Operating as usual
10% Fall Discount. ORDER SPRING 2021 TREES & SHRUBS NOW to insure species, quantity, size and price.
The new order sheet for Bareroot and Potted trees is now available through your local Soil & Water Conservation District. Order ASAP. Proceeds from these sales support local soil conservation efforts. Stop by or contact: 515-961-5264, ext. 3 or [email protected] for an order form and details.
People have been asking for the Bio's of the five people running for the three Soil & Water Conservation positions on the ballot for this November election. You can see the short bio's of all five of the candidates below.
Steve Cortum:
I am a lifelong resident of Warren County. My wife Joyce and I reside on the farm I grew up on south of Norwalk. We have two grown children, their spouses, along with two grandchildren all living in Warren County. I have been involved with one or both Warren County Fair boards for over 20 years.
In my professional career, I have held mostly sales positions with crop production Ag Business companies. The last 30 years with the same company. I achieved my CCA (Certified Crop Advisor) status in 1997 and maintained that status for 23 years through technical experience and continuing education requirements. A good part of this training was in the soil and water categories.
My interest in soil and water conservation has grown through my own farming operation and professional career. I would be excited for the opportunity to learn more if elected to this position.
Cathie L. Graves:
I currently am the Chairman of the Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District and have been an elected commissioner for 10 years. I live in Norwalk with my husband Richard who is currently serving as an assistant commissioner for the our Soil & Water Conservation District. Prior to becoming a commissioner, I worked for the Iowa Department of Agriculture Soil & Water Conservation Division for 17 years. I worked directly with 32 different Soil & Water Conservation Districts in Iowa during this time.
My strong background in the administration & finance of these 32
different Soil & Water Conservation Districts has helped me greatly while serving as a commissioner. I believe strongly in sustainable agriculture and want to help improve our environment for everyone.
Merrill Dean Heemstra:
I grew up in southeastern Warren County and started farming in the early 70’s. Married to LuAnne and we still live on the farm we moved to when we got married in 1975, a farm that has been in the family for more than 100 years. We have three grown children, Brandey Smith, Rich Heemstra and Amanda Binder and have six grandchildren, five of which are in Warren County.
I joined the Warren Water District board in the 70’s and have been on it the majority of the time since then, serving a president of that board for over 25 years. I am currently serving as a Warren County Soil & Water Conservation Commissioner. I am a member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Indianola. We continue to farm, raising Angus beef, corn, soybeans and hay.
Rod Mckelvey:
I moved to Indianola with my wife and two children in 2005. I graduated from University of Northern Iowa with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Planning with a Biology Minor. During the summer of my college years, I volunteered for The Soil Conservation Service in Wapello County. My wife and I currently own properties in Wapello and Warren Counties where we utilize conservation practices such as timber stand improvements, prairie restorations and CRP. I am also an avid hunter and fisherman afield almost daily.
I am running for the Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner position because I am very passionate about agriculture and conservation. I have worked with the agricultural and construction industries for over 20 years, which aids in my understanding the balance between economics and conservation. I am a positive person and a doer. I will utilize my time with The Conservation Commission to promote positive results throughout Warren County.
Duane Sand:
I am a resident of Norwalk for 35 years. I am retired from a 40-year career in soil and water conservation; where I worked for government, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, and was a consultant to non-profit organizations. I served a one term appointment as the urban representative on Iowa’s State Soil Conservation Committee. I have been involved in managing Lake Colchester for over 30 years. I am 71 years old and have free time in my retirement.
I have been volunteering as an assistant commissioner for two years because of my interests’ soil health education, and because I believe both rural and urban residents need to take responsibility for water protection.
Stopped by to visit Steve Cortum and check out his 4 acre wildlife shrub planting on his farm west of Indianola. Steve & and his wife Joyce have been working with our Warren County Soil Conservation District over the last few years and many soil and water conservation projects like, terraces, waterways, prairie plantings, shrub plantings, a pond, wetlands and conservation tillage. His latest endeavor was 4+ acre wildlife shrub planting (approx. 1200 shrubs) that went in this spring with the help of our NRCS (Natural Resource Conservation Service) technical staff.
Ohio State soil scientist awarded World Food Prize
A soil scientist at The Ohio State University whose research spans five continents has been awarded this year’s World Food Prize for increasing the global food supply by helping small farmers improve their soil. Over five decades, Rattan Lal, a Distinguished University Professor in the College of ...
Looking for some strongly motivated natural resource conservation minded people to run for a Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) Commissioner in the upcoming election. These are unpaid non-partisan positions with a 4 year term limit. Candidates can live anywhere within Warren County. Your primary work will involve participating in a monthly 3-4 hour long board meeting with occasional additional meetings every few months. Additional duties, responsibilities and time commitments will depend on your desire to serve. We have a total of 5 elected commissioners of which two positions will be on the ballot in November.
Please message us if you have any questions.
Your Affidavit of Candidacy (1 page) and your Nomination Petition for Non-Partisan Office with 25 signatures need to be turned into the County Auditor by 5pm on Wednesday, Aug. 26th. Kristine Labertew in our Warren County office can notarize your Affidavit of Candidacy. You can find these forms here: https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/electioninfo/general/index.html
The duties of a Iowa Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioner can be found here:http://cdiowa.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Infographic-CDI-Commissioners_2018.pdf
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/wetlands-webinar-coincide-wetlands-month
May is American Wetlands Month and Iowa Learning Farms will host a webinar on Wednesday, May 20 at noon about the importance of wetlands in Iowa.
https://iowaagriculture.gov/news/apply-cost-share-funding-implement-water
Secretary Naig Encourages Farmers, Landowners to Apply Now for Cost Share Funding to Implement Water Quality Practices DES MOINES, Iowa (May 5, 2020) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced that farmers and landowners can now sign up for cost share funds through the Water Quality Initi...
Soil Sessions | Soil Health Partnership
Soil Session webinar series | Providing updates on SHP's various programs and research findings
Iowa Corn on Twitter
“If you’re running out of reading material, be sure to check out this NEW publication from ISU Extension, “Whole Farm Conservation Best Practices Manual”. 👨🌾 https://t.co/MCuWFYRYLm”
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
Iowans who were certified through Dec. 31, 2019, can retain their status and now have until Dec. 31, 2020, to submit the testing or training required to renew a pesticide applicator certification. The proclamation was signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds after the Department canceled its in-person testing sessions through March 31, based on social distancing recommendations from the CDC. Read the release here: https://bit.ly/2J8tBnR and visit https://iowaagriculture.gov/covid-19 for more information.
Spring is here! There is still time to get a tree order into our office.
Sam Nutting is an Earth Team volunteer who has been coming into our Warren Co. SWCD office on a regular basis since November of 2019 to help us out. We had him doing Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) status reviews on this day.
Sam is a Warren Co. Local & graduate of Simpson College. We appreciate Sam helping us during his free time off from his regular job.
Sam does VERY GOOD work!
Kristine Labertew started 2-26-20 as our new Conservation Assistant (CA). She will be the smiling face you see when you first step into our office. Kristine is a local with a strong ag background. Karla & Darrell Labertew are her parents. Kristine has over 7 years of experience in several Iowa counties working with soil & water conservation in the field and at the desk.
WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE KRISTINE IN OUR OFFICE.
Stop by and say hello!
FREE Cover Crop Conference, March 6th, Durant, IA
Cover Crop Conference
Good showing at the 2020 Iowa Conservation Partnership day held at the Capitol rotunda today. Conservation Districts of Iowa, NRCS, IA DNR, ISU Learning Farms, Land Improvement Contractors of Iowa (LICA), IA Division of Soil & Water Conservation & other conservation groups present to inform & lobby our legislators to support soil & water conservation efforts.
Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District
Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District
Spring is almost here! Bareroot and potted trees are available through your local Soil & Water Conservation District. Order ASAP. Proceeds from these sales support local soil conservation efforts. Stop by or contact: 515-961-5264, [email protected] for details.
Join today’s conversation https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/february-webinar-conservation-chat-secretary-naig
Iowa Learning Farms will host a webinar on Wednesday, February 5th at 12:00 p.m. with Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.
Are you Interested in becoming a Warren County Soil and Water District Commissioner?
Nomination papers (both forms are required)for this nonpartisan election can be found at
https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/candidates/affidavit.pdf
and
https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/candidates/nompetnonpartisan.pdf
Paperwork will be accepted at the auditors office March 2 - 20 during office hours
Conservation and soil health from the ASA
https://soygrowers.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ASA-Conservation-Study-Infographic.pdf
Yes, you can make soil!
Organic matter builds as tillage declines, and cover crops and crop residue cover the soil.
https://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2020/01/09/stripscrp
Prairie strips planted at strategic locations within corn and soybean fields have a number of environmental benefits and are now an eligible conservation practice under the Conservation Reserve Program. Image courtesy of Omar de Kok-Mercado. Larger image.
Enter now for the Warren County Soil & Water Conservation 2020 poster contest. Kindergarten through 12th grade. Deadline to be in the Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District office is Midnight Friday, 2-14-20. $1,500 in scholarship funds have been set aside for county winners. The top posters chosen at the county level are eligible for an additional $500 at the regional level and the top 3 posters will be eligible to share a state scholarship amount of $6,000. The State award winning posters will go on to the National level in September of 2020.
The Theme of the 2020 contests is " Where would we BEE without Pollinators?" Contest rules, forms, etc... can be found here:https://cdiowa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2020-Poster-Contest-Rules.pdf
Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company makes it possible for the Conservation Districts of Iowa (CDI) to partner with the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and local Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) to offer the 2020 Conservation Poster Contest.
County Contact: [email protected]
The Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District would like to thank Dick McPherson for allowing us to put up a "Warren County Soil & Water Conservation" sign on his farm property just south of Scotch Ridge Road on the west side of Hwy 65/69.
Something Worth Noting!. We called Iowa One Call (811) to inspect the site for underground utilities prior to pounding the two sign posts 20"+ deep. Thank Goodness we did. Century Link had a fiber optic cable 20" deep DIRECTLY under one of our original sign post locations. The posts now straddle the fiber optic line.
A LESSON WELL LEARNED? Call Iowa One Call if you are digging or driving 15" or deeper.
https://iowaagriculture.gov/news/sign-crop-insurance-discounts-2020
Farmers Using Cover Crops Can Sign Up for Crop Insurance Discounts until Jan. 15, 2020 DES MOINES, Iowa (Dec. 30, 2019) - Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig reminds farmers who planted fall cover crops that the deadline to sign up for a $5 per acre reduction on their 2020 crop insurance premium...
Happy Birthday Iowa.
Do you know what is Iowa’s state soil?
https://www.soils4teachers.org/files/s4t/k12outreach/ia-state-soil-booklet.pdf
Geomorphology Rules
Happy that some Maps are free!
https://petapixel.com/2016/08/06/nat-geo-launches-free-website-printing-detailed-topographical-maps/
The Ag Decision Maker newsletter. Always interesting and a valuable resource.https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/newsletters/nl2019/dec19.pdf
The connection between a tile drainage system and healthy soil | AGDAILY
While tile drainage doesn’t typically have a huge impact on soil health, soil health can have a major impact on how well a subsurface drainage system performs.
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