District Activities:
Filter strips may be enrolled under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), as long as all eligibility requirements are met.
If properly installed and maintained, conservation buffers have the capacity to remove up to 50% or more nutrients and pesticides, remove up to 60% of certain pathogens and remove up to 75% or more of sediment.
Lt. Governor Becky Skillman and Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc. President Don Villwock joined IASWCD President Paula Baldwin as 57 farmers received the 2010 honor in the 4-H Exhibit Hall auditorium before an audience of Indiana Conservation Partnership representatives, local Soil and Water Conservation District staff and supervisors, family and friends. Also congratulating award winners was Indiana State Conservationist Jane Hardisty, head of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2010 River Friendly Farmer recipients stand on stage in the 4-H Exhibit Hall Auditorium after receiving their awards. Indiana Conservation Partnership leaders congratulated them. They are: (front row from the left) Jerod Chew, Indiana State Department of Agriculture Division of Soil Conservation; Paula Baldwin, Indiana Assn. of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (IASWCD); Joe Kelsay, Indiana State Department of Agriculture; Lt. Governor Becky Skillman; Don Villwock, Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc.; Jane Hardisty, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Nola Gentry, State Soil Conservation Board; Julia Wickard, USDA Farm Service Agency; Jim Mintert and Chuck Hibberd, Purdue Cooperative Extension Service; Jennifer Boyle Warner, IASWCD; and Bob Eddleman, State Soil Conservation Board.
The River Friendly Farmer Award was first presented to Indiana farmers in 2000. It was created to recognize producers who do an excellent job of incorporating conservation practices into their daily farm management toolbox. Larry Vendl and Randy Lukac were this year's Starke County recipients.
Students rafted a three-mile section of the Tippecanoe River as it flowed through Tippecanoe River State Park in Pulaski County. They were assigned to raft teams for the voyage and worked as a team throughout the day.
The day began with an interactive lesson on watersheds. Students were then fitted with life jackets and grabbed a paddle for the downstream adventure.
Raft instructors, assigned to each raft, shared information about the river and its watershed while on the river. Plants were identified, soils were discussed, potential problems and conservation practices were pointed out, and everyone was watchful for birds and animals.
Stops were also made along the river, where students learned about forested riparian areas, river otters and freshwater mussel species. They conducted chemical water tests and completed a biological assessment of the river based on macro-invertibrates that they netted.
This program is offered to area high school students every year in September. For additional information, or to be put on the mailing list for next year?s trip, contact the district office.
Jim Shilling talks to attendees
Indianapolis - Farmers from 63 farms in 48 Hoosier counties were acknowledged as top conservationists on Farmers? Day at the Indiana State Fair with the 2009 River Friendly Farmer Award.
The award was presented on behalf of the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and its 92 SWCDs by Lt. Governor Becky Skillman, Secretary of Agriculture, and Indiana Farm Bureau President Don Villwock. Also joining in the ceremony was IASWCD President Paula Baldwin and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service State Conservationist Jane Hardisty.
The ceremony took place August 19 at the 4-H Exhibit Hall auditorium attended by state and federal conservation partners, family and friends. "We're pleased to honor these producers who work hard to protect our natural resources," said Paula Baldwin, IASWCD President.
Farmers are nominated locally by their county Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The goal of the award is to publicly recognize farmers who do an excellent job of managing their farms in an environmentally sound way that protects and improves Indiana?s soil and water resources for future generations. The award also seeks to publicize and promote best management farming practices that help improve water quality while maintaining and improving the economic viability of Hoosier agriculture. Starke County's winner was Mark Chesak of San Pierre.
Approximately 450 students and adults were rotated to stations on pond study, pond dipping, the water cycle, recycling, wildlife, sandhill cranes and landuse.
