News

FFA Section 3 Soil Judging Contest

FFA Section 3 held their Soil Judging Contest once again this year to help better educate our youth.  It was a beautiful day with over 140 students from 11 different schools to participate in a fun and interactive education experience.  Thanks again to everyone that helped to make the day a success.  A special thanks to Kewanee High School who hosted this year. 

Check out the rest of the PICTURES taken from the contest.

The school and individual rankings are listed below:

School teams:

  1. Sherrard
  2. Galva
  3. Alwood
  4. Bureau Valley
  5. Stark County
  6. Geneseo
  7. Orion
  8. Kewanee
  9. Cambridge
  10. Princeton
  11. Annawan 

Top 10 Individuals:

  1. Seth Strom  (Galva)
  2. Pedro Avila  (Sherrard)
  3. Dustin Jacobson  (Galva)
  4. Tyson Schulte  (Sherrard)
  5. Nolan Elsasser  (Stark County)
  6. Wyatt Flickinger  (Sherrard)
  7. Courtney Wilkens  (Sherrard)
  8. Devon Peterson  (Galva)
  9. Morgan Swarts  (Sherrard)
  10. Samantha Haney  (Bureau Valley)

  

Conservation Compliance and Highly Erodible Land 

In regards to Conservation Compliance and Highly Erodible Land requirements, please read the following news release... Change$ to Good Faith Provi$ion for HEL violation$.

 

 

Backyard Conservation Workshop

The Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District will be conducting a Backyard Conservation Workshop on Tuesday, November 30th starting at 6:00 p.m. The workshop will be held in the upstairs auditorium of the Henry County Farm Bureau. A session on Rain Gardens will be presented by Vicki Morrical of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and a session on Native Plants will  be given by Jeff Johnson from Sunnyfield Greenhouse and Nursery. Urban or rural, this workshop is for you. Start planning ahead for your backyard next spring!

Learning materials and refreshments will be provided at the workshop. For further details about the Backyard Conservation Workshop, call the office at 309-937-5263, extension 3. For planning purposes, please make reservations to Monica Stevens at the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District.

 

Snodgrass Recieves 20 Year Director Service Award

Jerry Snodgrass of rural Geneseo recieved a 20 Year Director Service Award at the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts Annual Meeting Springfield, July 26 through 28. Snodgrass is currently serving as Chairman of the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Area 1 Vice President on the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts Board of Directors.

Congratulations to Jerry Snodgrass!

 

Johnson and Brink Win Henry County Door Prizes

Each year during the Henry County Fair, the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District conducts a drawing for a door prize. This year, those attending the fair could sign up to win a rain barrel that was on display at the Henry County SWCD fair booth. Activities for the children coincided with the Soil and Water Stewardship theme, "Conservation Habits = Healthy Habitats". Children had the opportunity to go "fishing" for fish facts, eat "worms", learn facts about frogs and toads, and sign up to win a fishing tackle box. 

Congratulations to Carol Johnson of Kewanee and Logan Brink of Cambridge! Carol won the drawing for the rain barrel from the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District. Logan won the drawing for the fishing tackle box.  

   

Bob Rishel Memorial Prairie Walk

The Henry County Natural Area Guardians will hold the Bob Rishel Memorial Prairie Walk on Sunday, June 27th at 1:30 p.m. The tour will be held two miles north of Cambridge at the intersection of 1300 North and 1300 East at the Munson Township Cemetery. Tim Keller will be conducting the prairie walk tour. Refreshments will be served.

For more information about the Bob Rishel Memorial Prairie Walk, please call the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District at 309.937.5263, extension 3.

  

IDOA Schedules Clean Sweep Collection in Northwest Illinois

Program will safely dispose of unwanted agricultural pesticides

Springfield, Illinois - Residents of eight northwestern Illinois counties can dispose of unwanted agrichemicals for free this year through the Illinois Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Pesticide Clean Sweep Program.

A Clean Sweep collection has been scheduled in late summer for Carroll, Henry, Jo Daviess, Knox, Mercer, Rock Island, Stephenson, and Whiteside counties. The collection, which rotates among Illinois counties, is open to farmers, retired farmers, nursery owners, private pesticide applicators and landowners who inherited unwanted agricultural pesticides with their property.

"There are two, big reasons to take advantage of this program." Warren Goetsch, Bureau Chief of Environmental Programs, said. "First, it is free. If individuals were to properly dispose of agrichemicals on their own, the cost would be expensive. But the department is able to provide the service free of charge thanks to a grant it obatined from the U.S. EPA. Second, the state of Illinois, not the program participant, will assume liability for the proper disposal of all materials collected."

Participants must register the products they plan to dispose of by June 25. Registration is required to give the waste disposal contractor time to prepare for the different kinds if materials that will need to be handled. Forms can be obtained either by calling the Illinois Department of Agriculture's Pesticide Hotline at 1.800.641.3934 or visiting one of the program sponsors listed beloew.

Completed forms should be mailed or faxed to the Illinois Department of Agriculture. The mailing address is: Clean Sweep Program, Illinois Department of Agriculture, State Fairgrounds, P.O. Box 19281, Springfield, Illinois, 62794-9281. The fax number is 217.524.4882.

Participants then will be sent a reservation card indicating the date, time and location of their collection.

Henry County Farm Bureau        
114 North East Street                
Cambridge, Illinois 61238

Henry County SWCD
301 East North Street
Cambridge, Illinois 61238 

Henry County Extension Unit
26234 Black Hawk Road
Galva, Illinois 61434

Download and print the IDOA Clean Sweep Program registration form
  

Council 2 Envirothon

The Envirothon is a hands-on and interactive learning experience for high school students. Students gain knowledge of the environment and natural resources. Teams compete in five areas: aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, and a fifth category on an environmental issue. Teams test their knowledge of the environment and compete against other high school teams from Bureau, Marshall-Putnam, Mercer, Rock Island, and Stark counties. Thirty-nine teams from seven counties competed at the Envirothon.

Ten teams from Henry County competed at the Envirothon on April 13th at the Black Hawk Historical Site in Rock Island. The top team from Henry County for 2010 was Galva High School.  Team members included:  Dustin Jacobson, Matt Johnsonn, Karlee Rylander, Seth Strom and Ryan Werkheiser. The Galva High School FFA Advisor is Trisha Main.

Congratulations to Galva High School!

   

Henry County SWCD Sponosored 20th Annual Poster Contest

Every year, the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District sponsors a poster contest for kindergarten through twelfth grade students. 2010 celebrates the 20th year the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District has proudly sponsored this annual event. Students are encouraged to express their thoughts about soil, water, and other natural resources topics through art. The poster contest theme coincides with the annual Soil and Water Stewardship theme. 'Conservation Habits = Healthy Habitats' is the theme for 2010. With this exciting and adventurous theme, students had the opportunity to learn about the importance of soil, stewardship of the land, conservation of natural resources, and plant and animal habitats.

Winners of the kindergarten through sixth grade levels receive a bicycle. Contest winners of the seventh through twelfth grade levels receive a $100 U.S. Savings Bond. Prizes are donate by the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District. Poster contest winners advance to compete at the state level.
    2010 Henry County SWCD Poster Contest grade level winners are:
    Second-Third Grade - Emily Henson, Northside Elementary
    Fourth-Sixth Grade - Luke Poteat, Northside Elementary
    Seventh-Ninth Grade - Thomas VanIseghem, Orion Middle School
    Tenth-Twelfth Grade - Karlee Rylander, Galva High School

    Honorable Mentions:
    Kristen Litton, AlWood Middle School
    Emily Hansard, Galva High School

Congratulations to the 2010 Henry County Poster Contest Winners! There were many creative and imaginative posters designed by the students. Thank you to all of the studetns that participated!

  

Rasmussen wins Henry County SWCD door prize

Each year during the Henry County Fair, the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District conducts a drawing for a door prize. This year, those attending the fair could sign up to win a rain barrel that was on display at the Henry County SWCD fair booth. Soil activites for children coincided with the Soil and Water Stewardship theme, "Dig It! The Secrets of Soil." Children had the opportunity to make edible soil profiles and paint with soil.

A rain barrel is a system of collecting and storing water from roofs of homes, sheds, and barns. They play a vital role in water conservation. Rain barrels prevent water from attaching to soil or pollutants and being carried away and washed into storm drains. Reducing stormwater runoff reduces the amount of pesticides and fertilizer that impacts our water supply. For more information regarding rain barrels, call the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Congratulations to Karen Rasmussen! She won the drawing for the rain barrel from the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District.

 Karen Rasmussen is shown with her rain barrel

Articles

Conservation Notes: Respect

08/13/2009 14:15

On my nightly jogs or walks, I look forward to time outside enjoying the beauty of the environment around me. It is frustrating to see how much litter is along our rural roadsides. One evening, I spotted a Long John Silvers carry-out bag carelessly tossed along my road. The nearest fast food restaurant is twenty miles away. Needless to say, I was annoyed because it was a sign of complete disrespect. Growing up, my brother, sister and I were taught to respect. We learned to respect not only people, but our environment. I have often wondered why others choose to throw their garbage outside the window as they drive along. Can they not wait to throw it out or recycle when they stop? Let's keep our roadsides beautiful and give them repsect by not littering.

-Monica Stevens, Resource Conservationist

Conservation Notes: Lightning Bugs

08/01/2009 15:31

Once I figured out that lightning bugs really wouldn’t “zap” me, I fell in love with them as a young girl. During the summer nights in the country, I loved running around the yard barefoot chasing and catching lightning bugs. That is one of my favorite summer memories I have growing up on the farm. Hopefully it will be a memory that I can share with my three nieces this summer.

To this day, I am still fond of them lighting up the summer sky. In the evening, I enjoy sitting outside on my porch relaxing and taking in the beauty. The glow from the lightning bugs in contrast to the darkening sky truly is a beautiful sight.  Lightning bugs look so peaceful as they float through the air twinkling as the sun is setting. They almost look like stars…just a little closer to us. Summer seems to be the perfect time to sit back and enjoy the simple things in life.

-Monica Stevens, Resource Conservationist

Conservation Happenings

07/21/2009 13:11

Two topics I wish to touch that are appropriate:

  1. Producers have been coming into the Farm Service Agency office to certify their crops and report acres.  Some have come in to report acres that they have added to their fields.  This is called sod-busting.  Most of the time, producers are clearing old buildings and plowing up old pastures.  We want to inform producers that the new 2008 Farm Bill included provisions to protect endangered species such as the Indiana Bat.  Clearly trees that are a potential habitat to this species could jeopardize producers USDA benefits. Take home message is this – Check with our first to see if the area you are clearing is OK.  A form AD-1026 needs to be signed first that you intend to add acres or modify a drainage system that has not been certified our office.
  2. Spring rains took a heavy toll on soils and left many fields with gullies and rills.  Many waterways were damaged and required extensive repairs.  Fields needs an extra tillage pass prior to planting to remedy rills and washouts.  Planting was delayed due to cold, wet conditions.  As a result, residue levels were below expected on HEL fields.  Many of you brought in maps and reviewed corrective measures needed to get your fields in shape to plant.  Thank you for your efforts and your commitment to conservation.  I know many of you would have preferred not to spend the time and fuel that you had to.  But this was an extreme event and hopefully, one that we won’t see a repeat for many years. 

One think we did come away with was the need for more grassed waterways.  Bigger planters and spray equipment has taken a toll on grassed waterways in many fields and it showed this spring.  During compliance reviews we will be paying particular attention to this.  Most compliance plans included waterways to control gully and ephemeral erosion.  Check your plan and see if it needs to be reviewed by one of our staff.  Many producers have focused on residue levels in their plan and forget that controlling areas prone to small gully erosion of their field is also subject to compliance.  Again, check with staff.  

There still is cost-share assistance available through either the State Conservation Program (CPP) or the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) that you can apply for.

-Rich Stewart, District Conservationist