Note: Picture is of a local producer taking part in a Soil Health Demonstration during Susan Braocksmith's Presentation.

 2013 Clay County Conservation Accomplishments:

  • Conservation Plans were written on over 30,000 acres
  • Conservation was applied on over 29,000 acres
  • CRP-The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) made it possible for producers to install 26 grassed waterways totaling 11,840ft and 20 Rocked Lined Outlets
  • We also evaluated 71 contrcts for re-enrollment, this includes general & continuous sign-up
  • EQIP- The Environmental Quality Incentives Program provided funds to assist livestock and crop producers with installing the following practices:
    • 18 water and sediment control basins
    • 44.2 acres of Forage/Biomass & Pasture/Hayland Planting
    • 1,384.8 acres of Nutrient Management
    • 860.5 acres of Pest Management
    • 3,041.2 acres of Cover Crops
    • 28.7 acres of Waste Utilization
    • 8.6 acres of Prescribed Grazing5.1 acres of Invasive Species Control
    • 20.7 acres of Timer Stand Improvment (TSI)
    • 370.0 ft of Fencing
    • 58.1 acres of No Till
    • 2.0 Acres of Waterways
    • 62.0 ft of Rock Lined Outlet
    • 4,528.0 of Underground Outlet
    • 16,060.0 sq ft of HUA (Heavy Use Protection Areas)
    • 2,500.0 ft of Subsurface Draniage
    • 2.0 acres of Critical Area Seeding
    • 11.0 acres of Brush Management
    • 38.0 acres of Tree Pruning
    • 126.7 acres of Mulch Till
    • 2.0 acres Mulching
    • We received 15 new contracts through this program this year.
  • WHIP-The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program funded the following practices
    • 1,542.4 acres of Cover Crops
    • 1,540.0 sq ft of HUA (Heavy Use Protection Areas)
    • 7.7 acres of Invasive Species Control
    • 27.0 acres of Forage & Biomass Planting
    • 820.0 ft of Pipeline
    • 2.0 Water Facilities
  • CSP (02)-The Conservation Security Program wich is a program that rewards producers for being good stewards of their land, provided 6 Clay County producers with $85,135.00 for their stewardship on 4,099.0 acres.
  • CStP (08)-The Conservation Stewardship Program is the same kind of program that rewards producers for their stewardship and it provided 4 Clay County producers with $117,032.00 for their stewardship on 4,336.1 acres.
  • CTA-Conservation Technical Assistance Program-Noe: no cost share received for this program, however it involved:
    • 1,500 ft of diversions
    • 1 WASCOB
    • 600 ft of Waterways

    2013 Clay County Soil & Water Conservation District also has monthly activities/workshops that they host and attend.  The following is a short recap by month:

    • January

      • Annual Conference-Supervisors and Staff attend this event to learn various current trending information about our natural resources and bring it back home to the county level.

    February

      • Annual Meeting-A great opportunity for all in the community to come and learn who we are, what we do and how to improve the conservation of our natural resources.
      • Winter/Spring Cover Crop Workshop-Designed to inform farmers and landowners on the benefits of cover crops and no-till.

    March

    • Contractor's Breakfast-Local contractors are invited to hear about BMP's (Best Management Practices) and any changes from previous years.  Agency staff give the latest updates.  A Safety Presentation has recently been added to this event.
    • No Till Drill-rental is made available to local landowners for their planting needs.  The grasses and forbes planted with this provide excellent erosion controal and soil building characteristics while providing a needed wildlife friendly grassland habitat.
    • With construction season gearing up, marker flags are also provided, for a cost at our local office.
    • Web Soil Survey-this tool provides soil data and information to help in conservation planning.

    April

    • Ag Day-CCSWCD partners with various other conservation minded agencies to bring education to all of our local 4th graders about where the ingredients that make a pizza come from.  A wonderful learing opportunity education them on agriculture and our natural resources.
    • Envirothon-A wonderful opportunity for local highschool students to study about our natural resources, be better stewards of the land and then compete with other local counties on a variety of conservation/natural resource related topics. 
    • National Stewardship Week-SWCD's across the nation host field days, workshops and other evnets to demonstrate the benefits of conservation and encourage the rsponsible use of resources, leaving a rich elgacy for future generations.

    May

    • Clay County Tillage Transect-The purpose of this survey is to gather information a various agricultural practices primarily tillage and crop residue managment systems in the county. 

    June

    • This is a big constructions month.  We are busy installing BMP's to reduce erosion and improve water quality in Clay County.

    July

    • Clay County 4-H Fair-A great opportunity for us as a district to reach out to the community and makethem aware of our mission and what resources are available to them. 
    • Clay County Well Testing Program-This event is generally scheduled the Thursday of Fair Week.  It was created to raise awareness to well owners as to their water quality and to remind them to test on a regular basis as a watershed is ever changing.
    • Rainbarrel/Composter Sale-By partnering with Upcycle Products, this program keeps 55 gallon food grade barrels out of landfill and also encourages the conservation of water. 

    August

    • Indiana State Fair-Pathway to Water Quality-This is a great opportunity for supervisors and staff to volunteer to help educate residents in Indiana about our soil and water conservation.
    • Farm Tour-This is a unique opportunity for local citizens to take a bus tour which is two days and one night to visit various natural resource related stops.  They find out some of the latest trending problems affecting our natural resources and have a chance to see businesses who try to lessen their carbon footprint on the earth. 
    • Locally Led Meeting-An annual meeting open to the public that is a great oppportunity to voice your natural resource concerns for Clay County.
    • Fall Soil Health Workshop-A one day workshpop to educate local landowners/farmers on the benefits of no-till, cover crops and the advantages of having and maintaining healthy soil. 
    • Aerial Seeding Partnership-A program in which NRCS & CCSWCD partners with Ceres Solutions to bring landowners in Clay County the opportunity to have cover crops flown on standing crops. This helps keep sediment and nutrients out of our water.

    September

    • Nature Bowl-This event is for all of our local 7th graders.  This is a small snapshot of the Indiana Enviothon.  It gives junior high students an opportunity to practice what they will be doing in high school for the Envirothon.  This also gives students a chance to be outside all day and ejnoy our wonderful natural resources.
    • Clay County Nature Day-Creek Stamp-Take a short hike down to the creek to educate yourself about the water quality of he creek by doing a short, easy hands on activity.  Using a kick net to take a small sampling out of the creek, young and old will enjoy this activity that has you identifying Macroinvertabrates to tell if the creek is polluted or not.
    • IASWCD Friend of Conservation Award. Our winner was ADS, for their outstanding contribution to soil and water conservatation. They are the annual sponsors of our Contractor Breakfast held in March.
    • IASWCD Conservation Farmer of the Year Award-This award is given to Hoosier farmers who actively incorporate and practice conservation on the land.  Congratulations to our 2014 winner: Mark Corbin.  He was chosen because of his no till corn and soybean rotation, with use o covercrops which promotes healthy soil.  He also uses rotational grazing, livestock BMP's such as: Heavy Use Area Protection, Access Controls and Fencing.

    October

    • IDEA Conference-This conference gives stafff the opportunity to learn new technology, information and BMP's being used statewide.
    • CCWCD Tree Giveaway-This was the first year for this event and it was a huge success. 

    November

    • Forestry Workshop-CCSWCD partnered with Sycamore Trails RC&D at Froedhe Woods to bring education to local citizens on topics such as Forestry and Invasive Plant species.  This event, if everything goes as plan will take place twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall, on an annual basis. 
    • Education or the Year Award-Congratulations to Tiffany Ludwig for her active leadership with the FFA and Ag Programs in Clay County.  She was presented with a $100.00 check to use for educational items in her honor.
    • Plat Books-These are sold thoughout the year for $20.00.  They are the 2012 version.

    December

    • Known as a time to review the year gone by, be with friends and family and start planning for next year, CCSWCD is generally gearing up for the year ahead, filling out reports from the year gone by, searching for grants for the year to come and trying to find sponsorships for the next year's Annual Meeting and list of educational events. 
    • 319 Grant-This grant helps protect our local watershed, making cost share money available to local landowners to install BMP's on their land to conserve and protect our natural resources.  This is a very competetive grant, however CCSWCD feels it important to apply and possibly bring cost share money into our county to protect its precious natural resources.