newsletter - Cortland SWCD

Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District
100 Grange Place, Room 204, Cortland, NY 13045
Phone: (607) 756-5991 Fax: (607) 756-0029
NEWSLETTER
winter 2015 * Volume 20, Issue 1
SWCD...established to promote the conservation and wise use of our county’s natural resources
IN THIS ISSUE:
Soils Remapping
1
Upcoming SWCD Events
1
District & Partner Reminders 2
Tree/Shrub Order Form
3-6
SWCD Staff & Board News
7
Calendar of Events
8
Spruce Up
America (SUPA)
Spruce Up America
is a tree planting
program that encourages collaboration
between
schools and community groups or
civic organizations. Projects
completed through the program
must be a cooperative effort.
Together, these groups develop
a planting plan and submit an
application to the Cortland
County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). Approved projects receive free
planting stock & guidance
through SWCD. All projects
must take place on community
property and must provide a
public benefit.
Rural Landowner Workshop:
This spring we are organizing a
workshop on Saturday, March
21st. Possible topics include
composting, beekeeping and/or
fruit tree management. Please
check our website
or contact us for
more information
at (607)756-5991.
Cortland County Soils Remapped
Are you aware that the soils in Cortland County have been
remapped?
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently completed
and released an updated Soil Survey of Cortland County.
Soils survey information is utilized regularly by conservation
professionals, community planners, urban development, engineers, health departments, and agricultural producers just to
name a few. With recent mapping some common soil types
have been re-named, combined, eliminated, etc.
"The existing soil survey was very good, but was outdated and
focused primarily on agricultural interpretations," said Eugene
Wright, SWCD Board Chairman.
NRCS soil scientists performed the work of updating the soil
survey. The previous soil survey was based on older formats
that were not designed for the current diverse range of applications now required of soil survey information. In all, thousands of modifications were made to the spatial and attribute
data, resulting in a more accurate soil map as well as soil interpretations that are more diverse and reliable.
Soil survey information for Cortland County is available from
Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District or can
be found on the Web Soil Survey, an
interactive web service where individuals can define an area of interest
and generate a soil map at http://
websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov. SWCD
staff can still provide technical and
interpretive assistance. Feel free to
contact SWCD with soils or general
mapping requests.
Spring Fish Sale
Cortland SWCD’s spring fish sale for pond stocking is scheduled
for Saturday, May 16th, 2015 at the Cortland SWCD office.
Like last year, we will be offering the following varieties of fish:
rainbow trout, largemouth bass, channel catfish, yellow perch,
grass carp and fathead minnows. The order form and pricing
information will be available soon so please check our website
or feel free to give us a call for more information.
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Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District
100 Grange Place, Room 204, Cortland, NY 13045
Volume 20, Issue 1
Soil Group Worksheets
Landowners filing for an agricultural assessment in 2015 must file applications with their local assessor by March 1st. To complete an application landowners must have a Soil Group Worksheet
(SGW) prepared by the SWCD for each tax parcel they intend to enroll. Landowners who have
previously had a worksheet completed for a tax parcel do not need a new one unless ownership,
parcel acreage or land use has changed.
Landowners participating in the program for the first time, or those who need a revised worksheet, should make an appointment with our office before Friday, February 20th. When making
the appointment, have the tax map number, location, and acreage for each parcel available.
This information can be found on the most recent tax bill. A fee of $50.00 will be charged for
each worksheet and an additional $3 if you would like them mailed.
USDA Update
The Agricultural Act of 2014 (the Act), also known as the 2014 Farm Bill, was signed by President
Obama on Feb. 7, 2014. The Act repeals certain programs, continues some programs with modifications, and authorizes several new programs administered by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA). Most of these programs are authorized and funded
through 2018.
NRCS Programs (continuous sign-up)
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) - Financial and technical assistance for agricultural land easements (formally the Grassland Reserve Program and the Farm and Ranch Land Protection Programs) and wetland easements (formally the Wetlands Reserve Program)
Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA) - Financial and technical assistance for microirrigation systems
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) – Helps agricultural producers maintain and improve existing conservation systems and adopt additional conservation activities to address priority resource
concerns
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) - Financial and technical assistance to agricultural
producers to address natural resource concerns – Focus Areas include: Livestock Waste, Grazing,
Forestry, Wildlife Habitat, Organic, Ag-Energy and Seasonal High Tunnels
FSA Programs
For the latest on 2014 Farm Bill programs administered by FSA, visit the Farm Bill website at
www.fsa.usda.gov/farmbill and for FSA program overview read the FSA Farm Bill Fact Sheet titled,
What’s in the 2014 Farm Bill for Farm Service Agency Customers?
For more information on USDA, please contact the local Service Center at 1 North Main Street in Cortland or visit us online at www.nrcs.usda.gov or www.fsa.usda.gov.
Notice About Agricultural Grant Funding
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets just announced a
Request for Proposals for the Agricultural Nonpoint Source (Ag NPS) Abatement
and Control Program. SWCD is developing a timeline but will likely set a midFebruary deadline for contacting us.
Interested applicants must submit a written request for assistance to the SWCD office as soon as
possible to apply. Producers must also meet prerequisites which include having an updated AEM
Tier 3A plan.
This grant program supports Cortland County’s Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM)
Strategic Plan by funding planning and implementation practices. Twelve million dollars was made
available through this round of funding to protect soils and waterways in New York State.
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Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District
100 Grange Place, Room 204, Cortland, NY 13045
Volume 20, Issue 1
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Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District
100 Grange Place, Room 204, Cortland, NY 13045
Volume 20, Issue 1
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Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District
100 Grange Place, Room 204, Cortland, NY 13045
Volume 20, Issue 1
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Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District
100 Grange Place, Room 204, Cortland, NY 13045
Volume 20, Issue 1
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Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District
100 Grange Place, Room 204, Cortland, NY 13045
Volume 20, Issue 1
SWCD Staff & Board News
Emily Walters began working as a Conservation
Aide in July 2014. As a 2013 graduate of the SUNY
College of Environmental Science and Forestry, the
position opened a door of opportunities to practice
field skills and organize outreach activities for the
SWCD. She successfully coordinated Conservation
Field Days, catering to all of the sixth graders in the
County, and in the fall organized the Annual River
Clean Up reaching out to community members to
improve their environment. You may have seen some of her articles
in the Cortland Standard every Monday, discussing conservation and
environmental topics. Emily continues to assist SWCD with programs
and is currently working on outreach activities in the Upper Susquehanna watershed, including the Upper Susquehanna Coalition website.
SERVICES
AGRICULTURAL LAND
CONSERVATION
CONSERVATION
EDUCATION
FISH STOCKING PROGRAM
HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE
LIVING SNOW FENCE
SEEDLING PROGRAMS
Cortland County SWCD would like to thank Patrick
Snyder Esq. for his 23 years of service as Member
at Large on the SWCD Board of Directors. Pat continues to assist our local communities and is still
active as an attorney and engineer.
We would also like to welcome John Merriman to
our board. John Merriman was formerly a Deputy
Regional Permit Administrator for the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation in Region 7 and is familiar with the role of SWCD.
John is a long time resident of Cortland County and has previously
served on the Lime Hollow Nature Center Board of Directors.
SITE PLAN REVIEWS
SOIL GROUP WORKSHEETS
SOILS INFORMATION
STREAM DISTURBANCE
PERMIT ASSISTANCE
STREAM STABILIZATION
ASSISTANCE
URBAN CONSERVATION
NYS DEC Winter Wild Turkey Flock Survey
The New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation (DEC) is looking for landowners to help
with a large-scale study of wild turkey movements,
survival, and harvest. DEC has begun the third year of
a four-year study in which wild turkey hens (female
turkeys) will be captured and fitted with leg bands. The
objective of the banding study is to examine harvest rates, survival
rates, and movements of hens. All work is done by DEC personnel on
public and private lands from January through March.
DEC seeks landowners in DEC Regions 3 through 9 who would be
interested in allowing birds to be trapped on their land, as well as
alerting project coordinators when they see turkeys on their property.
DEC would appreciate reports from landowners, hunters, birdwatchers
or others about winter turkey flock locations anywhere in New York
State. Observations of turkey flocks (of even a few birds) during
January through March can be reported to the project coordinator for
your region.
For more information on this project please contact Michael Schiavone
at (518)402-8886.
WATER QUALITY
MANAGEMENT
AND MUCH MORE…
CONTACT OUR OFFICE FOR
MORE INFORMATION
Cortland County SWCD
100 Grange Place, Rm. 204
Cortland, N.Y. 13045
Phone: (607)756-5991
Non Profit Org.
US Postage
PAID
Permit #28
Homer, NY
13077
*2015 Tree & Shrub Order Form Enclosed*
ALL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OF CORTLAND COUNTY SWCD AND USDA
ARE OFFERED ON A NONDISCRIMINATORY BASIS WITHOUT REGARD TO
RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, RELIGION, SEX, AGE, MARITAL STATUS,
OR DISABILITY. CORTLAND COUNTY SWCD AND USDA ARE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROVIDERS AND EMPLOYERS.
Board of Directors:
Donnell Boyden - Treasurer
Tracey Evanick - Vice Chair
John Merriman—Member at Large
Charles Subdrink—Legislator
Eugene Wright - Chairman
SWCD Staff:
Amanda Barber - District Manager
Ronald Bush - Natural Resource Conservationist
Bethany Bzduch - Natural Resource Conservationist
Lauren Lyons-Swift - Natural Resource Conservationist
Barbara Miner - Fiscal Officer
Shawn Murphy - Natural Resource Conservationist
Jared Popoli - Conservation Assistant
Patrick Reidy - Water Quality Specialist
Stacy Russell - Natural Resource Program Specialist
Russell Smith - Natural Resource Conservationist
Emily Walters - Conservation Aide
Calendar
2/10/15
2/16/15
2/26-28
3/01/15
3/10/15
3/10-13
3/21-22
4/03/15
4/14/15
4/22/15
4/23/15
4/24/15
5/16/15
5/25/15
5/27-28
6/06/15
7/03/15
Board Meeting
Office Closed for President’s Day
NYS Farm Show Syracuse
Deadline for filing Agricultural Assessment
Board Meeting (subject to change)
Water Quality Symposium
Marathon Maple Festival
Deadline for Tree Order Forms
Board Meeting
Earth Day
Tree Pick-up Cortland County Fairgrounds
Arbor Day
Spring Fish Sale Pickup
Office Closed for Memorial Day
NYS Envirothon—Hobart & William Smith
Water Festival
Office Closed for Independence Day
The Cortland County Soil & Water Conservation District is online. You can find us at
www.cortlandswcd.org. Right now you will find copies of the Tree and Shrub
order form, an electronic copy of our newsletter, fish sale information and other
natural resource programs.