County Soil and Water Conser- vation District (SWCD) is currently forming a collaborative effort to address invasive spe- cies in our county. For more information or to get involved, visit the Pike-Gibson CISMA Facebook page or call the office at 812-354- 6120 ex.3