Soil Fertility Workshop Offered by A&L Great Lakes Labs

A&L Great Lakes Laboratories, Inc. will be holding a basic soil fertility workshop on December 9th in Fort Wayne, IN.  For more information, contact A&L Great Lakes Labs by phone 260/483-4759 or email lab@algreatlakes.com.  Information provided for educational opportunity and does not represent an endorsement of the individual business.

 National No-Till Conference

to be in Indianapolis in January

Four days of intensive learning awaits no-tillers at the 17th annual National No-Till Conference at the

The complete 12-page conference program can be found at: www.notillconference.com.  Registration is $247 per person with a special $217 rate for additional farm or family members.

In memory of Lamoine Nusbaumer, the Wells Co. SWCD will sponsor a Wells County farmer to attend the conference by providing registration, lodging and travel reimbursement.  Anyone interested in being considered for the sponsorship should contact the SWCD office at 260/824-0624 ext. 3 or email: stacia.henderson@in.nacdnet.net. 

DNR Tree Order Forms Still Available!

    Tree order forms for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) nursery program are still available at the Wells Co. SWCD office.  The IDNR nursery has many different species of trees and shrubs available for purchase.  The single species seedlings come in bundles of 100 trees.  The “Select Line” seedlings come in bundles of 50 trees, and the “packets” have a combination of species in bundles of 50 or 120 trees. 

    Seedlings sold through the state nursery program are for conservation plantings such as reforestation, erosion control, field windbreaks and wildlife habitat improvement.  Conservation seedlings are produced from seed collected in the wild and are not suited for shade and ornamental use.  Tree planting instructions are included with each order, but some losses will occur.

     The Wells Co. SWCD offers 3rd party pick-up at the Jasper-Pulaski Nursery for $5.00/bundle (payable to the SWCD when the customer picks up the trees at our Bluffton office).  Other pick up/shipping methods are also available.

    To receive an order form contact the Wells Co. SWCD office at 260/824-0624 ext. 3, or download the form from IDNR’s website: www.dnr.IN.gov/forestry.

Indiana Farmer’s Market Directory

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) in partnership with the Indiana Office of Tourism has published the “2008 Indiana Farmers’ Market, U-Pick and Agritourism Directory.”

The directory serves as a resource to explore Indiana’s rich agriculture heritage!  It can be used as a guide to find fresh, locally-grown produce, meats, and a range of other Indiana food products. 

The directory provides the listings on a county by county basis, and includes contact information as well as the specialty offered.  A copy of the free   directory can be obtained at the Wells Co. SWCD office at 117 W. Harvest Road, Bluffton, or it can be found on the ISDA website (www.in.gov/isda) under the Farmers Market link.

SWCD Supports Boys & Girls Club

 The Wells Co. SWCD awarded a $500 educational grant to the Wells Community Boys and Girls Club to assist them with their landscaping and gardening activities. The club members and staff planted trees and ornamental shrubs to beautify the area, and added a vegetable garden to the grounds.  This activity helps the members learn the importance of conserving, respecting and improving our environment, and the vegetable garden provides opportunities for the kids to learn how to grow and harvest their own food.   

SWCD awards Ossian Elementary School Educational Grant

The Wells Co. SWCD awarded the Ossian Elementary School a $500 grant for Environmental Education.  The funds will be used to rebuild the existing pond to create a living habitat that the students will be able to observe and investigate.  The OES Outdoor Lab committee, along with help from teachers, parents and Master Gardner's will work on the project to enhance the science curriculum for all OES students.  This will provide opportunities for the students to interact with their environment, and learn about the care of and appreciation for our natural resources.

     Clean Water Indiana    

 Grant Report

2007 Grant Cycle - Completed in 2008

Sediment & Nutrient Reduction Program:  The Wells Co. SWCD hosted a Nutrient Management workshop for area landowners and operators on July 31st. Certified Crop Advisor, Jim Moffitt, presented information on performing soil and manure tests, applying nutrients based on crop needs, and the benefits of cover crops. Additionally, a variety of environmental concerns were discussed along with available technology that can assist farm operators. Darrell Brown, NRCS, District Conservationist provided information on tillage compliance and USDA cost-share programs. Sherry Johnson, Wells Co. EMA Director, spoke about the notification procedures in the event of a hazardous material release on the farm; and Purdue Cooperative Extension Agent, Bill Horan discussed the new Wells Co. livestock zoning ordinance. On-site equipment displays were provided by Paul and Jennifer Rumple, and Troxel Equipment. Thirty-five people enjoyed a Roast Pork supper, sponsored by the Indiana Corn Marketing Council, which also supplied information and handouts on the many uses of Corn; and following supper, Michael Prible provided a field demonstration of animal waste application on Mike Pursifull’s farm, near Petroleum.   

The 2007-2008 grants were a part of the "We All Live Downstream" campaign, sponsored by the Indiana State Soil Conservation Board.  The Wells Co. SWCD workshop was also supported by the Indiana Corn Marketing Council.

Fall 2006 Grant Cycle - Completed in 2007

Cover Crop & Temporary Cover Program:  The SWCD promotes the use of cover crops and temporary cover to reduce erosion and prevent sediment from entering our streams and rivers.  An informative workshop and two cover crop field days were held in 2007.  Discussion focused on seeding options, seeding dates, plant growth, and root development.  The field days provided an opportunity to compare differences between annual ryegrass that was aerial seeded into corn (pictured at left) versus being drilled into wheat stubble (pictured at right), as well as compare plant growth and root development in the two stands.  Cost share for implementing a cover crop program is available through the USDA - NRCS EQIP program. 

Warm Season Grass Seeder Program:  The SWCD partnered with the Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Adams and Huntington counties, and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources—Division of Fish and Wildlife to promote the planting of warm season grasses.  CWI grant funding was used to purchase a warm season grass seeder that is available for rent to landowners in the three counties for seeding filter strips, upland and game bird habitat buffer areas, and other warm season grass plantings.  Two field days were held to provide information on planning, site preparation and seeding; plant identification; maintenance needs; and cost-share programs. 

C.O.R.N.:  The Adams County SWCD partnered with the Soil and Water Conservation Districts,  the Purdue Extension Service, and several Ag businesses in Adams, Wells and Allen counties to promote a variety of conservation programs.  The goal of this program was to educate and encourage landowners in the three counties—Adams, Wells, and Allen—and particularly those landowners in the St. Mary’s and Maumee watersheds, to enroll in federal and state funded programs for cost share assistance to implement conservation practices.

Spring 2006 Grant Cycle - Completed in 2007

Surveyor Partnership:  The Wells Co. SWCD and the Wells Co. Surveyor partnered to promote the use of grass strips along ditches, streams and rivers.  The SWCD received approval for funding through the Clean Water Indiana Grant Program to purchase a grass seeder that was mounted on the County Surveyor truck that allowed the Surveyor to seed ditch banks along county legal drains immediately following construction activities.

   The installation of the grass strips provides the Surveyor’s office more flexibility in performing future maintenance, helps reduce the amount of sediment re-entering the ditches, and also demonstrates to landowners the benefits of reduced erosion, improved water quality, and increased wildlife habitat.  In 2007, the Surveyor was able to complete approximately 34,998 feet (6.6 miles) of ditch bank seedings.   

Ryegrass Seeding

   Landowners in Wells, Blackford, and Huntington Counties again participated in aerial seeding of annual Ryegrass for a winter cover crop in 2008.  The seed was flown onto standing crops the first week of September.

   The annual ryegrass will develop an extensive root system all winter, and grow rapidly in the spring.  Its roots break through compaction layers to reach deep water and nutrients.  It improves soil structure and increases organic content.  Cover crops reduce soil erosion and nutrient loss in surface water run-off, increases nutrient uptake for use by the following crop, and increases water infiltration into the soil.  For more information, contact the Wells County SWCD at 260/824-0624 ext. 3

4^th & 5^th Grade Poster Contest

    The Wells Co. SWCD invites all 4^th and 5^th grade students residing in Wells County to participate in our annual poster contest.  The 2009 theme is “Dig It-The Secrets of Soil!"

    Posters will be judged on conservation message, visual effectiveness, originality and appeal.  They must be turned into the SWCD office in mid January 2009 (date to be announced).  Cash prizes will be awarded for 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place in each grade, and the winning and honorable mention posters will be displayed at the Wells Co. SWCD 2009 Annual Meeting.  The overall 1^st place poster will be entered in the state contest.

    For a copy of the official contest rules or for more information about the contest,  contact the Wells Co. SWCD office at 260/824-0624 ext. 3 or email stacia.henderson@in.nacdnet.net.