November 2025 | Volume 30 | Issue 5

 

Nancy Denes-Sparks won the election for supervisor at the Madison Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD).  Her three-year term will begin on January 1, 2026.  The election period was from August 13 – September 11, 2025, with voting available during the Madison SWCD 78th Annual Conservation Banquet on September 11th. 
 
The Madison SWCD Conservation Banquet celebrated the accomplishments in local land stewardship.  The meeting was held at the Procter Center Camp and Conference Center in London, Ohio.  Forty people attended the annual meeting, and two conservation awards were presented.

The Soil and Water Conservation recognized the team members from Madison-Plains High School, Abby Damron, Ashley Bailey, Paisley Rice, Andrew Wood, and Gavin Cloutier, for ranking higher than any other team from Madison County, and placing 20th out of 62 teams overall. Their advisor was Serenity Kirts Pickell.  
 
The second award was presented to Mike Young for being Outstanding Cooperator of the Year.  Mike Young is a 7th generation farmer who utilized the Conservation Reserve Program and H2Ohio to install practices that reduce soil erosion and improve water quality. He prevented erosion by planting numerous acres of trees and native grasses in areas that frequently flooded adjacent to Deer Creek.  He prevented excess nutrients from escaping into the creeks and groundwater by implementing a nutrient management plan based on the Tri-State Fertilizer Recommendations.  
 
Young served as a dedicated Madison Soil and Water Supervisor for 6 years and has been a member of the Madison Conservation Foundation for over 15 years, volunteering his time and skills to help promote preservation and the enhancement of Madison County. He was presented with a sign as a token of the district’s gratitude for Mike’s stewardship and commitment to conservation.  
 
The meeting concluded with an informative presentation about Southern Flying Squirrels by Dr. Donald P. Althoff, Professor Emeritus of Wildlife Conservation at the University of Rio Grande. The Madison SWCD is grateful to elected officials, landowners, and residents for attending the banquet and contributing to the stewardship of our natural resources!

 

Nancy Denes-Sparks was re-elected as Supervisor for the Madison Soil and Water Conservation District.  Her three-year term will begin January 1, 2026  

Mike Young (left) recognized as Outstanding Cooperator of the Year by James Tillman, District Conservationist; and Emma Ryan, Urban Conservationist; during Madison SWCD’s Annual Conservation Banquet.   He was presented with a cooperator sign as a token of the district’s gratitude for Mike’s stewardship and commitment to conservation.  

Mike Young planted native grasses and trees in the floodplain to prevent erosion, restores nutrients to the soil, build up organic matter and improve soil structure.

No-Till November is a campaign first launched in 2017 by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to encourage Ohio farmers to keep tillage equipment in the shed this fall. The campaign encourages farmers to “leave the stubble” on farms and raise awareness about soil health as fields lay fallow this winter.

No-till farming has become a cornerstone for soil health conservation practices and has become a key part of climate-smart practices in agriculture today.  No-till practices help to reduce soil erosion, increase soil quality, improve water infiltration, and reduce labor and machinery costs.

No-till is not just leaving residue on the soil surface, it also stops the disturbance of the soil structure.  The amount of organic matter in undisturbed soil increases over time, which increases its capacity to hold water, making the farm more resilient to extreme periods of rain and drought.  Any tillage, regardless of its depth, can create fractures in the consolidated soil and break the macropores.  The fine particles and small pores of tilled soil are vulnerable to erosion and compaction over time.

Long-term no-till practices offer many environmental and economic benefits to farmers. NRCS can help you develop a conservation plan to reduce soil loss and improve farm productivity.  To get started, contact your Madison County USDA Service Center at 740-852-4003 or visit nrcs.usda.gov.

As the leaves change and the fields quiet down, fall is one of the best times of year for Ohio landowners to improve wildlife habitat. While spring often gets the spotlight for planting and planning, many of the most effective conservation practices begin in autumn—when the soil is still warm, the air is cool, and wildlife is preparing for the long winter ahead. Whether you own a few acres or a full farm, here are some ways you can make the most of the season to support deer, turkey, songbirds, pollinators, and countless other native species.

1. Plant Native Trees, Shrubs, and Grasses

Fall is prime time for planting in Ohio. Cooler weather reduces transplant shock, and the roots of native trees and shrubs can still grow until the ground freezes. This gives them a head start for next spring. 

Consider planting mast-producing trees such as oaks, hickories, or chestnuts for long-term wildlife food sources. Shrubs like dogwood, serviceberry, viburnum, and elderberry provide berries and cover for songbirds and small mammals.

Native grasses—such as switchgrass, big bluestem, and Indiangrass—offer excellent nesting and escape cover. Late fall is ideal for “dormant seeding” native wildflowers and grasses, allowing the seeds to overwinter naturally before sprouting in spring. Timing and preparation are key.

2. Manage Food Plots and Cover Crops

For those managing land for deer or upland game, fall food plots are a major draw. Brassicas, winter wheat, oats, and clovers can be planted in late summer or early fall to provide green forage throughout the hunting season and into early winter.

Beyond hunting benefits, these plots can also improve soil health and prevent erosion. Consider rotating food plots or using no-till planting to maintain healthy soils.

Even non-hunters can benefit from planting fall cover crops like rye or crimson clover, which add organic matter, fix nitrogen, and reduce runoff into streams or ponds.

 3. Create and Maintain Brush Piles

After clearing invasive shrubs or cutting firewood, don’t burn all those limbs. Brush piles provide critical shelter for rabbits, songbirds, and reptiles through the cold months. Stack logs and branches loosely in a conical shape so small animals can easily move inside.

Place brush piles near the edge of woods or along field borders for best results. Over time, they’ll decay and enrich the soil while continuing to serve as habitat.

 4. Control Invasive Species

Fall is an excellent time to tackle invasive plants that threaten native habitat. Many invasives—such as bush honeysuckle, autumn olive, and multiflora rose—retain green leaves longer than most natives, making them easy to spot.

Cut and treat the stumps with herbicide to prevent regrowth. For smaller infestations, hand-pulling can be effective when the soil is moist. Staying proactive now will give your native plants a much better chance to thrive come spring.

5. Leave Some Areas Untouched

It can be tempting to mow everything before winter, but wildlife depends on structure and cover. Leaving some grass strips, standing crops, and unmanicured field edges provides critical refuge and food for quail, pheasants, and songbirds.

Seed heads from goldenrod, coneflower, and native grasses feed overwintering birds, while the plant stems offer habitat for pollinators that overwinter in hollow stalks.

6. Prepare for Spring Projects

Fall is also the perfect time to plan ahead. Soil testing now gives you time to amend your fields or food plots before next year’s planting. You can also flag areas for future tree plantings, wetland restorations, or prairie conversions.

If you’re interested programs through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), or Pheasants Forever offer technical and financial assistance for habitat restoration.

 A Season of Stewardship

Good habitat management is a year-round effort, but fall offers some of the most rewarding and effective opportunities. From planting native trees to leaving a few brush piles untouched, small steps taken now can pay big dividends for Ohio’s wildlife in the months—and years—ahead.

Volunteers from Friends of Madison County Parks and Trails help our natural prairies to persist along the Ohio to Erie Trail by removing honeysuckle. In the absence of wildfires, it is up to humans to manage the woody vegetation so that it doesn't take over the landscape.

Je’lon Thomas, a Dayton, Ohio native, recently joined the Madison County team as a Soil Conservationist with the USDA Natural Recourse Conservation Service (NRCS). He earned his Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education with a minor in Sustainable Agriculture from Central State University. In his free time, Je’lon enjoys outdoor recreation and is a novice enthusiast of reptiles and insects. He is excited to be part of NRCS and looks forward to contributing to conservation efforts and serving the residents of Madison County.

-Barbara J. Myers, Emeritus Master Gardener

Courtesy the Franklin Institute and CNBC News

The story goes Benjamin Franklin wanted the National Bird to be a turkey.

Not True!

Franklin wrote that in comparison to the bald eagle, the turkey is “a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America...He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage.” 

So although Benjamin Franklin defended the honor of the turkey against the bald eagle, he did not propose it becoming one of America’s most important symbols.

Historians do not believe turkey was eaten during the First Thanksgiving in 1621, but its popularity spread for practical reasons such as its size and the convenience of being on people’s properties.

Alexander Hamilton once proclaimed: “No citizen of the U.S. shall refrain from turkey on Thanksgiving Day.”  Hamilton’s proclamation became reality, and according to the National Turkey Federation, about 46 million turkeys are consumed each Thanksgiving.

SWCD Staff

 

Julia Cumming, Program Administrator

Broc Sehen, District Technician

Gail Wilson, Operations Coordinator

Emma Ryan, Urban Conservationist

 

NRCS Staff

 

James Tillman, District Conservationist

Preston Leonard, Soil Conservationist

Je'lon Thomas, Soil Conservationist

 

 

Board of Supervisors

 

Steve Davis, Chairman

Jonathan Francis, Vice Chairman

Bob Hunter, Treasurer

JD Bethel

Nancy Denes-Sparks

11/27 - 11/28 Thanksgiving (Office closed)

12/10 - SWCD Board Meeting

12/24 - 12/25 - Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (Office closed)

01/01/26 - Happy New Year!

 

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 Instagram: @madisonsoilandwater

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.