Available Programs
There are many programs available to assist your endeavors to improve conservation stewardship of our lands and waters. The following announcements represent just a few. We encourage you to visit your local Soil & Water Conservation District offices for updates on funding cycles, new programs, and upcoming initiatives
Spring Management for Cover Crop Systems
Made possible through a Clean Water Indiana grant, the Clay, Greene, Sullivan, & Vigo SWCDs have partnered to present a PARP workshop that focuses on Spring Management of Cover Crops. The keynote speaker, Mike Plumer, has decades of whole-farm research and is considered by many to be the regional expert in no-till systems with annual rye cover crops. Matt Mace of Ceres Solutions will join Plumer to discuss herbicide considerations in cover crop selections.
- Date: Tuesday, December 6th
- Time: 8:30AM - 11:00 AM
- Place: Vigo County Fairgrounds
- Registration and Breakfast begin at 7:30am
Topics Include:
- Insuring a good burn down for timely spring planting
- Pests that may be harbored by cover crops
- Pest suppresion by cover crops
- Residual herbicide effects on cover crops
Register Now!
Effective Cover Croping in the Midwest - Dec 7-8 Decatur, IL
Presented by the Soil & Water Conservation Society, this is a multi-day conference targeted to farmers and cover crop service providers.
Topics include chosing the right cover crop, timing of planting, soil biology, planting techniques, termination and more.
This meeting will provide a forum for farmers to exchange information, discuss opportunities for collaboration, and learn about new and successful practices
related to cover crops. Case study presentations will identify and discuss strengths and pitfalls of real applications. Specific tracks will be held for
no-till, tillage, and organic applications.
Speakers will include farmers, crop consultants, and university researchers who have extensive experience in cover crop management.
General sessions, three concurrent session and a roundtable session will be included.
REGISTER
Programs and Announcements
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Expansion
USDA's Farm Service Agency and the State of Indiana have expanded the existing Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). The Program, first
announced in 2005, was originally slated to enroll 7,000 acres within 3 watersheds touching 29 counties. The program is now expanded into 11
watersheds touching 65 counties, with a total acreage goal of 26,250 acres. All watersheds of the WCIWA are included in the expansion.
In additional to traditional CRP payments, other incentives will be made available to participants in the CREP program. These incentives include
- an additional 40% rental payment for the life of the contract
- one-time Clean Water Incentive payments of $100-$950, depending on practices
- one-time $100 signing incentives for certain practices
- one-time practice incentive payment of 40% of eligible installation costs for certain practices
For more information, contact your local SWCD, NRCS, or FSA office. Download a CREP brochure