CONSERVATION UPDATES

DECEMBER 2006

SEASONS GREETINGS FROM SUPERVISORS AND STAFF OF THE CHARLES SCD

SEASONSGREETINGS

2006DistrictAccomplishments

TheCharlesSCDhadaveryproductiveyear. Districtactivitiesincluded: DevelopmentofDistrictwebsite (www.charlesscd.com); PublishedNewSedimentControlPlan SubmittalGuidelines; HeldAnnualCooperatorDinnerinMay; HostedGreenCardTraininginJune (94individualsreceivedcertificates); CompletionofIndianHeadSite3Ditch Plugs; DevelopedcontractdocumentsforIndian HeadShorelineStabilizationProject; Hiredparttimetechnician; Heldtrainingandcompetitionforthe 13thAnnualCharlesCounty Envirothon.

Onthefarmside,thefollowingconservation practiceswereinstalledthisyear: 4,513linearfeetoffencing3farmers 1gradestabilizationstructure 1.2acresofgrassedwaterway 106.2acresofpastureandhayplanting2farmers 1roofrunoffstructure .15acreofheavyusearea1farmer 2.5acresofshallowwaterarea1farmer Thesedimentanderosioncontrolplanreviewarea hadthefollowingactivity: 1964sediment&erosioncontrolplanswere reviewedand; 1325sediment&erosioncontrolplanswere approvedfromJuly2005thruJune2006;

EnvironmentalQualityIncentivesProgram (EQIP)
EQIPprovidesfarmerswithaflexibleand effectiveprogramthatofferscostshareassistancefrom 40to75percentofthecostofcertainconservation practicesincluding:grassedwaterways,filterstrips, manuremanagementfacilities,contourbufferstrips, livestockexclusion,andprescribedgrazing.Thefocusof theEQIPprogramthisyearisgrazingpracticesand incentivestomanagecroprotationsandcontinuousno tillproduction. Applicationsareacceptedallyear,rankedon December15,2006andatfuturedatesiffundingallows, andapprovedaccordingtoenvironmentalbenefits.

WildlifeHabitatIncentivesProgram(WHIP)
WHIPisavoluntaryprogramadministeredbythe NaturalResourcesConservationService(NRCS)for individualswhoareinterestedindevelopingand improvingwildlifehabitatprimarilyonprivatelands. ApplicationsfortheWHIPprogramareaccepted continuouslythroughouttheyear.However,thereare rankingcutoffdatesandthenextoneclosesDecember 15,2006.Applicationssubmittedpriortothisdatewill berankedaccordinglytodeterminewhichpractices offerthemostwildlifehabitatbenefitsforfunding. WHIPprovidestheopportunityforindividualsto createwildlifehabitat.Italsoprovidestechnical assistanceandcostsharepaymentstopeoplewhoplant grasslandhabitatorrestoreriparianbuffers,stream banks,andwetlandsforwildlifehabitat. Tobeeligibleforparticipationinthisprogramyou musthaveatleastoneacreofeligiblewildlifehabitat improvementpracticesoratleast$300ofcostshare assistanceforeligiblepractices.Applicantswhodonot haveprojectslargeenoughtomeettheminimumsizeor dollaramountmayenterintocooperativeeffortswith theiradjoiningneighborstodevelopalarger,contiguous project,suchasstreambankrestoration. Tolearnmoreaboutcostshareassistanceoffered throughFederalorStateprogramsortodetermineif youareeligibletoparticipateintheseprograms,please callourofficeat:3019349588,ext.3.

200607WinterCoverCropProgram InCharlesCounty
Participationinthe20062007MACSWinterCover CropProgramhasbeenvariedthisyearduetotwomain factors:programchangesandadverseclimate conditions. Theprogramchangesthisyearweredueto overwhelmingparticipationinsignupsthispastspring. Inordertomorewidelydistributeavailablefunds,all participatingfarmersregardlessofhowearlythey signedup,receivedapprovalforaportionofthefunds forwhichtheywereeligible:75%fortraditionalcover crop;and50%forcommoditycrops.Intotal,upto $303,347.75ofprogramfundswereapprovedfor34 farmersinCharlesCounty. Thissummer,manypartsofCharlesCounty experiencedsomeperiodsofdroughtthathurtthecorn andsoybeans.Thenheavyrainsinearlyfallmadeit verydifficultformanyfarmerstoharvestintimeto planttheircovercropbeforetheearliestplanting deadlines. Five(ofthe34farmerswhosignedup)decidednot toparticipateintheprogram.Afewfarmers,whohad initiallydecidednottocontinueintheprogramfor eitheroftheabovereasons,laterchangedtheirminds andplantedforthelatercertificationperiods. Approximately5,059acreswereplantedbythefinal November5thdeadlineaspartofthecovercrop program.

RemindersForCoverCropParticipants

USDAPROGRAMS WHIP (WildlifeHabitatIncentives Program) EQIP (EnvironmentalQualify IncentivesProgram) AMA (AgriculturalManagement Assistance) WRP (WetlandReserveProgram)

APPLICATIONCUTOFF DATES December15,2006 December15,2006 December15,2006 January19,2007

*Asareminder,nocommercialnutrientsmaybe appliedbeforeMarch1,2007onanyofthecovercropor commoditycropdesignatedacreage. *Springkilldownorsuppressionofcovercropmay notoccurbeforeMarch1,2007unlessyouplantoplant anearlyvegetablecrop.Ifyouplantoplantthe vegetablecropbyFebruary28,2007,thespringkill downorsuppressionofcovercropmayoccurasearlyat February15,2007. Springkilldownmeasuresinclude:plowingunder orusingaburndownherbicide.Grazingalonedoesnot qualifyasanacceptablekilldownmethod.

*Withintwoweeksofkilldown,suppression,or harvest,contactourofficetocertifyyouracresforSpring Certification.Thedeadlineforcertifyingkilldownof covercropsandharvestofcommoditycropsmustbe reportedtoourofficebyJune1,2007.

JoeySchneiderJoinsCharlesSCDStaff
TheCharlesSCDwelcomesourneweststaff member,JoeySchneider.JoeyworksfortheDistricton aparttimebasis(Monday,TuesdayandWednesday) assistingwithvariousofficetasks,includingreviewing erosionandsedimentcontrolplans.Joeyrecently graduatedfromtheUniversityofMarylandwitha degreeinNaturalResourceManagement.Henowlives inAnnapolis.

MarylandDepartmentofAgriculture RecruitingforSoilConservationPlannerII Positions

MDA is currently advertising for planner positions. Individuals selected will be stationed in various locations including the Charles Soil Conservation District office. The closing date for applications is December 22, 2006. Position duties include developing and revising conservation plans and performing site evaluations for cooperators on agricultural land. Visit or call the Charles SCD office at 101 Catalpa Drive, Suite 106-C, LaPlata, 301-934-9588, ext. 3, to obtain a copy of the position announcement.
KyongChungChangesAgencies
AfterworkingwiththisDistrictasaMaryland DepartmentofAgriculture(MDA)Plannerforthepast7 years,Kyonghaschangedhats.EffectiveOctober30, 2006shebecameaNaturalResourcesConservation Service(NRCS)SoilConservationist.Thegoodnewsis sheonlychangeddesklocations.Sheisstillworkingin thisDistrictandwillcontinuetoassistourcooperators withthedesignandinstallationofconservation practices.

DATE 122/2307 3107 Nocommercialnutrientsor poultrymanuremaybeapplied beforethisdate 42407 8:00a.m.1:00p.m. 5207 6:00p.m. 6807 EVENT MASCDWinterMeeting Annapolis,MD 200607WinterCoverCrop Participants

14AnnualCharlesCounty EnvirothonCompetitionGilbertRun Park,CharlotteHall,MD 2007CharlesSCDCooperator Dinner DeadlineforSubmittingCover CropSpringCertificationClaimfor Payments

The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status, (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs) Persons with disabilities who require alternatives means for communication of program information (Braille, large print audiotape, etc.) should contact USDAs TARGET Center at (202)720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Charles SCD 101 Catalpa Drive, Suite 106-C LaPlata, MD 20646

Standard Rate U. S. Postage PAID Permit # 16 LaPlata, MD 20646

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