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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: Education is Key to Understanding

2010-08-19 13:56

Two of my nieces were visiting the farm one day in July. My dad and I decided to take Alexandra and Brenna for a ride out to the fields in the Mule. On our way, we talked about the cows, butterflies we spotted and the native plants growing along the pasture fence. When we stopped beside a corn field and soybean field, I took the opportunity to explain and show the parts of the corn and soybean plants.The girls loved how soft the soybean leaves were to touch. They even had to pick one of the leaflets to take with them. I also showed them the delicate, purple blooms on the soybean plants. Dad then explained that the blooms will develop into pods with soybeans inside and will be harvested in the fall. As there was a warm, calm breeze that day, I simply stated that it was a pretty site seeing the soybean plants gently waving in the wind. I also said that the field looked like a dark green carpet. Alexandra, Brenna and I walked a little way into the field and found Japanese Beetles. I explained to them that the insects were feeding on the soybean leaves and could possibly lower the yield of the crop. Later on, I had found out that my four and a half year old niece, Brenna, told her mom what she had learned that day. It was a great feeling knowing she was having fun learning about agriculture.

One of my favorite quotes is from the words of Baba Dioum, "In the end, we conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught." Education is vital to understanding the agriculture industry, and it is becoming increasingly important as generations become further removed from the farm. Because of this reason, I take the time to talk about what is happening on our family farm whenever Alexandra, Brenna and Sophia visit. My nieces get first-hand experience with planting, harvest, cattle work, and possibly a newborn calf when they are on the farm. It is my hope that these experiences on the farm will not only teach them about agriculture, buit gain valuable lessons they will carry throughout their lives.

- Monica Stevens, Resource Conservationist

Conservation Notes: Conservation is for Everyone

2010-07-21 09:49

It takes over 500 years for one inch of topsoil to form. As urban or rural residents, it is imperative that we protect soil from erosion by wind and rain. We all need to be conservationists. Each of us needs to do our part in being good stewards of the land and conserving and protecting our natural resources. It is our responsibility!

What can you do to be a conservationist?
Install a rain barrel
    A rain barrel is a system of collecting and storing water from the roofs of homes, sheds, and barns. 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 every inch of rain on a 1000 square foot roof, equals 600 gallons of water. Rain barrels store and provide pure, natural water that is perfect for watering landscaping and gardens, washing cars and windows.
Incorporate a rain garden in landscaping
    Rain gardens are designed to collect stormwater runoff from roofs of homes and other buildings. They are landscaped using native plants that utilize the rainwater. Rain gardens offer many environmental benefits. An increased amount of rainwater infiltrates into the ground. With a rain garden, 30% more water is able to penetreate into the ground compared to a conventional lawn. Rain gardens provide a habitat for birds, butterflies and other beneficial insects; protect communities from flooding and drainage issues; protect streams and lakes from pollutants; and enhance the beauty of the neighborhood and community. 
Soil testing
    Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are nutrients essential to plant growth. Over-application of nutrients is not good for plants or the environment. Nutrients may leach through the soil and into the groundwater or run off into storm drains. Soil testing promotes proper nutrient management. For those who fertilize lawns or gardens, soil testing prevents over-application of nutrients and assists in the application of the proper amount of required nutrients.
Chemicals
    When applying chemicals, be sure to read the label closely and follow directions. Be aware of the concentration of chemicals being applied, and do not over apply chemicals.
Start a compost bin
    Compost is a wonderful, nutrient-rich soil amendment that helps plants grow well. For compost, decomposing micro-organisms need moisture, oxygen, carbon and nitrogen. Moisture is provided by rain. At times, the compost pile may need to be watered to keep it damp. Oxygen is supplied when mixing the compost pile. Mixing the compost pile often aids in faster decomposition. Leaves, lawn clippings, fruit and vegetable scraps, along with livestock manure, coffee grounds, straw, sawdust, and shredded paper create compost. Have a mix of materials high in carbon like, dried leaves and twigs and materials high in nitrogen such as, clover and grass clippings. 
Plant trees and shrubs for wildlife
    Trees and shrubs offer many benefits to rural and urban landowners. They improve water and air quality, sequester and remove carbon dioxide from the air and produce oxygen, prevent soil erosion, provide shade from the sun, protection from wind and snow, conserve energy by reducing heating and cooling, create visually eye appealing surroundings, as well as provide a wonderful habitat for wildlife. Shrubs and trees provide wildlife: food, nesting sites, shelter, and safety from predators. To boost the amount of wildlife, improve the quality and increase the quantity of habitat.
Plant native species to attract bees and butterflies
    Attract pollinators by landscaping around your home using a variety of flowers, shrubs and trees. Provide pollen and nectar sources throughout the seasons with successive blooming flowers in the spring, summer and fall. Remember that bees and butterflies love blue, purple, yellow and white flowers. Bees and butterflies are attracted to native plants. Black Eyed Susan, Butterfly Milkweed, Culver's Root, Joe Pye Weed, Ironweed, Mountain Mint, New England Aster, Pale Purple Coneflower, Prairie Blazing Star, Stiff Goldenrod, Swamp Milkweed, and Wild Bergamot are native plant species that both bees and butterflies find appealing.
Recycle
    Like I have said before, there is no excuse not to recycle. Everyone should recycle. It is easy, environmentally conscious and respectful. Recycling prevents useful materials from being sent to the landfill, reduces water and air pollution, and saves energy.

Urban or rural, it is everyone's responsibility to be stewards of the land and natural resources. As Aldo Leopold wrote, "A thing is only right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the community; and the community includes the soil, water, fauna, flora, as well as the people."        

- Monica Stevens, Resource Conservationist

Conservation Notes: Must be Doing Something Right

2010-06-23 08:40

On my four-wheeler rides back and forth from our farms, I have observed the variety and amount of wildlife in the countryside... Monarch Butterflies, Bull Snakes, American Toads, and Meadowlarks just to name a few. I have especially noticed Quail. That is a wonderful sight to see! It used to be a rare occasion seeing Quail, and now I see them quite frequently. The wildlife sightings remind me to keep my camera with me... even on my four-wheeler. With the rainy spring, I have seen an abundance of toads roaming around my hosta garden and yard. Since I was a kid, I cannot resist picking up a toad. Toads have always been one of my favorites. Seeing so many toads and other creatures this spring got me thinking. It seems to me that the increased growth of wildlife is most likely due to the quantity and quality of habitat.

Conservation practices not only prevent and protect the soil from erosion, but protect and improve water and air quality, sequester carbon, and provide habitat for wildlife. Practices like vegetative filter strips reduce soil erosion, protect water quality by preventing contaminants like chemicals, sediments and nutrients from reaching water, and provide habitat for small birds and mammals.

The amount of wildlife spotted is a great indicator that farmers and landowners are doing something right...conservation.

- Monica Stevens, Resource Conservationist