The Press-Dispatch
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The Press-Dispatch Pike County Planter SWCD Newsletter November and December 2015 D- 1 Pike County SWCD SUPERVISORS Mike Whaley, Chairman Norman Dillon, Vice Chairman Kelly Atkins, Supervisor David Flint, Supervisor Paul Lake, Supervisor Brad Smith, Associate Supervisor STAFF S. Erica Burkemper-Fischer, District Administrator Chuck White, SWCD Soil Technician Matt Robinette, SWCD Soil Technician Emily Kelly, Agronomic Technician Whitney McGrew, Soil Technician Travis Gogel, 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 COMMITTEE Robert Weitkampt II, Chairman Keith Breidenbaugh, Member Jeff Brenton, Member Katrina Seitz, Minority Advisor STAFF Amy Barber, County Executive Director Amy Foust, Program Technician Lisa Gladdish, Program Technician Brenda Nicholson, Program Technician FSA OFFICE HOURS: Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-4:30pm Nov. / Dec. 2015 VOLUME 6, ISSUE 6 Special section published bimonthly by The Press-Dispatch Pike County Soil and Water Conservation District Newsletter Pike County Soil and Water Conservation District Newsletter Planter Planter *For commercial use. Offer subject to CNH Industrial Capital America LLC credit approval. See your New Holland dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Depending on model, a down payment may be required. Offer good through November 30, 2015, at participating New Holland dealers in the United States. Offer subject to change. Taxes, freight, set-up, delivery, additional options or attachments not included in price. © 2015 CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland Agriculture is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. CNH Industrial Capital and New Holland Construction are trademarks in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. SMART CHOICES. MORE SAVINGS. During this year's Value Bonanza sales event, take advantage of more SMART ways to save, including 0% FINANCING, CASH BACK and ever-popular BONANZA BUCKS on select New Holland products. You'll find the best savings of the year on that New Holland tractor and equipment you've had your eye on. But time is not on your side—Value Bonanza ends November 30, 2015 so hurry into your New Holland dealer today! See all the SMART deals at nhvaluebonanza.com Blesch Bros. Equipment Co., Inc. (812) 536-3486 www.bleschbros.com *For commercial use. Offer subject to CNH Industrial Capital America LLC credit approval. See your New Holland dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Depending on model, a down payment may be required. Offer good through November 30, 2015, at participating New Holland dealers in the United States. Offer subject to change. Taxes, freight, set-up, delivery, additional options or attachments not included in price. © 2015 CNH Industrial Capital America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland Agriculture is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. CNH Industrial Capital and New Holland Construction are trademarks in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. SMART CHOICES. MORE SAVINGS. During this year's Value Bonanza sales event, take advantage of more SMART ways to save, including 0% FINANCING, CASH BACK and ever-popular BONANZA BUCKS on select New Holland products. You'll find the best savings of the year on that New Holland tractor and equipment you've had your eye on. But time is not on your side—Value Bonanza ends November 30, 2015 so hurry into your New Holland dealer today! See all the SMART deals at nhvaluebonanza.com Blesch Bros. Equipment Co., Inc. (812) 536-3486 www.bleschbros.com 407 E. KENTUCKY, HOLLAND • (812) 536-3486 STATE ROAD 58 W, ODON • (812) 636-4050 www.BLESCHBROS.com We service what we sell! Equipment Company Pike County SWCD is seeking candidates for supervisor positions the Pike County Soil and Water Con- ser vation District (SWCD) is looking for persons with an interest in natural resourc- es management who would like to ser ve as a district official. Candidates are being sought for one elected seat to sit on the district's five‐member board of super visors. The term for this seat runs from Februar y 2016 through Februar y 2019. Pike County SWCD is a legal subdivision of state government responsible for the protection, conser vation and wise use of the soil, water and related natural resources within the county. Working cooperatively with federal, state and local agencies and organizations, the district brings education - al, technical and financial assistance to bear on the conser vation problems of the county. Activities of the district are directed by the five super visors, three who are elected by the local land users and two appointed by the State Soil Conser vation Board. Meet- ings are on the first Tuesday of each month but could be rescheduled if necessar y to have a minimum number for a quorum. During the meetings, super visors plan and oversee the efforts aimed at fulfilling the district's responsibilities, which include: • Assessing natural resources manage- ment needs within the county • Developing and implementing policies and programs that address those assessed needs • Carr ying out program initiatives given to SWCDs by state and federal government and advise local government on natural resource management issues. As compensation for their ser vice, su- per visors can receive salar y per diem when engaged in district business. Candidates for Pike County SWCD's elected and appointed super visor positions must be of voting age and reside in the county. For more informa- tion about the Pike County SWCD, its pro- grams, super visor duties and qualifications, and the specific position to be filled or to register as a candidate, visit the district office at the USDA Ser vice Center, 2101 E. Main Street, Petersburg, or call 812-354- 6120, Ext. 3 no later than Nov. 15, 2015. New USDA commitments to help build up next generation farmers Agriculture Deputy Secretar y Kr ysta Harden recently announced a commitment by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prioritize $5.6 billion over the next two years within USDA programs and ser vices that ser ve new and beginning farmers and ranchers. Deputy Secretar y Harden also announced a new, tailored web tool designed to connect burgeoning farm entrepreneurs with programs and re- sources available to help them get started. "The announcement is symbolic of the evolution of USDA's efforts to better ser ve the next generation of farmers and ranch- ers. What began seven years ago with the recognition that the rapid aging of the American farmer was an emerging chal- lenge, has transformed into a robust, trans- parent, tech-based strategy to recruit the farmers of the future," said Harden. "No matter where you're from, no matter what you look like, no matter your background, we want USDA to be the first stop for any- one who is looking to be a part of the stor y and legacy of American agriculture." The new web tool is available at www. usda.gov/newfarmers. The site was designed based on feedback from new and beginning farmers and ranchers around the countr y, who cited unfamiliarity with programs and resources as a challenge to starting and expanding their operations. The site features advice and guidance on ever ything a new farm business owner needs to know, from writing a business plan, to obtaining a loan to grow their business, to filing taxes as a new small business owner. By answering a series of questions about their operation, farmers can use the site's Discover y Tool to build a personalized set of recommendations of USDA programs and ser vices that may meet their needs. Using the new web tool and other outreach activities, and operating within its existing resources, USDA has set a new goal of increasing beginning farmer and rancher participation by an additional 6.6 percent across key USDA programs, which were established or strengthened by the 2014 Farm Bill, for a total invest- ment value of approximately $5.6 billion. Programs were targeted for expanded outreach and commitment based on their impact on expanding opportunity for new and beginning farmers and ranchers, including starting or expanding an opera- tion, developing new markets, supporting more effective farming and conser vation practices, and having access to relevant training and education opportunities. USDA will provide quarterly updates on its progress towards meeting its goal. A full explanation of the investment targets, benchmarks and outcomes is available at: BFR-Commitment-Factsheet. Deputy Secretar y Harden made the announcements during remarks to more than 60,000 attendees at the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Ky. The National FFA Organization is the largest youth The Southwest Indiana Soil and Water Conser vation Districts of Gibson, Pike, Posey, Warrick and Vanderburgh counties recently hosted a Women in Agriculture evening sponsored by First Financial Bank of Princeton. The event was at the Azalea Path Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, Inc. The fall accommodations on the deck of the countr y gardens was made possible by Beverly Knight, owner of the beautiful location. Speakers for the evening started with Priscilla Magee from First Financial Bank, Princeton. She provided the group with information to consider when passing the farming operation down to the next generation. "The most important detail overlooked is waiting too long to plan," stated Magee. Other details to be consid- ered are: how many generations are work- ing on the farm; children that work on and off the farm; size of the operation; children that may be disabled and sibling rivalr y to WOMEN IN AG EVENING HOSTED BY SOUTHWEST SWCDs First Financial Bank representative, Priscilla Magee, talks with the evening's attendees about how they can prepare the family farm to remain intact in the future. Sher yl Seib has many of those in attendance laughing hard after recapping some of her early adventures learning to be a farmer's wife in the 60s. See WOMEN on page 3 See NEXT on page 4