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VANDERBURGH (SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT) |
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ISDA Division of Soil Conservation Thank you ISDA
for giving the district the support of an
ISDA (Indiana State Department of
Agriculture) As directed by the Indiana District Law, the Division of Soil Conservation directly assists districts under the direction of the State Soil Conservation Board. It provides assistance in district program planning, coordination and training for district supervisors and staff. It does so, in part, by helping them: (a) conduct district programs in accordance with state law, (b) seek ways to secure the administrative, managerial, educational, and technical resources needed to carry out those programs, and (c) develop both Business Plans (Long-Range Plans) and Annual Action Plans (Annual Plan of Work). The division conducts training at regional sites around the state, as well as on-site with individual districts to help support these program functions. It also helps plan and conduct training at the Annual Conference of SWCDs, as well as assists districts with conducting their annual meetings, supervisor elections and appointments, and annual financial reports.
Other key responsibilities of the Division, as outlined in the Indiana
Soil and Water Conservation District Act, include:
2. Assisting districts and other
cooperating agencies in the
3. Providing professional soil and
water conservation technical
4. Administering the Clean Water
Indiana Program in
CONSERVATION RESERVE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM Warm-season grasses (WSG), commonly known as native prairie grass are highly recommended for their erosion control capabilities. Furthermore, wildlife such as upland birds appreciates the habitat. Switchgears (Panicum virgatum), a commonly used WSG grows to a height of 5’ with roots extending about the same distance under the ground. This massive growth creates wildlife habitat and the deep roots provide stability to sloughing ditch banks. Although the summer seeding dates for WSG have passed, frost seeding is a practical option that can work into your normal crop rotation. For instance, if you have fields scheduled for wheat this winter, simply frost-seed into the existing crop, and do not harvest the seeded area. Next summer, the dead wheat is excellent seedling cover and helps to fight broadleaf infestation. The grass is quick to outgrow the height of wheat, and any broadleaf weeds can be eliminated by periodically using 2,4D herbicide. If wheat is not planned this year, standing bean residue and even disturbed corn residue can be used with this method. Several miles of filter strips were established this year along Hurricane Creek in Gibson County using the frost-seed into cover-crop method. I lead a CREP tour of these filter strips for the Indiana State Soil Conservation Board. Please contact the Soil and Water Conservation District office at (812) 867-0729 if you have questions about the Pigeon / Highland Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), or for seeding mixtures and dates. |
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areas
next to a tree line that really don’t produce like you want them to
and are scratching you equipment? Perhaps you need to eliminate some
point row planting that always seems to be a pain to properly plant
and spray. The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) will
pay you to stop hassling with these areas, reducing your farming
inputs and time in the field.