The Gibson County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) partners annually with adjoining counties to make conservation dollars go farther and reach more land users.
We worked collaboratively on projects last 2010 with Posey, Vanderburgh and Warrick SWCDs on several projects including the: Pond Pro Workshop, Soils Quality Conference and the Cover Crop Program. The Clean Water Indiana Grant assisted in funding these worthwhile initiatives.
The Pond Pro Workshop was a day-long event held in Vanderburgh County. The Saturday vent was well attended. Many expert speakers were volunteers from NRCS; IDNR; Aquatic Control; Warrick County Extension; Scott Township Fire Department; and Zeimer, Stayman, Weitzel and Shoulders Attorneys at Law.
The Soil Quality Conference, also held in Vanderburgh County, provided land owners with the latest information on how to build soil tilth, reducing nutrient and chemical inputs to increase productivity and profitability. Nationally recognized speakers for the event were David Brandt, Barry Fisher, Ray Archuleta, Mike Sucik and Hans Kok. Speakers also discussed soil properties and looked at scientific and practical aspects of crop production through proper rotations, cover crops and management.
The Gibson County SWCD partnered to sponsor an Aerial Cover Crop Seeding Program for land users in Southwestern Indiana. The seed mixture was provided to land users at cost by Land-O-Lakes to bring operators an opportunity to improve their farming operation and make them more profitable. Districts also partnered with Superior Ag who ordered and transported the seed to Ed Air Strip. Much appreciation also goes to NRCS and ISDA employees for their assistance in coordinating this project. The District cost shared on the seeding cost with funding received from a 2010 CWI grant. Approximately 430 acres were seeded in Gibson County and over 1,000 in southwest Indiana.
The SWCD newsletter, The Conservation Gram, provides information to land users with articles and information from the SWCD, NRCS, FSA, ISDA, Purdue Extension and other conservation partners. Information also is distributed to the public using the SWCD website, fair exhibit, news releases, flyers and pamphlets. The SWCD staff also supports NRCS with clerical assistance as needed.
The Gibson County SWCD collaboratively assists with the Southwest Regional Envirothon and the Soils Judging Contest for high school students. The District likewise participates in a variety of environmental education activities for youth including: Hoosier Riverwatch training for the Princeton Community High School Advanced Environmental Science class; and a water quality presentation at YMCA Camp Carson for fifth grade students attending the North Gibson School Corporation Youth Coalition.
The SWCD coordinates the annual fourth grade farm fair held at the Gibson County Fairgrounds. A poster contest is held annually for fifth grade students using the soil stewardship theme. The winning poster is forwarded to the state contest.
The Gibson County SWCD joins the southwestern Indiana counties collaborating again this year on a number of important conservation projects.