June 2023 | Volume 28 | Issue 3

 

Any resident 18 years of age or older who resides within the county of the election can seek election to the SWCD board of supervisors. Names can be placed on the ballot in one of two ways.

Candidates can be nominated by the SWCD nominating committee. This committee works throughout the year looking for candidates who are interested in the conservation and protection of natural resources within the county.

Interested individuals may also contact the SWCD by calling 740-852-4003 to arrange to pick up a nomination petition form. Potential candidates need to secure at least 10 signatures from residents and/or landowners from the county and submit the petition to the district by the close of business on July 12, 2023.

Candidates meeting the eligibility requirements and deadline will be listed on the ballot for the special election.  The election period will be from August 16, 2023, through September 14, 2023, with our banquet to be held on Thursday, September 14, 2023, with voting available from 5:30 pm. – 6:30 p.m., at the Der Dutchman Restaurant, 445 South Jefferson Avenue, Plain City, Ohio.  

Soil and water conservation districts, located in all 88 Ohio counties, are legal subdivisions of state government that provide natural resource management assistance to county landowners and other units of local government.  The district is funded by the Madison County Commissioners, and county funds are supplemented by funding from the Ohio Department of Agriculture.  The district is governed by a five-member board of county residents.  Board members serve staggered three-year terms.

The nomination procedure changes were adopted by the seven-member Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission, which oversees SWCD election guidelines.

 

The Ohio Landowner/Hunter Access Partnership (OLHAP) Program is a new way for Ohio hunters to get access to private properties, and landowners can receive annual payments for enrolling land.

Have you heard? The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has recently developed a program aimed at providing hunters access to private lands throughout the state. The Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership (OLHAP) was established in 2021 under the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP) section of the Federal Farm Bill. $1.8 million dollars was awarded to the ODNR’s Division of Wildlife to recruit landowners interested in allowing hunting access on their property. Annual payments to participating landowners start at $2 per acre for Ag land and increases up to $30/per acre for perineal wildlife cover. The contracts for enrollment last two years, with the possibility of re-enrollment. Enrollment of new land began June 1st and runs through July 15th. Those interested in enrolling their property can visit the Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership page at wildohio.gov to receive more information.

Enrolled lands can be accessed between September and June by those with a free daily access permit. Permits are distributed on a first come, first served basis, and reduce overcrowding on huntable lands. OLHAP permits cannot be obtained earlier than 8:00pm the day before the hunter wishes to use a particular property and permits are valid only from 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on the date listed on the permit. Participating hunters receive a list of rules for the property prior to accessing the land, and landowners receive a notification when hunters will access their property. All hunting activities except white-tailed deer gun hunting are permitted by Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership users. Permits can be obtained at wildohio.gov or on the free HuntFish OH mobile app.   

Call the Madison Soil and Water Conservation District 740-852-4003 and ask for Broc Sehen, Wildlife Specialist, for more information on the OL-HAP program. Check out our website at www.madisonsoilandwater.com for more information about conservation programs available in your area.   

Volunteers gathered at the Prairie Grass Trailhead in June to revitalize the rain garden by planting pollinator plugs. The planting consisted of 618 plugs of native species including Rose Milkweed, Dense Blazing Star, Wild Bergamot, and several others. The plugs were acquired through the Muskingum County SWCD plant sale which occurs annually each spring. The flowers grown will provide much needed habitat and food for local pollinators like bee’s, butterflies, moths, and birds throughout the summer and fall season. If you are interested in promoting pollinators in your community, check out our website at Madisonsoilandwater.com for more information or call our office at 740-852-4003 and ask for Broc Sehen, Wildlife Specialist.

On July 20 at 1:00 p.m. eastern, Dr. Douglas R. Smith from the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory will present findings from research efforts to strengthen cropland conservation and profitability with precision ag technologies. This work, supported by USDA’s Conservation Effects Assessment Project, identifies a linkage between consistently unproductive portions of fields and high hydrological activity. These findings inform management decisions on a USDA research farm to increase profitability and reduce fertilizer runoff by prioritizing high-yield areas for crop production. While the focus of this presentation is on the Blackland Prairie of Texas, farmers across the United States may use the insights shared to strengthen their cropland management efforts.

Registration is not required. Visit the Conservation Outcomes Webinar Series webpage for additional information, including a link to access the live event.

 

Peak Bloom Bicycle Ride Series

Join the Madison SWCD for the Peak Bloom Bicycle Ride Series at the Prairie Grass Trailhead 262 W. High St, London, Ohio on Saturdays June 17th, July 15th, and August 19th starting at 8 am. The 11-mile ride is a leisurely pace with pit stops along the trail to discuss local flora and fauna, history, and conservation practices.  No RSVP needed.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Broc Sehen, District Technician - Wildlife specialist, at 740-852-4004.  

Emma Ryan is the Urban Conservationist and joined Madison SWCD in 2023. Emma is a graduate of Wilmington College with a degree in Agriculture and a minor in Sustainability. Emma is from Spring Valley, Ohio where she took part in 4-H and FFA and found a love for sustainability and soil conservation. While working at Madison SWCD Emma will review and implement Madison County Sediment and Erosion Control Plans and inspect sites to ensure proper management and sediment control practices in urbanizing areas. Emma is excited to increase urban awareness and education for the newly growing capacity of Madison County. 

Background: Enjoying the perks of the military brat lifestyle, Zach moved around the world throughout his childhood. The habit was sustained throughout his adult life, frequently relocating to locations in which there was fun to be had and an opportunity was offered to work on his passion in life: promoting nutrient-dense food production while enhancing the ecology of the soil and reducing pollution.

Education: -B.S. in Natural Resources Management with a focus on Sustainable Agriculture and a minor in Military Science from The Ohio State University with a sprinkling of coursework from Massey University in Auckland, New Zealand

-Masters in Agricultural Education at California Polytechnic State University

Fun fact: Zach competes in Jiu Jistu tournaments as a blue belt. (But he’s secretly still a white belt).

Preston Leonard is a native of Fayette, Mississippi (Jefferson County) and current senior Agricultural Science/General Agriculture major with a concentration in Plant and Soil Science at Alcorn State University. He is a USDA 1890 National Scholar Program recipient which provides full-ride scholarships (tuition, room and board, and book fees) to students from rural or underserved communities around the country.  Upon obtaining his bachelor's degree, Preston will be converted to a Soil Conservationist with USDA NRCS Ohio and began to facilitate the conservation needs of the community’s natural resources. When he isn’t making contributions to conserving the land, Preston can be found enjoying rodeos, hunting, working out, or simply enjoying some family time. Preston is delighted and very excited to be a part of the USDA NRCS Ohio family.

As we enter the summer months, there are many changes noticed outdoors, such as longer days, warmer weather, and a splash of color across the landscape. These changes begin the growing season for many producers and initiate the opening season for farmers markets, farm stands, and more. You may pass by these stands during your daily commute, or the farmers market every week on the way to the grocery store. So why should you stop and check out what local food is available for 

purchase?

First of all, what does local mean? Local in this context has varying definitions based on the individual, organization, or entity that is asked. The USDA, United States Department of Agriculture, for instance, defines local as “a measure distance between food production and consumption that is four hundred miles or less.” 

Eating local has a wide range of benefits through multiple aspects of life. For example, local foods are fresher and higher quality than produce you buy at the grocery store. This is due to the long distances many of the fruits and vegetables have to travel to get to your local grocery store, which often means it is picked before it is ripe. As local foods do not have to travel these distances, they can be harvested at their peak ripeness, which means the produce is healthier and more flavorful. Local foods also promote food safety. As there are fewer processes between the farm and your plate, less hands are on the product, which leads to a smaller chance of contamination.

Eating local also helps to preserve farmland and green space. When you make the choice to support the farmers in your area, you not only contribute to the support of your community’s economy but maintain a positive impact on the environment as well. Farmers rely on the support of their local community to continue to supply fresh food which in turn helps to protect valuable farmland and greenspace.

Another positive aspect that local foods bring to residents includes creating a sense of community. You create a relationship with the person or people who grow and raise your food. Creating these relationships can be very beneficial to you as your most frequented producer can tell you when your favorite berries will be on sale or when the variety of hot peppers you like will be available.

Zachary Rusk, The Soil Conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Madison County says "Local food tastes better and makes me feel alive! There's something delicious about a story behind my food and a connection to the hands and the soil that produced it."

Some resources that would be beneficial to learn more about eating local and finding farmers markets, farm stands, etc. are listed below:

Ohio Food Market Maker - find products and various services across the food system and connect with growers, buyers, processors, and more.

OEFFA's Good Earth Guide  - Find farms in and around Ohio that sell directly to the public through farmers markets, CSAs, farm stands, and more.

Ohio Proud – Ohio Proud helps consumers find food and agricultural products made and grown in Ohio.

 

SWCD Staff

 

Julia Cumming, Program Administrator

Broc Sehen, District Technician

Megan Sweeney, District Technician

Gail Wilson, Operation Coordinator

Emma Ryan, Urban Conservationist

 

NRCS Staff

 

James Tillman, District Conservationist Zach Rusk, Soil Conservationist

Preston Leonard, Student Intern

 

Board of Supervisors

 

Steve Davis, Chairman

Jonathan Francis, Vice Chairman

Bob Hunter, Treasurer

David Junk

Nancy Denes-Sparks

06/30 - Mural Site along Bike Path Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

07/04 - Independence Day Office Closed

07/10- 07/14 - Madison County Fair

07/12 - SWCD Board Meeting

07/15 - Prairie Ride 

08/09 - SWCD Board Meeting

08/19 - August Bloom Ride

 

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.