NOTICE: Our next regularly scheduled board meeting will take place April 20 at 8 a.m. in the Service Center conference room. If you plan to join the meeting via Zoom, please contact Katerina for log in information.
Job Posting
Pickaway SWCD is currently taking applications for a Beginner District Technician position. Please click on the button below for application information. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 2, 2021 by 4 p.m.
Final Tree Sale & Fish Sale Numbers
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Upcoming Events
*Click on the image to view the flyer!*
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Composting Workshop - May 3
Pickaway SWCD, Park District, and RPHF Solid Waste District are partnering to offer a Beginners Guide to Composting Workshop! All skill levels are welcome to attend, including beginners. A special youth program will take place at the same time for kids 12 & under! Food & drinks will be provided. |
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Experience Earth Camp - August 3rd, 4th & 5th
EE Camp 2021 will take place August 3-5 at Canal Park. EE Camp is a day camp that lasts 3 days and is open to all incoming 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students in Pickaway County. Registration forms and additional details will be available soon at the link below. |
USDA to Open Signup for the Conservation Reserve Program and CRP Grasslands in Early 2021
November 12, 2020
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the signup periods for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the CRP Grasslands in 2021. Signup for general CRP will be open from Jan. 4, 2021 to Feb. 12, 2021, and signup for CRP Grasslands runs from March 15, 2021 to April 23, 2021. Both programs are competitive and provide annual rental payments for land devoted to conservation purposes.
“The Conservation Reserve Program and the many focused programs that come under it, like CRP Grasslands, are some of our most critical tools we have to help producers better manage their operations while conserving natural resources,” said Richard Fordyce, Administrator of USDA’s Farm Service Agency. “As one of our nation’s largest conservation endeavors, CRP has proved to protect our valuable resources, and next year’s signup gives our farmers and ranchers an opportunity to enroll for the first time or continue their participation for another term.”
Enrollment Options
CRP―General Signup
Through CRP, farmers and ranchers establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees, to control soil erosion, improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat on cropland. Farmers and ranchers who participate in CRP help provide numerous benefits to the nation’s environment and economy. CRP general signup is held annually. The competitive general signup includes increased opportunities for enrollment of wildlife habitat through the State Acres For Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) initiative.
Grasslands Signup
CRP Grasslands helps landowners and operators protect grassland, including rangeland, pastureland, and certain other lands while maintaining the areas as grazing lands. Protecting grasslands contributes positively to the economy of many regions, provides biodiversity of plant and animal populations, and improves environmental quality. A separate CRP Grasslands signup is offered each year following general signup.
Signed into law in 1985, CRP is one of the largest private-lands conservation programs in the United States. It was originally intended to primarily control soil erosion and potentially stabilize commodity prices by taking marginal lands out of production. The program has evolved over the years, providing many conservation and economic benefits. The program marks its 35-year anniversary this December. Program successes include:
The successes of CRP contribute to USDA’s Agriculture Innovation Agenda and its goal of reducing the environmental footprint of U.S. agriculture by half by 2050. Earlier this year, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the department-wide initiative to align resources, programs and research to position American agriculture to better meet future global demands.
For more information on CRP, visit fsa.usda.gov or contact your local FSA county office.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the signup periods for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the CRP Grasslands in 2021. Signup for general CRP will be open from Jan. 4, 2021 to Feb. 12, 2021, and signup for CRP Grasslands runs from March 15, 2021 to April 23, 2021. Both programs are competitive and provide annual rental payments for land devoted to conservation purposes.
“The Conservation Reserve Program and the many focused programs that come under it, like CRP Grasslands, are some of our most critical tools we have to help producers better manage their operations while conserving natural resources,” said Richard Fordyce, Administrator of USDA’s Farm Service Agency. “As one of our nation’s largest conservation endeavors, CRP has proved to protect our valuable resources, and next year’s signup gives our farmers and ranchers an opportunity to enroll for the first time or continue their participation for another term.”
Enrollment Options
CRP―General Signup
Through CRP, farmers and ranchers establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees, to control soil erosion, improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat on cropland. Farmers and ranchers who participate in CRP help provide numerous benefits to the nation’s environment and economy. CRP general signup is held annually. The competitive general signup includes increased opportunities for enrollment of wildlife habitat through the State Acres For Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) initiative.
Grasslands Signup
CRP Grasslands helps landowners and operators protect grassland, including rangeland, pastureland, and certain other lands while maintaining the areas as grazing lands. Protecting grasslands contributes positively to the economy of many regions, provides biodiversity of plant and animal populations, and improves environmental quality. A separate CRP Grasslands signup is offered each year following general signup.
Signed into law in 1985, CRP is one of the largest private-lands conservation programs in the United States. It was originally intended to primarily control soil erosion and potentially stabilize commodity prices by taking marginal lands out of production. The program has evolved over the years, providing many conservation and economic benefits. The program marks its 35-year anniversary this December. Program successes include:
- Preventing more than 9 billion tons of soil from eroding, which is enough soil to fill 600 million dump trucks;
- Reducing nitrogen and phosphorous runoff relative to annually tilled cropland by 95 and 85 percent, respectively;
- Sequestering an annual average of 49 million tons of greenhouse gases, equal to taking 9 million cars off the road;
- Creating more than 3 million acres of restored wetlands while protecting more than 175,000 stream miles with riparian forest and grass buffers, which is enough to go around the world seven times; and
- Benefiting bees and other pollinators and increasing populations of ducks, pheasants, turkey, bobwhite quail, prairie chickens, grasshopper sparrows and many other birds.
The successes of CRP contribute to USDA’s Agriculture Innovation Agenda and its goal of reducing the environmental footprint of U.S. agriculture by half by 2050. Earlier this year, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the department-wide initiative to align resources, programs and research to position American agriculture to better meet future global demands.
For more information on CRP, visit fsa.usda.gov or contact your local FSA county office.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Rain Barrels for Sale
50-gallon barrel with a rain barrel kit for sale for $35
850 Farm-to-Table Books Delivered to Schools & Libraries
"Right This Very Minute: a table-to-farm book about food and farming" Written by Lisl H. Detlefsen and illustrated by Renee Kurilla. Published by Feeding Minds Press.
November 2020
This week, Pickaway SWCD delivered a farm-to-table children’s book to every 1st grade student across all of our Pickaway County Schools.
In addition to the books given to the 1st grade students, their teachers, and the school library, students also received a Snack Ag Mag publication to go along with the book and a face mask from one of our partners on the project. Interactive, online activities have been created and shared with teachers to go along with the lessons in the book. Books were also given to our county libraries and the Little Free Libraries.
Agriculture is one of the most important industries in our country and is extremely prevalent in Pickaway County. Everyone should know where their food comes from, and we believe this book is a wonderful way to help share this education with our students and their families.
We would like to recognize our partners on this project from around Pickaway County and Ohio who have helped to make this happen. They are the Circleville Sunrise Rotary, the Ohio Beef Council, the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation, the Pickaway Competitive Network (initiative of the Pickaway County Community Foundation), and South Central Power Co. Foundation. THANK YOU!!!
If you are interested in taking a look at this book for yourself, you can always check it out from our Lending Library!
This week, Pickaway SWCD delivered a farm-to-table children’s book to every 1st grade student across all of our Pickaway County Schools.
In addition to the books given to the 1st grade students, their teachers, and the school library, students also received a Snack Ag Mag publication to go along with the book and a face mask from one of our partners on the project. Interactive, online activities have been created and shared with teachers to go along with the lessons in the book. Books were also given to our county libraries and the Little Free Libraries.
Agriculture is one of the most important industries in our country and is extremely prevalent in Pickaway County. Everyone should know where their food comes from, and we believe this book is a wonderful way to help share this education with our students and their families.
We would like to recognize our partners on this project from around Pickaway County and Ohio who have helped to make this happen. They are the Circleville Sunrise Rotary, the Ohio Beef Council, the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation, the Pickaway Competitive Network (initiative of the Pickaway County Community Foundation), and South Central Power Co. Foundation. THANK YOU!!!
If you are interested in taking a look at this book for yourself, you can always check it out from our Lending Library!
2020 Conservationist of the Year
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The Pickaway Soil and Water Conservation District would like to offer a huge congratulations to Musselman Farms LLC for being chosen as the Pickaway SWCD 2020 Conservationist of the Year!
Over the past several years, Bennett and Tom Musselman have installed various methods of conservation including widening filter strips to reduce sediment in surface water, utilizing conservation crop rotation, and practicing integrated pest management and nutrient management through the latest technology. Bennett has embraced good soil health practices through no-till and planting cover crops. He has also implemented wildlife and pollinator habitats on his farm through the Conservation Stewardship Program, which includes using cover crops to provide habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects, and leaving grain unharvested to benefit wildlife cover and shelter.
The Pickaway Soil and Water Conservation District has enjoyed working with the Musselman family and we are excited to continue working with them to conserve our natural resources here in Pickaway County.
Congratulations to Musselman Farms LLC for being awarded the Pickaway SWCD 2020 Conservationist of the Year!
Over the past several years, Bennett and Tom Musselman have installed various methods of conservation including widening filter strips to reduce sediment in surface water, utilizing conservation crop rotation, and practicing integrated pest management and nutrient management through the latest technology. Bennett has embraced good soil health practices through no-till and planting cover crops. He has also implemented wildlife and pollinator habitats on his farm through the Conservation Stewardship Program, which includes using cover crops to provide habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects, and leaving grain unharvested to benefit wildlife cover and shelter.
The Pickaway Soil and Water Conservation District has enjoyed working with the Musselman family and we are excited to continue working with them to conserve our natural resources here in Pickaway County.
Congratulations to Musselman Farms LLC for being awarded the Pickaway SWCD 2020 Conservationist of the Year!
Pickaway SWCD celebrated its 75 Year Anniversary in 2019!
Click on the image to learn about our history, how we came to be, and the changes we've made over the years.
Follow us on Facebook to keep up with the latest news and events, see what our staff is working on, and for conservation facts! @PickawaySoilandWater
Pickaway SWCD, 110 Island Rd., Suite D, Circleville, Ohio 43113, T: 740-477-1693 F: 740-477-3327