Oral presentations are invited to be considered on topics relating to three session tracks: On the Ground (conservation implementation/technical), District Management, and Outreach & Education.

Abstract Submission

Oral Presentations should keep in mind that the SWCD staff and supervisors are the primary audience. Abstracts for presentations should address suggested topics within one of the identified session tracks. Suggested topics are listed below.

Abstracts for consideration should be submitted by April 18, 2018 to Jennifer Boyle at jennifer-boyle@iaswcd.org. Please use the subject line “SWCD Abstract”. Or, you can fill out the Google form at http://bit.ly/2FztBgA. The 2019 Conference Planning committee will convene in late April to review the abstracts. Please note that not all abstracts will not necessarily be accepted for a presentation.

Abstracts should include the following elements and not exceed one page:

Title: The title should accurately summarize the subject of the proposed presentation.

Presenter(s): Provide names and an affiliation of all presenters (mailing address, phone, e-mail).

Text: Abstract should state the purpose/issue/topic, methods of addressing it, significant results, main conclusion of presentation, and targeted audience.

Format: Oral, please indicate length of presentation (session times are 1 or 1.25 hours)

Abstract Schedule

Wednesday, April 18 th – Deadline for abstract submission

June 1 – Notification of abstract acceptance or non-acceptance Registration Fees Please note that full and/or one-day conference registration fees are not waived for accepted presentations. If you plan on only attending your session, then there is no fee and parking will be provided.

Further Information

For more information on the conference, please contact Jennifer Boyle at jennifer-boyle@iaswcd.org or (317) 692- 7519. Additional information on the IASWCD is available at www.iaswcd.org

For topic examples, view the full PDF here.

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The top poster from each grade level within the county will receive, public recognition, a monetary prize alone with a class party, all sponsored by Wabash County SWCD. The two posters will then be displayed at the SWCD Annual Meeting, on March 2nd. Fallowing this, the posters will be submitted to the state and potentially the national level. At the national level, top three posters in each category( K—1st Grade 2nd—3rd Grade 4th— 6th Grade 7th—9th Grade 10th—12th Grade) will receive monetary prizes and recognition at the NACD annual meeting.

Any media may be used, paint, crayon, colored pencil, charcoal, ect. The poster size MUST be 14” x 22” (half a poster). For more contest rules, forms and other resources, Visit: http://www.nacdnet.org/general-resources/stewardship-and-education-materials/contests or call (260)563-7486 ext. 3 with any questions.

All poster entries must be submitted by February 1st 2018. The posters must be collected by your local conservation district: Wabash County Soil & Water Conservation District 599 Bryan Avenue Wabash, IN 46992

Drop it at the office, address above or mail it in with the Poster Entry Form attached to the back.

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Mike Werling is a multi-generation farmer on his grain operation. The farm is located six miles northwest of Decatur. He uses a three-year rotation following corn with soybeans then wheat or oats. He practices no-till and uses cover crops because he doesn’t like soil erosion. It pays off because he was a 2012 winner of the River Friendly Farmer of the Year Award for his conservation efforts. The biggest benefit from his no-till / cover crop mix has been an increase in organic matter in the soil, and improvement in soil life and health. Mike says healthy soil has better water infiltration, less run off, and he uses less fertilizer, and sees better yields. Werling has plans for test plots to measure the value of no-till, conservation tillage and cover crops. The on-farm research is exciting because “that’s real life. These are practices that could be used on a larger scale.”

Fred Whitford is the developer and coordinator of the Purdue Pesticide Program with the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology.  His expertise includes pesticide safety education, pesticide registration, regulations, insurance, and environmental and safety audits. At the Annual Meeting he will be teaming with Curt Campbell, of the Wabash County Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, to conduct the Dicamba certification and the Pesticide Applicators Recertification Program (PARP) Presentation.

Also speaking will be Adam Jones, NRCS District Conservationist, on 2018 program updates and Eric Armentrout, FSA County Executive Director on his agencies updates.  We will also hear from Salamonie River Watershed, Wabash River Defenders and Eel River Watershed groups. Rob Shellhamer, chairman of the Wabash County SWCD will preside over the election of a new board member.  Awards will also be presented for the 2018 Wabash County SWCD Conservation Farmer of the Year and the River Friendly Farmer Award.

Wabash County SWCD would like to thank the following corporate 73nd Annual Meeting Sponsors. Advanced Ag. Resources, Ag. Venture-McKillip Seeds, Agra Warehouse LLC, The Andersons Inc., CFC Distributors, Central Indiana Ethanol LLC, Crop Fertility Specialist, Crossroads Bank & Trust, Farm Credit Mid-America, First Farmers Bank & Trust, First Merchants, Louis Dreyfus Commodities, Manchester Farm Center, New Holland Logansport Inc., POET Biorefining, Rupley Farm Equipment, SPNC Corp, Wolfe Tax & Financial Services Inc., and Yagel Grain Systems.

Lunch will be catered by Poole’s Meat Market and tickets are now on sale for $5.00.  You can make your reservations by calling the Wabash County Soil and Water Conservation District at 260-563-7486 ext. 3.

Wabash County Soil and Water Conservation District 73rd Annual Meeting
Plus PARP Credits and Dicamba Certification
Location: Heartland REMC Touchstone Energy Center, Wabash location
Friday, March 2, 2018

Agenda:

7:30-8:00 a.m.    Registration

8:00 a.m.              Welcome

8:10 a.m.              Adam Jones-NRCS District Conservationist
Eric Armentrout-FSA County Executive Director

8:20 a.m.             Fred Whitford-Purdue Pesticide Programs Coordinator-What Have We Learned from Equipment Accidents

9:20 a.m.             Curt Campbell-Wabash County Purdue Cooperative Ext.-Dicamba-PARP

10:20 a.m.           Break/Elections

10: 40 a.m.          Salamonie River Watershed update
Jen Rankin Wabash River Defenders Update
Herb Manifold-Beargrass Creek Watershed Update

11:00 a.m.           Mike Werling- “Penciling Out” the Benefits of Cover Crops & Soil Health

12:15 p.m.           Awards/Election Results

12:30 p.m.          Lunch

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The Ramseier’s utilize a corn, soybean and wheat rotation on their six hundred acres.  Zac began no-tilling mainly because it was the most economical way to start his operation. “I didn’t need the big horsepower equipment and more capital expenses on implements.”  It didn’t take long to start seeing the improvement in soil and microbial health through no-till practices to fuel his ambition to take things to the next level and introduce cover crops. They now practices 100% No-Till along with a verity of cover crops, ray grass is predominantly applied. Zac had initially started cover crops with aerial application of annual rye grass during the first part of September into both corn and soybeans.  This has since progressed to cereal rye grass applied with a ground high boy applicator. The high boy applicator allows for a more consistent stand in his corn.  Zac has also begun drilling various cover crop blends into soybean residue.While no-till practices have been the goal and standard for their operation from the beginning,in the coming years Zac says “I desire to continue to try different things and experiment.”  The next “experimental” step for Ramseier Farms, will be Inter-seeding into corn stands and utilizing roller/crimpers to terminate cover crops.

Besides practicing no-till and cover crops they maintain filter strips and waterways to help minimize soil erosion and loss of nutrients from their land. They have also developed nutrient and pest management plans. These management practices have a proven track record of significantly reducing the risks related to pesticides, while increased soil productivity and reducing pest damage.

Zac’s wife, Amber is employed in the account department with Midwest Poultry Services, LP. Together they have two daughters, Addison age 4 and Allison age 2. They attend the First Brethren Church in North Manchester. Zac is also a part of the community through his volunteer work with the Pleasant Township Volunteer Fire Department. Both Zac and Amber are very thankful for the support of their family, both generations back and present. They are also very grateful for the support of their landowners who are likewise very conservation minded.

Ramseier Farms, Inc. will be recognized at the Wabash County SWCD Annual Meeting on Friday March 2, 2018 for their conservation efforts.  Congratulations and thank you for being outstanding stewards of our land.

Zac and Amber Ramseier with their two daughters Addison and Allison who are the 2017 Conservation Farmers of the Year chosen by the Wabash County SWCD.

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