The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/340091
D-4 Pike County Planter swCD newsletter July and august 2014 the Press-Dispatch SoiL HeaLtH Continued from page 1 coSt SHare Continued from page 1 WaterSHeD Continued from page 1 The Soil and Water Con- ser vation Districts (SWCD) of southwest Indiana spon- sored a Boy Scout Soil and Water Conser vation Merit Badge Workshop on May 17, 2014, at Camp Reveal in Evansville. Twenty boy scouts from various troops out of Pike, Gibson, Dubois, Posey and Vanderburgh Counties participated. They were Alex Allen, Logan Hunter, Mark Abell, Thomas Rapp, Gabe Pfeffer, Ryan Maynard, Wil- liam Mast, Maxwell Braselton, Ian Kyle, Caleb Shotlz, Eric Loveless, Ben Hess, Cameron Smith, Michael Smith, Braden Tucker, Ben Hausmann, Jacob Schneider, Michael Simutus, Tensei Nakamuara and Alex Ward. The boys spent the morning learning about soil formation, erosion, best management practices, water pollution and waste water treatment. In the afternoon they planted 100 black walnut and 100 tulip poplar trees to replace trees that had been blown down during a storm. This work- shop was put on through a partnership with Camp Reveal and the Gibson, Pike, Posey, Vanderburgh and Warrick County SWCD's, with Posey County SWCD spear heading the event. Congratulations to the 20 boys who completed the merit badge. Boy Scout Soil and Water conservation merit Badge Workshop a success Ken and mary meyer, of Petersburg, and Diane gress, of Dubois County, stopped by the swCD booth to take advantage of the several awesome freebies the swCD's brought to give away to the public. swCD staff took the time to discuss some soil and water conservation methods and talk about what the different districts have to of- fer too. helping to man the southwest indiana soil & water Conservation District's booth at the District 9 indiana Farm Bureau 2014 summer meeting were (left to right) ann ice, gibson Co. swCD educator; erin shoup, Vanderburgh Co. swCD District administrator and Jeri Ziliak, Posey Co. swCD District administrator. the event took place June 7 at the obert legacy Dairy in gibson County. Farm Bureau members, agribusiness lead- ers, legislators and Farm Bureau staff were among the couple hundred attendees. nicknamed the "Fabulous Five" in the conservation world of indiana, the gibson, Pike, Posey, Vanderburgh and warrick swCD booth saw more than 285 participants at the Farm Bureau event, many who stopped by to talk about their history and experiences with the swCD's while others learned of the new cost share programs that the swCD's have to offer. the Fabulous Five were also able to be bronze sponsors of this event from educa- tional funding obtained through a Clean water indiana grant the five counties secured together. Farm Bureau 2014 summer Meeting iNFiLTRATioN CCSI Soil Health Program Manager Lisa Holscher says, "It's not a big leap to under- stand how improved soil health can help with irrigation management strategies: improved soil health can lead to improved water infiltra- tion and improved water holding capacity - two big pluses in an irrigated field. "On the other side of the coin, we can use irrigation systems to take soil health strate- gies a step further: We can give the field a quick drink to get cover crops up and grow- ing. We can also use variable rate systems to put water and nutrients on when and where our crops need them." The cost to attend "Leveraging Irrigation to Improve Soil Health" is $10. Continuing Education Credits for Certified Crop Advisors have been requested. Registration is required by June 24 and may be completed online at www.VillwockFieldDay.eventbrite.com or by calling the Knox County Soil and Water Conser vation District at 812-882-8210 x3. SCHeDuLe 9 a.m.—Registration and Check-In Open. 10 a.m.—Welcome and Introductions with Don Villwock, Villwock Farms and Indiana Farm Bureau. 10:15 a.m.—On-Farm Research and Vari- able Rate Irrigation Trials with Dan Emmert, DuPont Pioneer. 11 a.m.—Indiana Water Rules: Now and Ex- pected with Justin Schneider, Indiana Farm Bureau. 11:30 a.m.—Use of Irrigation in Soil Health Systems with Barr y Fisher, NRCS 12:15 p.m.—Lunch 1 p.m.—Demonstration: Field Scouting with Drones by Precision Hawk 1:30 p.m.—Management Zones and Soil Moisture Sensors for Variable Rate Irriga- tion and Fertigation with Tanner Oliphant, CropMetrics. 2:15 p.m.—Break to Field for Demonstra- tions: • Irrigation Efficiency Assessments • Water Infiltration The field day is presented as a project of the Conser vation Cropping Systems Initia- tive. Additional event partners include the Knox County SWCD, Indiana Farm Bureau, Ceres Solutions, and Dupont Pioneer. These grants are watershed-based and will determine availability of funding. Producers interested in the program should contact the SWCD office as soon as possible to get their applications filled out and submitted. Contact the SWCD at 812-354-6120 ext. 3, email stephanie.burkemper@in.nacdnet.net or stop by the office in the USDA Ser vice Center located in Petersburg, during normal business hours. Also keep in mind that the SWCD is offer- ing Garden Cover Crop Seed bags for those who want to improve their garden's soil health! These bags contain a crimson clover mix and one 1 pound bag covers up to 2,000 square feet. Garden Cover Crop bags can be purchased at the SWCD office during busi- ness hours for $5. BMPs that would qualify for match include cover crops and reduced tillage in fields that previously were conventionally tilled. Loehr said she would like for anyone knowing of any such BMP being installed to let her know so documentation can be turned in. Loehr can be reached at jloehr@inh2o.org or at the Gibson County SWCD office, 229 S. 2nd Ave. in Princeton, and at 812-385-5033 ext. 116. be SEEN The Pike County Planter is a great place to advertise your agri-business! This is target- ed advertising at its best! The Dispatch Press Pike County's news network Call John, CinDy oR Pam toDay at 812-354-8500 to see how your business can be seen in nearly 5,000 households.