#NRCS

May 29, 2018
1 min

Indiana Farmers See Relief on DUNS and SAM Requirements

Thanks to a change in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018, farmers in Indiana who apply for financial assistance programs through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will no longer need a Dun and Bradstreet Universal Number System (DUNS) number, or to register in the System for Award Management (SAM). “This change streamlines the process for both farmers and staff because it greatly simplifies the contracting and payment process for current and new pa

9 views0 comments

Indiana NRCS Accepting Applications for Easement Programs

USDA IN NRCS

May 16, 2018
2 min

Indiana NRCS Accepting Applications for Easement Programs

Indianapolis, IN, May 16, 2018 – Acting State Conservationist Gerald Roach announced today that Indiana’s USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). ACEP restores and protects Indiana’s critical wetlands and grasslands which helps productive farms remain in agriculture and provides important habitat for wildlife and plant species. Applications are due on or before August 17thto be c

16 views0 comments

USDA IN NRCS

Apr 4, 2018
1 min

Purdue Vole and Cover Crops Project

Indiana Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative (CCSI) are working with Purdue University’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources to help identify causes and solutions to farmers who experience issues with voles in cover cropped fields. Purdue is seeking information from 50-75 fields per NRCS area that meet the following criteria: The field was planted to cover crops in the fall of 2015; The field was planted to so

26 views0 comments

USDA IN NRCS

Mar 7, 2018
2 min

Hardisty Named Sagamore of the Wabash

Greenfield resident and former USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service State Conservationist Jane Hardisty is a recent recipient of one of Indiana’s top honors – the Sagamore of the Wabash. This prestigious award from Governor Eric J. Holcomb was presented at Hardisty’s retirement dinner on February 23 by Indiana State Department of Agriculture Deputy Director Melissa Rekeweg and Division of Soil Conservation Director Jordan Seger to recognize her outstanding leadership i

12 views0 comments

IN NRCS

Feb 27, 2018
5 min

NRCS Grazing Bites

It wasn’t too long ago that you were hearing that some parts of the state were actually still in drought status. I believe it is safe to say, without even looking it up, that that is no longer a problem. Instead, completely thawed and very soggy ground is prevalent. It’s been a few years since I’ve seen this wet of an early spring. In fact, maybe about twenty years. We are quite often still blessed with some free “concrete” this time of year. As much as I like the warmer

6 views0 comments

Indiana NRCS Invests Dollars to Help Protect and Restore Sensitive Lands

IN NRCS

Jan 4, 2018
2 min

Indiana NRCS Invests Dollars to Help Protect and Restore Sensitive Lands

Indianapolis, IN, November 8, 2017 – State Conservationist Jane Hardisty announced today that Indiana’s USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is making funding available to help landowners protect and restore key farmlands, grasslands and wetlands across Indiana. The funding is provided through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), created by the 2014 Farm Bill to protect critical water resources and wildlife habitat, and encourage private owners

7 views0 comments

Victor Shelton

Nov 2, 2017
4 min

Grazing Bites

Parts of Indiana still remain dry with an intensity rating of abnormally dry to moderate drought. It’s certainly been drier in the past, especially thinking back to 2012, but we could benefit from some rain. Forage regrowth has slowed down and opportunities for fall annuals remains challenging. I planted some annuals; they emerged but would greatly benefit from some precipitation in order to meet their purpose. If we get some rain, along with enough warm days for good growth,

10 views0 comments

USDA NRCS

Oct 19, 2017
4 min

Healthy Soils Are: well-structured

Soil structure, pore space key to proper soil function “Soft and crumbly.” “Like cottage cheese.” “Like a sponge.” “Loose and full of holes.” Those and other common descriptions of what healthy soil looks and feels like refer to good soil structure. Soil structure, the arrangement of the solid parts of the soil and the pore space between them, is critical to how the soil functions. When the solid parts—sand, silt and clay particles—cling together as coarse, granular aggregate

15 views0 comments

Lynn Betts (Jun 20

Sep 21, 2017
2 min

The Online NRCS Office

Just as many people can access their health records and banking records online, farmers and ranchers can save time and miles by doing some conservation business online. Landowners and operators can track payments, report completed practices, request conservation assistance, and electronically sign documents through a secure web portal. “The online option, called Conservation Client Gateway, is especially helpful to people, especially those who have to drive a long way to the

6 views0 comments

stjosephswcd

Jul 27, 2017
3 min

Have You Heard of Palmer Amaranth?

USDA has learned that Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri), an invasive weed, may have infested some newly-seeded (2016) conservation plantings across the upper Midwest. Palmer amaranth is highly competitive, and in fact, is the most competitive of the pigweed species. It grows rapidly and one plant can produce a quarter-million seeds. Why the concern? Palmer amaranth is a very fast growing weed that has spread out of native areas. Populations have developed resistance to mul

40 views0 comments

NRCS

Jul 20, 2017
4 min

Healthy Soils Are: covered all the time

Keep it covered, please! If you’re trying to make your soil healthier, you shouldn’t see it very often. In other words, soil should always be covered by growing plants, their residues, or a combination of the two. Keeping the soil covered all the time makes perfect sense when you realize that healthy soils are full of life and that the microorganisms living in the soil have the same needs as other living creatures. They need food and cover to survive. When you have a vegetati

16 views0 comments

Indiana NRCS

Jul 13, 2017
4 min

Grazing Bites

I mentioned last month I couldn’t believe how much forage growth we have already this year due to the rains. The situation hasn’t changed a whole lot until lately. The challenge now is trying to get forages under control and harvesting any needed forage for later use. I am running late in getting this issue of Grazing Bites out, even with several reminders. I feel the same way about my forage control so far this year; it reminds me visually every day that I’m behind schedu

9 views0 comments

Cover Crops Thrive in Tough Farm Economy

Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA)

May 17, 2017
4 min

Cover Crops Thrive in Tough Farm Economy

Fall Conservation Transect Report Released – Cover Crops Thrive in Tough Farm Economy One Million Acres of Living Cover Crops Reported Indianapolis, May 17, 2017 – According to the 2016 Fall Conservation Transect Report, Hoosier farmers planted over a million acres of cover crops for the second year in a row. Jane Hardisty, State Conservationist with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) says having over a million acres of planted cover crops makes Indiana the

31 views0 comments

Educating Our Youth is Key to Future Conservation

Jane Hardisty, State Conservationist USDA NRCS

Apr 17, 2017
2 min

Educating Our Youth is Key to Future Conservation

Today, it is estimated that there are more than 7 billion people on our planet and 925 million of them are malnourished. Projections indicate that we’ll have 3 billion more people in the next 50 years. And while our population continues to grow, our farmland continues to decline each year here in Indiana and across the country. We are also facing a changing environment where threats to our air, water, soil and wildlife are real, yet obtaining healthy and plentiful food is

9 views0 comments

USDA NRCS

Mar 16, 2017
2 min

Healthy Soils are: full of life

It’s alive! Many people don’t realize that soil, especially healthy soil, is full of life. Millions of species and billions of organisms make up a complex and diverse mix of microscopic and macroscopic life that represents the greatest concentration of biomass anywhere on the planet. Bacteria, algae, microscopic insects, earthworms, beetles, ants, mites, and fungi are among them. All together, their value has been estimated at $1.5 trillion a year worldwide. Like other livin

189 views0 comments

Indiana NRCS Accepting Second Round Applications for Wetland Easements in the St. Joseph River Water

IN NRCS

Feb 9, 2017
2 min

Indiana NRCS Accepting Second Round Applications for Wetland Easements in the St. Joseph River Water

Indianapolis, IN, February 9, 2017 – Jane Hardisty, State Conservationist for Indiana’s USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced today that NRCS is accepting applications until March 15 to be considered for second round funding to improve water quality seven counties in northern Indiana. Dollars are still available for the St. Joseph River Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). This project will help improve water quality and strengthen agricul

17 views0 comments

What To Do With Irrigation Pivot Corners

NRCS

Feb 9, 2017
2 min

What To Do With Irrigation Pivot Corners

In 1948, center pivot irrigation was invented as a means to improve water distribution in crop fields. This was a great improvement in water distribution compared to flood irrigation, however, center pivots have created a new dilemma: the pivot corner. Pivot corners are troublesome. Square parcels with a circular system leave unused corners that can amount to 15 to 20% of the available area in a square parcel. The result is a large portion of unused ground that could be used

562 views0 comments

Indiana NRCS

Dec 12, 2016
2 min

Indiana NRCS Announces $13 Million Available to Help Protect and Restore Wetlands

Indianapolis, IN, December 12, 2016 – State Conservationist Jane Hardisty announced today that Indiana’s USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is making available $13 million in financial and technical assistance through the Wetland Reserve Easement Program (WRE). NRCS will accept WRE applications to protect Indiana’s critical wetlands, home to diverse wildlife and plant species. Private landowners, tribes, and other eligible entities must submit applications f

46 views0 comments

NRCS

Nov 16, 2016
2 min

NRCS Seeks Applications for $25 Million in Conservation Innovation Grants

Indiana State Conservationist Jane Hardisty today announced that USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking new proposals for cutting-edge projects that will provide new conservation opportunities through its competitive Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. NRCS will invest up to $25 million for projects that spark the development and adoption of innovative conservation technologies and approaches in areas like conservation finance, data analytics

38 views0 comments

Conservation Stewardship Program
Building Better Outcomes

stjosephswcd

Nov 9, 2016
2 min

Conservation Stewardship Program Building Better Outcomes

Conservation Stewardship Program The Conservation Stewardship Program – CSP – is the largest conservation program in the United States. Starting as the Conservation Security Program in 2002, a complex watershed-based pilot with just 2 million acres in its first year, the Conservation Stewardship Program has evolved to a nationwide program that has enrolled more than 70 million acres since 2010. Fifteen years of experience and evolution in the program bring us to where we are

18 views0 comments