Make a Splash With Project WET

This year the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District is proud to host its third Project WET Make a Splash Water Festival. Make a Splash with Project WET is the largest nationwide day of water education in the world. It is celebrated across the United States with water festivals, which are educational, fun, and interactive water celebrations where students explore a diversity of water-related topics. The Make a Splash Water Festival will take place on Thursday, October 14, 2010 at Jimmie Davis State Park’s group camp.

We invite all 4th Grade teachers and students from Caldwell, Jackson and Winn parishes will participate in this event. If you are a principal, teacher potential volunteer or sponsor for this event and would like additional information please contact to Vikkie Lafollette at the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District office located at 301 West Main Street, Suite 210 in Winnfield, Louisiana, 71483. (We are located in Room 210 above the Winn Parish Health Unit.) You may also call (318) 628-4438. Our office hours are Monday- Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. You may also reach us at anytime via email at dugdswcd@bellsouth.net . Please be sure to visit our website at http://dugdemonaswcd.shutterfly.com/makeasplashwithprojectwet .

Conservation Poster Contest

For over fifty years, a national network of conservation districts has helped Americans learn to conserve natural resources. This year, join the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District and America’s conservation districts as they participate in the 20th Annual Conservation Poster Contest. The Conservation Poster Contest takes during the months of September and October, with the theme “Conservation Habits = Healthy Habitats.” Our locally sponsored Conservation Poster Contest will take place during the moths of September and October.

The contest will have five categories: K-1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12. Local judging will occur during the first of November, so it is important that entries are received no later than Friday, October 29, 2010. The Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District will award the following prizes in each category: 1st Place- $50.00, 2nd Place - $25.00, and 3rd Place 15.00. The first place district winner in each category will be entered in the state competition. In the state competition first place winners in each category will be awarded with cash prizes of $100.00 and second place winners will receive a $75.00. The first place winners in the state contest will be sent to the national poster competition, where First place winners receive $100 and second place winners receive $75.

The annual poster contests provide kindergarten through twelfth grade students with an opportunity to share their thoughts about soil, water and related natural resource issues. This year’s theme, “Conservation Habits = Healthy Habitats” focuses on habitats. Conservation of our natural resources is important in every community. Citizens are looking for ways to be involved at their homes, local schools or with community conservation projects. There are plenty of conservation habits that help conserve water, provide shelter for animals, birds and insects, as well as increase their food supplies.

Each and every one of us is able to contribute and can be good stewards of our natural resources at our home and in our communities. When we think about protecting and managing our natural resources we can provide healthy habitats for the ecosystems on our planet. Each of us can make a difference by starting in our own backyard, our school or in our community. Some habits are not good, like throwing litter out our car windows. But working to improve our environment you can develop good habits that will last your entire life and also inspire others around you. The conservation essay contest is a great way to elevate awareness and to involve our youth in conservation.

The Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District wants to help people in our community to learn how important it is to help conserve all our natural resources and how easy it can be. For information about the conservation poster contest and other conservation questions please contact to Vikkie Lafollette at the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District office located at 301 West Main Street, Suite 210 in Winnfield, Louisiana, 71483. (We are located in Room 210 above the Winn Parish Health Unit.) You may also call (318) 628-4438. Our office hours are Monday- Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. You may also reach us at anytime via email at dugdswcd@bellsouth.net . Please be sure to visit our website at http://dugdemonaswcd.shutterfly.com/postercontest for entry forms, contest rules and other information concerning our 2010 contests.

Conservation Essay Contest

Join the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District as we celebrate conservation by participating in the Conservation Essay Contest, with the theme “Conservation Habits = Healthy Habitats.” The contest will have two categories: 8th Grade and 9th Grade. The winners will be awarded with cash prizes of: $100.00, $50.00, and $25.00. This year we will reward the teacher whose student wins first place, by giving them a cash award of $100.00. Essays are due by 5:00 p.m. Friday, November 14, 2010

The essay must be the original work of the student. Teacher counseling is permitted. No more than 20% may be direct copy from other sources and directly quoted material must be credited to the author. Paraphrasing is permitted. Resource conservation material may be obtained from the Soil and Water Conservation District in your parish, or any other sources with material pertaining to this year’s theme. The essay must be typed and double-spaced and will consist of a minimum of 300 words and a maximum of 500 words. Each essay will be on the basis of 50% for content, 35%for composition, and 15% for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and neatness. Then information should be factually correct and should depict the theme.

This year’s theme, “Conservation Habits = Healthy Habitats” focuses on habitats. Conservation of our natural resources is important in every community. Citizens are looking for ways to be involved at their homes, local schools or with community conservation projects. There are plenty of conservation habits that help conserve water, provide shelter for animals, birds and insects, as well as increase their food supplies.

Each and every one of us is able to contribute and can be good stewards of our natural resources at our home and in our communities. When we think about protecting and managing our natural resources we can provide healthy habitats for the ecosystems on our planet. Each of us can make a difference by starting in our own backyard, our school or in our community. Some habits are not good, like throwing litter out our car windows. But working to improve our environment you can develop good habits that will last your entire life and also inspire others around you. The conservation essay contest is a great way to elevate awareness and to involve our youth in conservation.

The Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District wants to help people in our community to learn how important it is to help conserve all our natural resources and how easy it can be. For information about the conservation essay contest questions may be directed to Vikkie Lafollette at the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District office located at 301 West Main Street, Suite 210 in Winnfield, Louisiana, 71483. (We are located in Room 210 above the Winn Parish Health Unit.) You may also call (318) 628-4438. Our office hours are Monday- Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. You may also reach us at anytime via email at dugdswcd@bellsouth.net . Please be sure to visit our website at http://dugdemonaswcd.shutterfly.com/essaycontest for contest rules and other information concerning our 2010 contests.

Funds available for landowners through Conservation Programs

“I am very proud of the conservation work being done throughout the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD)”, stated James Shivers, NRCS District Conservationist for Caldwell and Jackson parishes.
SWCDs are an important link in local, state, federal and private cooperation in all conservation and natural resource projects. SWCDs operate at the local grassroots level. Resource concerns must be determined at this level. We must identify the resource needs of each community. Louisiana is a diverse state, natural resources concerns should be assessed and prioritized on the local level if they are to be successful.

We have seen tremendous efforts being made to put conservation on the ground throughout Caldwell, Jackson and Winn parishes. During the past three years, $2,081,667 was invested by state and federal sources to conserve and protect natural resources in the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District.

Currently the state is contributing $2.3 million annually for the State Soil and Water Conservation Program which is helping SWCD’s to leverage over $108 million in USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service funds.

These conservation programs encourage land users to adopt a comprehensive approach in solving natural resource and environmental concerns. Louisiana’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts, through its conservation partnership with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) work together to distribute millions of dollars in federal conservation cost-sharing funding to Louisiana landowners and producers.

These programs are available through the conservation provisions in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill) provides voluntary conservation opportunities for Louisiana farmers and ranchers. Conservation programs will have a beneficial impact on the adoption of conservation practices. These practices when installed or applied to technical standards will increase net farm income. Voluntary programs will not impose any obligation or burden upon agricultural producers that choose not to participate.

Joshua Peterson is a Jackson Parish livestock producer interested in improving multiple resource concerns on his property through implementation of specific conservation practices. Mr. Peterson has participated in the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) during 2003, 2005 & 2006. His farming operation consists of over 24 acres of pasture and 7 acres of farmstead. He runs cattle on the 24 acres of pasture and has four broiler houses on the farmstead.

The broiler chicken production facility produces over 90,000 broilers per flock with approximately 6 flocks per year. Several resource concerns were addressed by developing and maintaining a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) annually on Mr. Peterson’s property. The benefit of a CNMP is to inform and assist the producer in treating the handling, collection, storage, treatment, and land application of animal waste products. This is especially important to poultry producers whose byproducts of the farming operation: poultry litter (nutrient issues) and poultry mortality (disease and nutrient issues) poses certain resource concerns such as soil, water, and air quality.

Under EQIP, Mr. Peterson has benefitted on his poultry operation by constructing a Waste Storage Facility, a Composting Facility and received a cost share incentive for proper nutrient management. In striving to be proactive in taking care of the land, Mr. Peterson has enrolled the 24 acres of pasture in EQIP. He has incorporated 1850 ft of pipeline, 4600 feet of fence, 4 Watering Facilities, and 4 Heavy Use Area Protection Pads on his cattle operation to enhance multiple resource concerns such as: animal health, plant health and vigor, water quantity and quality. Josh is currently working to achieve his certification in the Master Farmer Program.

“There is no other agency that has the cooperator and landowner trust that SWCDs have developed over the years. SWCDs provide landowners with leadership, education, and technical assistance through conservation planning and programs to assist in solving the needs to conserve sustain and improve the soil, water, and other natural resources with conservation measures on their land” stated Shivers.

For more information on the conservation programs available to local landowners and how it may help you and your operation in Jackson Parish visit the NRCS Ruston Field Office at 1803 Trade Drive in Ruston or contact us at (318) 255- 3136 extension 3; for Winn Parish visit the NRCS Natchitoches Field Office at 6949 LA Hwy 1 Bypass in Natchitoches or contact us at (318) 357- 8366 extension 3; for Caldwell Parish visit the NRCS Columbia Field Office at 7128 Hwy 165 South in Columbia or contact us at (318) 649-2651 extension 3; or visit the Dugdemona SWCD at 301 West Main Street, Suite 210 (upstairs in the Winn Parish Health Unit Building) or contact us at (318) 628-4435 or visit our website at http://dugdemonaswcd.shutterfly.com/

All programs and services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture are offered on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, or disability.

(James Shivers is the NRCS District Conservationist for Caldwell Parish and Acting District Conservationist for Jackson Parish working with the Dugdemona SWCD in “Helping People Help the Land”. He is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University with an undergraduate degree in Agribusiness and a Master’s degree in business Administration and has been involved in natural resources and agriculture throughout his career.)

Nominating Period for Supervisor Elections Opens

DUGDEMONA SWCD
SUPERVISOR’S ELECTION

NOMINATING PERIOD

OPENS: APRIL 1, 2010
CLOSES: APRIL 30, 2010

For individuals interested in Serving - Nomination Petitions can be obtained at: The Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District office located at in .
Petitions must be completed between April 1and April 30, 2010 and must be postmarked PRIOR to May 1, 2010. For more information please call, 318-628-4438, visit our website at http://dugdemonaswcd.shutterfly.com/, or email us at dugdswcd@bellsouth.net

Elections will be held on Saturday June 12, 2010

The Dugdemona Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) is local unit of State Government, working under the umbrella of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry-Office of Soil & Water Conservation, and in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and others to provide landowners with conservation measures on their land.

The Dugdemona SWCD was established March 25, 1939, and includes all of Jackson and Winn Parishes, as well as the portion of Caldwell Parish west of the Ouachita River. Our office is located at 301 West Main Street, Suite 210 in Winnfield, Louisiana (2nd floor of the Winn Parish Health unit Building). Our office hours are Monday- Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Soil and Water Conservation Districts were formed to keep decision making on natural resource conservation matters at the local level. We are an important link in local, state, federal and private cooperation in all conservation and natural resource projects.

The Louisiana Conservation Program was established by resident landowners and is governed by the Board Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors is made up of local landowners. Each SWCD has three elected supervisors or board members and two appointed supervisors. The Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors meet the second Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. from March thru October and at 5:00 p.m. from November thru February. We meet on the second floor of the Winn Parish Health unit Building in room 219; the Winn Parish Genealogical Historical Association’s meeting room. The meetings are open to the public and interested parties are encouraged to attend.

We have three USDA Field offices, which serve the Dugdemona SWCD. They are:
Columbia Field Office… Servicing Caldwell Parish
7128 Highway 165 South
Columbia, Louisiana 71418
(318) 649-2651 Ext. 3
Vacant, District Conservationist

Ruston Field Office…Servicing Jackson Parish
1803 Trade Drive,
Ruston, Louisiana 71270
(318) 255-3136 Ext. 3
James Shivers, District Conservationist

Natchitoches Field Office…Servicing Winn Parish
6949 Highway 1 Bypass
Natchitoches, LA 7157
(318) 357-8366 Ext. 3
Glenn Austin, District Conservationist

Becoming a Member of the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors

The Dugdemona Soil & Water Conservation District encompasses all of Winn and Jackson Parishes and a portion of Caldwell Parish. Concerned and eligible landowners in these parishes have an opportunity to help manage and conserve the natural resources in this area by serving on the Dugdemona Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) Board. If the issues and programs stated in this document interest you, please call Vikkie Lafollette at (318) 628-4438.

I.
Mission:

To provide leadership, education, and technical assistance through conservation planning and programs to assist all land-users in solving the needs to conserve, sustain and improve the soil, water, and other natural resources in the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District.
• By working with communities and other organizations to ensure vital natural resources will continue to enrich our lives.
• By serving as a catalyst fostering natural resource conservation.
• By listening and responding to customers, alliances and each other.
• By putting quality first and strive for improvement.
• By promoting comprehensive natural resource management.
• By provide the best assistance possible to clientele.
• By advocating voluntary solutions to solve natural resource concerns.
• By soliciting new and innovative opportunities to solve problems.
Vision:

To be recognized as the community leader by establishing partnerships
and coordination plans of action to achieve soil and water conservation.

II. Goals and Objectives:
· Establish soil and water conservation policy for the SWCD.
· Assess resource needs.
· Develop strategies to address these needs.
· Provide quality conservation education to Parish educators and school children.
· Provide land users with technical assistance.
· Develop programs to address local natural resource problems.
· Serve as a focal point for addressing local natural resource issues and coordinating various programs to help solve identified concerns.

III. Legal Authority:
Title 3, Section 1201-1219 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes defines a Soil & Water Conservation District as a governmental subdivision of the State of Louisiana, and a public body corporate and politic.

IV. Current Major Issues:
· Landowners needing technical assistance
· Surface Water Quality
· Coastal wetland loss
· Cropland erosion
· Invasive/Non-native plant species
· Urban storm water runoff
· Insufficient operating funds

V. Major Programs and Activities:
· Federal Farm Bill conservation programs
· CWA Section 319 agricultural cost-share program
· Conservation equipment rentals
· Tree seedling sales
· Approval of conservation plans
· Review of Parish planning proposals
· Conservation educational programs for Agricultural producer, school, and civic groups
· Publish SWCD newsletter
· Revise and publish annual business plan and annual report.

VI. Funding Sources:
· State government
· Local governments (Police Jury, Drainage Board)
· Local business and organization donations
· Competitive grants
· Federal grants, cooperative interagency agreements
· Tree sales and equipment rentals
· Educational workshops and seminars

VII. Expectations of SWCD Supervisors:
· Take advantage of SWCD supervisor training opportunities
· Attend board and conservation related meetings
· Participate in district programs and activities
· Serve on a LACD (Louisiana Assoc. of Conservation Districts) committee
· Be involved and responsible for SWCD program direction
· Promote soil and water conservation in the community
· Help manage SWCD staff
· Represent the SWCD in public
· Help secure financial resources

VIII. Benefits of being a SWCD Supervisor:
· Representing locals resource concerns
· Providing a voice and a service for the citizens within your SWCD
· Satisfaction of providing your time to improve the environment and sustaining local resources
· Being actively involved with assistance and educational programs
· Provide leadership in community resource conservation


Items To Consider Before Submitting a Nomination

If you are unable to answer any of these questions, please contact the SWCD Chair at (318) 628-4438 for more information.

1. Do you understand and are you committed to the mission of the District?

2. Can you devote the time, resources, and energy required of a SWCD board member?

3. Do you understand the roles and responsibilities of the District?

4. Are you willing to attend meetings regularly, making them a priority for the duration of your term?

5. Are you willing to participate in the necessary training, education, and development activities?

6. Will you actively serve on District and LACD Committees?

For individuals interested in Serving - Nomination Petitions can be obtained at:
The Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District office located at 301 West Main Street, Suite 210 in Winnfield, Louisiana 71483.

Our office is open Monday- Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Petitions must be completed between April 1 and April 30, 2010 and must be postmarked PRIOR to May 1, 2009. For more information please call:
318-628-4438, email us at dugdswcd@bellsouth.net or visit our website at http://dugdemonaswcd.shutterfly.com/

Conservation Practices For Forestland Owners

Forest landowners can now take advantage of the conservation practices available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) by applying for the program at their local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) or Soil and Water Conservation District office.

Funding is available for forest landowners within the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District to implement forestry practices on their property. This includes cost sharing assistance for practices such as site preparation, tree planting, fire lane construction, prescribed burning, mid-story chemical release, and many other practices for landowners in Winn, Jackson and Caldwell parishes.

Every application will be ranked according to total environmental benefits derived from the implementation of conservation practices. NRCS evaluates each application using a state and locally developed evaluation process. Local priorities are developed each year at the annual locally led conservation work group meeting. High priorities are given to applications that encourage the use of cost-effective conservation practices, address state and national conservation priorities, and optimize environmental benefits.

EQIP helps producers through cost sharing and incentive payments for the implementation of conservation practices. All EQIP activities must be carried out according to a conservation plan of operations developed by the producer, NRCS, and in cooperation with the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District.

Individuals qualifying as beginning farmers or limited-resource farmers may be eligible for increased payment rates. For more information on the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and how it may help you and your operation, in Jackson Parish visit the NRCS Ruston Field Office at 1803 Trade Drive in Ruston or contact us at (318) 255- 3136 extension 3; for Winn Parish visit the NRCS Natchitoches Field Office at 6949 LA Hwy 1 Bypass in Natchitoches or contact us at (318) 357- 8366 extension 3; for Caldwell Parish visit the NRCS Columbia Field Office at 7128 Hwy 165 South in Columbia or contact us at (318) 649-2651 extension 3; or visit the Dugdemona SWCD at 301 West Main Street, Suite 210 (upstairs in the Winn Parish Health Unit Building or contact us at (318) 628-4435.

All programs and services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture are offered on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, or disability.

EQIP Application are being taken...

Farmers, livestock producers and other landowners can now take advantage of the conservation practices available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) by applying for the program at their local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office.

"On a statewide basis, we have over 50 conservation practices that producers can sign up for right now," said James Shivers, NRCS District Conservationist. "We have cost sharing assistance for practices from fencing to ponds and from tree planting to prescribed burning. EQIP offers many practices to help farmers, livestock producers, and forest landowners install conservation on farms.

Every application will be ranked according to total environmental benefits derived from the implementation of conservation practices and the best will be funded. NRCS evaluates each application using a state and locally developed evaluation process. High priorities are given to applications that encourage the use of cost-effective conservation practices, address state and national conservation priorities and optimize environmental benefits.

EQIP helps producers through cost sharing and incentive payments for the implementation of conservation practices. All EQIP activities must be carried out according to a conservation plan of operations developed by the producer, NRCS and in cooperation with the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District.

Individuals qualifying as beginning farmers or limited-resource farmers may be eligible for a greater payment rate than other producers.

For more information on the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and how it may help you and your operation in Jackson Parish, call the Ruston Field Office at 318-255-3136, ext.3 ; for Caldwell Parish call the Columbia Field office at 318-649-2651 ext. 3; for Winn Parish call the Natchitoches Field Office at 318-357-8366 or you may call the Dugdemona SWCD office at 318-628-4438.

All programs and services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture are offered on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, or disability.

2010 Conservation Tree & Shrub Sale

The Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District will be having its Annual Tree and Shrub Sale at the Winn Farmers' Market, located at the corners of Main and St. John Streets in Winnfield, Louisiana. The sale will be Wednesday, February 17 – Friday February 19, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

We will have a variety of bare root and potted trees, shrubs and perennials. We will have lots of trees... flowering trees, fruit trees, shade trees and trees for wildlife habitat.

Some of the varieties available will include:
Shrubs
Abelia
Azaleas- native & evergreen varieties
Bottle Brush
Bridal Wreath
Butterfly Bush
Camellias
Flowering Almond
Flowering Quince
Forsythia
Gardenia
Hydrangea- Oakleafs, mop heads & lace caps
Magnolias, assorted varieties
Roses- Antique and English varieties
Sasanqua
Viburnum, Walters Viburnum, Japanese Snowball & Chinese Snowball
Yesterday Today & Tomorrow

Trees
Bald Cypress
Crabapple
Crape Myrtle- assorted varieties
Flowering Cherry
Flowering Dogwood
Grancy Grey Beard/ Fringe Tree
Magnolias, assorted varieties
Red Bud
Red Maple
River Birch
Sawtooth Oak
Vitex
White Oak

Perennials
Agapanthus
Daylilies
Ferns
Hosta
Iris- Louisiana & German Bearded

We will also have a selection of perennials and a large variety of fruit trees. Fruit selections include Apple, Blueberry, Blackberry, Fig, Lemon, Mayhaw, Muscadine, Pawpaw, Peach, Pear, Persimmon, Plum, Pomegranate and others.

We have a limited number of seedlings and plants available for best selections please come early. For additional information you can visit our website at http://dugdemonaswcd.shutterfly.com/ or you may call our office at 628-4438 or email us at dugdswcd@bellsouth.net prior to the sale for availability and prices. Remember we will be at the Winn Farmers Market and unavailable to answer your call during the tree sale.

The tree sale is our largest fund-raising event of the year. All proceeds of this sale directly benefit our community. Funds raised sponsor projects such as, Conservation Essay Contest, Conservation Poster Contest, Soil and Water Stewardship Week, conservation education, our Community Tree Planting project, Earth day, Arbor Day, Project WET and restoration of wildlife habitat. Your money stays right here in our community and directly benefits the natural resources that enrich our lives and the lives of future generations.

So whether you have acres in the country, an average-sized yard, or a tiny plot in the city, you can help protect the environment and add beauty and interest to your surroundings. Planting trees and shrubs will give us fresh clean air, reduce heating and cooling bill, prevent soil erosion, enhance water quality, cut down noise pollution and provide food and shelter for wildlife. So come on by and beautify your surroundings while you help to conserve our natural resources.
When you visit our website be sure to check out our page on backyard conservation.

Backyard Conservation shows you how conservation practices that are used on agricultural land across the country to conserve and improve natural resources can be adapted for use on the land around your home. These practices help the environment when applied to your home make your yard more attractive and enjoyable.

Adopting these practices on nonagricultural land can help increase food and shelter for birds and other wildlife, control soil erosion, reduce sediment in waterways, conserve water and improve water quality, inspire a stewardship ethic, and beautify the landscape.