The Marshall County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) gets conservation practices on the ground by renting out vertical tillage equipment and a no-till drill. We have accomplished this for several years. In fact, this is the second year for the no-till drill and Salford RTS.
The drill is capable of planting warm and cool season grasses, as well as small grains. It is a great tool for planting CRP, filter strips, etc. It also helps the small farmer with rejuvenating pastures and planting smaller fields of alfalfa. Between 2009-2010, the drill was used on 531 acres.
The Salford RTS is a vertical tillage tool which helps farmers keep their residue without turning to no-till. It also helps to warm the soil in the spring dry it out. Over the last two years the RTS was used on 6,127 acres.
The District continually applies for grants in order to provide area residents with economical conservation services. Last year the District, along with Starke County SWCD, hired an Independent Contractor to work with landowners in the Koontz Lake Watershed to promote conservation programs available to them.
The District also is working with Fulton and Kosciusko counties on grant projects for 2011 and beyond. We are in the process of preparing an application for an IDEM 319 Grant to develop a watershed plan for the Headwaters of the Yellow River.
The District works closely with other city, county, state and federal agencies and entities to promote and complete conservation goals.
The drill is capable of planting warm and cool season grasses, as well as small grains. It is a great tool for planting CRP, filter strips, etc. It also helps the small farmer with rejuvenating pastures and planting smaller fields of alfalfa. Between 2009-2010, the drill was used on 531 acres.
The Salford RTS is a vertical tillage tool which helps farmers keep their residue without turning to no-till. It also helps to warm the soil in the spring dry it out. Over the last two years the RTS was used on 6,127 acres.
The District continually applies for grants in order to provide area residents with economical conservation services. Last year the District, along with Starke County SWCD, hired an Independent Contractor to work with landowners in the Koontz Lake Watershed to promote conservation programs available to them.
The District also is working with Fulton and Kosciusko counties on grant projects for 2011 and beyond. We are in the process of preparing an application for an IDEM 319 Grant to develop a watershed plan for the Headwaters of the Yellow River.
The District works closely with other city, county, state and federal agencies and entities to promote and complete conservation goals.