Indiana awards $1.3M in grants to soil and water conservation districts
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Fourteen soil and water conservation districts and one organization have been awarded more than $1.3 million in Clean Water Indiana grants to support an array of initiatives, including the planting of cover crops, the hiring of conservation staff and the hosting of educational efforts.
The grant awards were announced in a news release by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and the Indiana State Soil Conservation Board, which administers the Clean Water Indiana program.
The program, funded by a portion of the state’s cigarette tax, provides financial assistance to landowners and conservation groups that are working to reduce runoff from nonpoint sources of water pollution, whether on agricultural land, urban areas or eroding streambanks.
“This funding is critical for our local soil and water conservation districts to assist farmers with bettering their water quality initiatives,” Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, Indiana’s secretary of agriculture, said in the news release. “This program touches every corner of the state and the improvements made will go a long way in ensuring Indiana remains a leader in soil conservation.”
The total amount awarded was $1,382,571. The recipients are:
- The Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District received $3,000 for an effort to control invasive species along the Cardinal Greenways and $125,000 for staffing support and to hire a conservation resource technician.
- The Greene County SWCD received $15,500 to buy a no-till drill to help landowners plant cover crops, native grass and other plantings, a process that increases soil health and water quality and deters runoff. No-till drills can sow seeds without disturbing the soil surface.
- The Jefferson County SWCD received $130,000 to institute conservation practices that reduce soil erosion and excessive nutrient runoff, among other measures, and $30,650 to buy a no-till drill.
- The Jennings County SWCD received $50,000 to share the cost with landowners who start or continue cover crop, forage or biomass plantings, among other measures.
- The Kosciusko County SWCD received $52,721 to launch a series of soil health education meetings over the next three years.
- The Madison County SWCD received $120,000 to hire a full-time urban conservationist and promote other conservation efforts.
- The Marion County SWCD received $100,000 to expand its soil health program for small farm operators and marshal long-term sustainability for the program.
- The Morgan County SWCD received $60,000 to buy a new seed drill and promote its use among farmers.
- The Orange County SWCD received $125,000 for a cost-share program to increase conservation efforts and improve water quality and soil health.
- The Posey County SWCD received $84,000 for various efforts, including a cash-match to farmers, to promote the planting of cover crops.
- The Spencer County SWCD received $20,000 to promote the use of livestock fencing to aid water quality and prescribed grazing and rotational grazing to aid soil health.
- The Nature Conservancy received $82,500 to help reduce crop insurance premiums for farmers who plant cover crops.
- The Washington County SWCD received $224,200 to provide financial and technical assistance to farmers who institute livestock, crop and wildlife best management practices.
- The Wayne County SWCD received $75,000 for an effort to educate landowners on the benefits of cover crops.
- The Wells County SWCD received $85,000 for a cost-share program to help seed cover crops and remove invasive species.