Tilled vs. No-tilled Fields

It is said that 'a picture is worth a thousand words'. Chris Lee, conservation delivery team leader for NRCS in Gibson County took some recent photos that have a lot to say...

http://www.indianaprairiefarmer.com/conservation/still-not-convinced-no-till-helps-check-out-these-pictures

Indiana Leads the Midwest in Cover Crop Planting

INDIANAPOLIS (May 23, 2017) – According to the 2016 Fall Conservation Transect Report, Hoosier farmers planted over a million acres of cover crops for the second year in a row.

Jane Hardisty, State Conservationist with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) says having over a million acres of planted cover crops makes Indiana the leading state in the Midwest, if not the nation.

“I’m really excited about these numbers because we also have data to show that for each acre USDA pays a farmer to plant cover crops through a Farm Bill program, another four to five acres are being planted without our cost share,” Hardisty said. “To me it’s significant because it means farmers are realizing the financial benefits of investing in the health of their soil as a farm-business decision.”

The transect is a collaborative effort between NRCS, the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), Indiana’s 92 Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Earth Team Volunteers and other members of the Indiana Conservation Partnership who team up to conduct a visual assessment of cropland county by county using a predetermined route.

They collect data on tillage methods, plant cover, residue, etc. to help document a more complete story of conservation efforts in Indiana. The survey uses GPS technology and provides a statistically reliable method, and then uses USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) data on crops for estimating farm management and related annual trends.

Photo shows a cover crop mix growing in moderate residue - courtesy of the Conservation Cropping Systems Inititative.

"Conservation continues to be a priority for Hoosier farmers, and this report proves that,” said Ted McKinney, ISDA Director. “By observing land use conditions and tracking these trends, we’re able to focus our attention strategically and utilize our combined resources more effectively around the state."

 Click here to see total acres planted in cover crops in 2016 in Indiana, all crops.

ISDA maintains tillage transect reports dating back to 1990 on their website at http://www.in.gov/isda/2383.htm and includes the most recent transect results.

Read more ...

Are You Eligible for CREP?

The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program is a federal-state conservation program designed to help alleviate some of the concerns of nonpoint source pollution by restoring buffers and wetlands to improve water quality. CREP participants receive financial incentives and maintain ownership rights to enrolled land. See the flyer below for more information.

HEL Ephemeral Gully Plan Addendum

Since the origination of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended, fields designated as Highly Erodible Land (HEL) were required to control sheet and rill erosion, wind erosion, and ephemeral gully erosion to acceptable levels.

This plan addendum addresses ephemeral gully erosion control requirements to remain in compliance with the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended, and is in addition to other requirements to control sheet and rill and wind erosion to acceptable levels. Not controlling all required forms of erosion could put you at risk of losing USDA farm program benefits.

Read about the Plan Addendum here.