January to December 2022
organizational activity
• Monthly Board Meetings — Invite members of the public to attend. Meetings are held on the last Monday of each month unless otherwise announced.
• Annual General Election of Directors
• Proof of board organization and election
• Attend monthly NRCS staff meetings
Partner Support Agreement
• Soil and Water staff will support FSA and NRCS management and CRP work through the AISWCD/NRCS funding arrangement. We provide technical and administrative assistance to Conservation Management Programs, Environmental Quality Incentive Programs, and Conservation Protection Programs in the following ways: Completed 11 establishment and 65 maintenance status reviews for active CRP contracts. apply CRP practices; accept applications for new and pre-approved programs; Supports the USDA Producer web portal. Complete various other program tasks.
Conservation training and review
• Virtual Annual Meeting and Summer Training Conference
• Ecosystem Market by Zoom
• Cold Grass Workshop / Warm Grass Workshop
• Employee meetings and winter meetings
• Conservation Fund Partner — Massac Soil & Water has facilitated the completion of eight conservation projects in the past year. Two pasture/hay facilities, one waterway, and five cover crop rotations. Additional funding is available for the establishment of cover crops, grassy channels, pollinator plots, water and sediment control basins, dry dams, terraces, slope stabilization structures and meadows/haylands.
• Fall Cover Premium Discount Program for Spring Savings Cover Crops — When you sign up in the fall, Illinois farmers receive up to 10% per acre of crop insurance premiums as a reward for implementing a fall cover crop on their land prior to spring cash. A $5 discount is offered. produce. It’s about risk management. The Soil and Water District is working to validate acres in this program.
• Conserving tomorrow’s agricultural resources — The STAR initiative provides farmers and landowners with tools to help them assess how they manage nutrient and soil loss. Through its partnership with the American Farmland Trust, the STAR initiative offers modest incentives to Illinois farmers willing to implement new field management practices that enhance their STAR rating.
• Assist extension partners with the installation, maintenance and cleanup of the Plant A Row, Watch COPE Grow Community Garden.
• Soil & Water, in partnership with the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership, is accepting applications for the Illinois Cover Crop Initiative, which offers a $10 per acre incentive for cover crops planted before December 1, 2022.
• Spring and autumn fish sales
• Tree planting initiative by teenage 4-H leaders
• Tree to 3rd grade
• Bryan Walquist and Max Bremer are recipients of scholarships awarded to students pursuing careers in agriculture or related fields.
• Reproducible Soil Health Lessons for Teenage Teachers
• BLWR Annual Maintenance Progress Report
• Assist USDA-NRCS in the submission of conservation plans and take responsibility for the Farm Bill program.
• Compliance: Public Information Policy, Open Meeting Act, Human Resources Policy, Purchase and Disposal Policy
• Review annual business plans and district policies.
• Fulfill all SWCD responsibilities in accordance with state law
• Approval of annual financial report
• Record quarterly reports of district operating expenses
• Make a budget and long-term plan
• File internal control checklist
Review the Nutrient Filter Strip Act Activity Report
• Ag area validation, file activity report
• Compile irrigation water usage reports for Massac, Johnson, and Pope counties for the Illinois Water Inventory Program.
• Provide all district programs, activities and services without discrimination, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, marital status or handicap.