April 2024 | Volume 29 | Issue 2

 

As the days begin to get warmer, the urge to get outside and do some landscaping becomes stronger. However, this year, pause when you get to the gardens and flowerbeds. Removing dead stems, leaves and other plant debris from your yard can be detrimental to pollinators and other beneficial insects.

The availability of nesting and overwintering habitat is one of the most important factors influencing populations of native bees and other beneficial insects. Some species of native wild bees’ nest in dead stems, so cutting down and disposing of these stems before the bees emerge in the spring will reduce their population. Dead leaves and other plant debris on the ground provide shelter for beneficial insects like lady beetles, butterflies, moths, fireflies, and ground beetles. Pristinely raked garden beds remove this shelter and reduce their chance for survival.

Diversity is key in providing overwintering habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects. Leaf litter, bare ground, mulch, and grass all provide distinct habitats that allow the overwintering of pollinators and beneficial insects. Waiting until late spring to do yard clean up, when the days are consistently in the 50s, will give native bees and butterflies enough time to emerge and find shelter elsewhere.

Traditional landscaping practices rarely leave enough natural resources to support pollinators and other wildlife. Artificial nesting options such as bee blocks and bee hotels do not provide as many conservation benefits as natural nesting habitat features. An appropriately managed wildflower planting provides nesting sites, pollen, and nectar for bees; host plants and overwintering habitat for butterflies; and abundant food for songbirds, who need insects to feed their young.

The Madison Soil and Water Conservation District offers a great opportunity to see key pollinator habitat in action annually during the Peak Bloom Bike ride series. The bike tours begin at the Prairie Grass Trailhead, located behind the Madison County Senior Center in London, and stops at several remnant prairie sites that support native wildflowers and grasses and have been here since the last ice age. There are three Saturday ride dates starting at 1:00 p.m. on May 18th, June 1st, and July 13th, strategically spaced to capture different blooming flowers.

The mission of the Madison Soil and Water Conservation District is to enhance and sustain the soil, water and related natural resources of Madison County through partnerships with others to provide research-based educational programs, technical assistance, and funding to promote a clean local environment. More information about our services, conserving natural resources, and events is available at www.madisonsoilandwater.com, or call our office at 740-852-4003 and ask for Broc Sehen-Wildlife Specialist.

This year, the Area 4 Envirothon will be hosted by Madison and Fayette Soil and Water Conservation District. The event will be held in Madison County at the Gwynne Conservation Area on Tuesday April 30th, 2024.

Around 50 teams will compete in the Area 4 Envirothon for a chance to continue to the state level competition. The top four teams from each area will compete at Hocking College on June 3-5th, 2024.

The Ohio Area 4 Envirothon is a competitive, academic, outdoor team event for high school students which tests their knowledge in five areas:  Aquatic Ecology, Current Environmental Issues, Forestry, Soils and Wildlife.   The event is designed to stimulate and reinforce their interest in the environment and natural resources while encouraging cooperative decision making, team building, and problem solving.

The current environmental issue (CEI) for the Envirothon is “Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future.”

The tests are written by natural resource specialists and professionals that combine academic and hands on learning. Madison SWCD assists local schools by providing an Envirothon “Boot Camp” training day over the resource materials to prepare for students for the competition. The Boot Camp will be held on April 25th, 2024. Please reach out to Broc Sehen at broc.sehen@oh.nacdnet.net for sign up and information.

For more information and testing resources, please visit the Area 4 Envirothon website at https://www.areaivenvirothon.org.

 

Students at Envirothon Boot Camp practice using a Biltmore stick, a tool used by foresters to estimate the diameter and height of trees, with the help of an ODNR service forester.  

On April 8th, people within a 124-mile stretch of Ohio will experience a total solar eclipse!  

If you haven't seen a total eclipse, it is a different experience from seeing a partial eclipse.  They are as different as night and day.  Total eclipses are great and so surreal.  It is worth driving the extra miles to see one.  

You will need solar eclipse glasses because it's never safe to look directly at the sun's rays, even if the sun is partially obscured.  Once the sun is totally blocked, it is safe and you will need to remove your glasses to see the incredibly beautiful sight.  

Ohio Emergency Management Agency has put together a wealth of information, including videos, fact sheets and maps of the path of totality. There are videos to explain what to expect and how to view an eclipse safely. There is an answer to almost any question you can think of at https://ema.ohio.gov/media-publications/ohio-total-solar-eclipse. 

We don't know what's going to happen when it comes weather or traffic.  It could be cloudy in Ohio, so I will be with a group watching the weather reports and prepared to drive within 10 hours to see it. 

I was fortunate to see the total eclipse in 2017 in Nebraska and I cannot wait to see this one!  Even if you haven't made your plans yet, there is still time to get glasses and get ready.  I wish everyone the best of luck in witnessing this rare and unique event.

NRCS offers voluntary programs to eligible landowners and agricultural producers to provide financial and technical assistance to help manage natural resources in a sustainable manner.

Through these programs, the agency approves contracts to provide financial assistance to help plan and implement conservation practices that address natural resource concerns or opportunities to help save energy, address concerns related to soil health, water and air quality, wildlife habitat, and implement climate-smart agriculture practices on agricultural lands and non-industrial private forest land.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a "working lands" program, meaning it helps agricultural producers to protect the environment while promoting agricultural production.  Common best management practices include livestock watering and animal waste facilities, heavy use pads, fencing, invasive species control and cover crops.  

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) helps farmers to improve their current operations and build on existing conservation efforts by planning additional conservation activities that address at least one natural resource concern.  Common best management practices include cover crops, conservation crop rotation, no-till, wildlife plantings and timber stand improvement.  

Through one-on-one, personalized advice, NRCS can work with you to find solutions to your conservation goals and farm needs.  Contact James Tillman, NRCS District Conservationist, at 740-852-4003 to discuss these programs.

The H2Ohio program is going statewide. While we won't have access to all the programs in Madison County, you can receive funding to develop and implement a voluntary nutrient management plan through a technical service provider.  Once you have a plan in place, this could set you up to receive funding for additional programs if they go statewide in the future.

Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) expect the available acres to fill up quickly.  Keep an eye out for a news release from ODA, or on the SWCD Facebook page and website, and call Madison SWCD once the application period is open to sign up.  

SWCD Staff

 

Julia Cumming, Program Administrator

Emma Ryan, Urban Conservationist

Broc Sehen, Wildlife Specialist 

Gail Wilson, Operations Coordinator

 

 

NRCS Staff

 

James Tillman, District Conservationist

 

 

Board of Supervisors

 

Steve Davis, Chairman

Jonathan Francis, Vice Chairman

Bob Hunter, Treasurer

JD Bethel

Nancy Denes-Sparks

4/8 - Total Eclipse (Office closed)             

4/10 - SWCD Board Meeting

4/14 - Earth Care Day at Little Darby Preserve

4/17 - Invasive Species Workshop

4/30 - Area IV Envirothon

5/8 - SWCD Board Meeting

5/11 -Spring Flower Ride

5/27 - Memorial Day (Office closed)

 

Madison Soil & Water Conservation District

831 U.S. Highway 42 NE

London, Ohio 43140

Phone: (740) 852-4003 opt. 3

www.madisonsoilandwater.com www.facebook.com/madisonswcdohio

All NRCS/MSWCD programs and services are offered on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, or handicap. Please contact Gail Wilson at gail.wilson@oh.nacdnet.net if you wish to be put on or removed from our email list.