Field Day at Potawatomi Wildlife Park 

     In 2011 the Fulton County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) kicked off a cooperative program with the Kosciusko and Marshall County SWCDs to bring an agronomist to area farms. The agronomist, Rich Recker, agreed to:

  • Participate in kick-off and wrap-up meetings, 
  • Meet individually with each participating farmer for a half day on their farm, three times per year for two-and-a-half growing seasons; be available for follow-up contact from farmers, 
  • Assess soil and plant conditions; make recommendations based on each farmer’s cropping goals; prepare a written assessment for each participant,
  • Utilize soil root pits for assessment, as well as corn stalk nitrate tests, aerial imagery and/or replicated strip trials through the On-farm Network,
  • Focus on conservation tillage, cover crops, and nutrient management, 
  • Participate in Feb, 2012 Soil Quality Meeting.

This program was made possible by a Clean Water Indiana Grant.

     The Fulton County SWCD uses various tools to inform the public about Soil and Water Conservation issues. In 2011, we:
  • Participated in the annual River Rafting event sponsored by Arrowhead Country Resource Conservation and Development Council (RC&D). Students attended conservation classes and completed tests throughout the five day event. 
  • Partnered with Arrow Head Country RC&D in the 2011 Envirothon. 
  • Assisted the Purdue University Extension Service of Fulton County with their annual Tree Science program for area fifth graders. 
  • Provided bookmarks to county libraries in support of Conservation Stewardship Week. 
  • Continued to develop and monitor a website where current SWCD news and events are posted.
  • Created a display booth at the Fulton County 4-H Fair, to encourage farmers to plant cover crops to conserve soil & water resources. 
  • Began stream monitoring and reporting to Hoosier River Watch.
  • Participated in training for supervisors and staff. 
  • Continued administration of the CREP program for the Tippecanoe River Watershed, disbursing over $20,000 to area landowners for their conservation efforts. 
  • Worked with Marshall County SWCD to host a “Healthy Soils” field day at the Potawatomi Wildlife Park, with a follow up winter “Healthy Soils” meeting held March 7, 2012.

Key efforts of the SWCD in 2011:
     Applied for and successfully secured three Clean Water Indiana Grants to support our efforts to reduce sediment and nutrients