Indian River Soil and Water Conservation District

03/26/2025

USDA-NRCS Local Working Group meeting hosted by Indian River Soil and Water Conservation District on Monday, May 12, 2025 @ 2:30 P.M.
Indian River County Administration Complex
1800 27th Street, Building B
Room B1-501
Vero Beach, Florida

12/05/2024

2025 Poster Contest
The 2025 Stewardship theme: "Home is Where the Habitat is"

Eligibility
The Indian River Soil and Water Conservation District Poster Contest is open to all Indian River County students in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade. Students attending public, private, or home Educated, 4-H, or other Organizations may participate. (Individual Posters only accepted).
ENTRY DEADLINE: 4:00PM, Friday, March 7, 2025

Contest Rules
• Turn poster in on time for judging. The local entry Submission
deadline: On or before Friday, March 7, 2025 – 4:00 P.M.
• Securely attach by tape the “Poster Entry Form” on the back of
each poster and be sure it is signed by a parent or guardian and
that EVERY part of the Entry Form is completed.
• Any media may be used to create a flat poster: paint, crayon,
colored pencil, charcoal, stickers, paper, or other materials.
• All posters must be created by an individual student, rather than
a team of students. Entry must be contestant's original creation
and may not be traced from photographs or other artists'
published works
• Poster size must be between 8.5”x11” OR 11”x17”.
• The 2025 Stewardship theme: "Home is Where the Habitat is"
must be included on the front side of each poster submission to
be eligible.
• Only official state poster contest sponsors can submit entries for
the national contest.
• Each entry must have a signed entry form affixed to back of
poster to be eligible for judging.
• Although younger students will most likely receive help in
planning from parents or teachers, IRSWCD encourages each
student to do as much work as possible by him/herself. Entries
completed by students in their handwriting and coloring will
score better than those designed, drawn and colored by adult
assistance.

Poster Evaluations
• Accuracy of conservation message (50 percent)
• Visual effectiveness (30 percent)
• Originality (10 percent)
• Universal appeal (10 percent)
• Also taken into consideration, artwork on poster is that of
participant (unless noted on entry form)

District Level Awards: Gift Cards will be awarded per Category:
• Grade Categories: K-1st; 2nd-3rd; 4th-5th
• Gift card Prizes: First Place - $75.00 Second Place - $50.00
Third Place – $25.00
• 2025 Teacher Award: The Teacher that submits the most eligible
posters will receive a $75.00 Gift Card.
• Winners at the local level will advance to the Area IV contest, with
a chance of advancing to the State contest. Local winner names
will be announced on our page.

F:\Soil and Water\LindaCaggiano\Poster Contest\2025 Poster Contest\Contest Information\2025 Poster Contest Entry Form.pdf

08/01/2024

Please join UF/IFAS Extension Indian River County for Small & Beginning Farmers – Mini Conference

Register Today!

Event Date: Thursday, September 12, 2024
Event Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Event Location: IG Center, Vero Beach, FL
Registration: $35 registration includes all sessions, lunch, and a hard copy of the UF/IFAS FL Direct Marketing Handbook

https://bit.ly/3Wf8RBo

Indian River Soil and Water Conservation District is a proud sponsor of this event.

06/05/2024

The Water Conservation Team at St. Johns River Water Management District is hosting another session of “Introduction to Efficient Landscape Irrigation” on Thursday, July 11 at 11 AM. This webinar marketed to Community Association Managers offers an elective CEU credit to CAMs who participate.

This online class is a great refresher/introduction for anyone who wants to learn more about maintaining landscapes while saving money and water.

Please share this invite with your colleagues and any HOAs you work with. If you have questions, please contact Gretchen C. Smith, Water Conservation Coordinator, Bureau of Water Supply Planning, St. Johns River Water Management District at 386-268-7405.

Here’s the link to register: c9c88101-76d3-4e33-9528-0332fd8b3faf@b0c8375f-daa7-40b9-a01b-690d8d3723b9" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/c9c88101-76d3-4e33-9528-0332fd8b3faf@b0c8375f-daa7-40b9-a01b-690d8d3723b9

An invitation with QR code is also attached.

04/23/2024

Indian River Soil and Water Conservation District works in cooperation of our Agency Partner Florida Farm Bureau. Please see the information below about a recent mailout effort by the Florida Department of Agriculture regarding their BMP Program.

04/16/2024

Waterlessflorida.com

04/16/2024

Indian River Soil and Water Conservation District works in cooperation of our Agency Partner OAWP-FDACS. The OAWP-FDACS contracted with Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC (CRI) to mail-out letters to landowners that own land classified as agricultural within the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) area that includes the Central IRL, North IRL, and Banana River Lagoon BMAPs. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) developed these BMAPs to address the impacts to water quality related to excess nutrients from urban and agricultural sources located within the watershed.

To assist you in bringing your property into compliance with state law. Please respond in writing by April 30, 2024, through one of the following means:

Return the information sheet that was enclosed with your letter in the envelope provided with the appropriate information filled in, or,

Complete the information sheet, scan it, and email it to CRI staff at [email protected].

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to a CRI staff person at (850) 201-5844.

03/25/2024

A Message from the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer:

Is Your Farm Ready for FSMA?

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is currently conducting FSMA Produce Safety Rule inspections on behalf of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

We offer two ways to prepare:

Grower Training

FDA requires that one representative from each farm attends a Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training. This course is offered in partnership by FDACS and the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension (UF/IFAS).
Register for PSA Grower Training

On-Farm Readiness Review

Request a free On-Farm Readiness Review (OFRR), offered by FDACS in collaboration with UF/IFAS. The OFRR is an on-site educational opportunity to help farms align their practices with the PSR regulatory requirements.
Request an OFRR
For more information on FSMA, visit www.FDACS.gov/FSMA.

03/11/2024

A one-time free soil health test for livestock producers in Florida to help improve soil management in rangelands.

This opportunity is funded by the Florida Cattlemen Enhancement Board and UF IFAS Archer Grant.

03/07/2024

REMINDER: 2024 Poster Contest:
“MAY THE FOREST BE WITH YOU ALWAYS”
• Submission deadline: On or before Friday, March 15, 2024 – 4:00 P.M. that is 8 days away! Looking forward to seeing some amazing conservation artwork!
• If your posters are complete, you may drop them off now.

03/06/2024

2024 Indian River Lagoon Envirothon Competition today @ Environmental Learning Center.

Join our central-lagoon Community Engagement Coordinator Heather Stapleton for a discussion at The Emerson Center in Vero Beach (1590 27th Ave) as part of the E-Series on Tuesday March 5th at 7pm.

02/05/2024

2024 Poster Contest: "MAY THE FOREST BE WITH YOU ALWAYS".