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McLean County SWCD NEWS

The McLean County Soil and Water Conservation District proudly preserves McLean County's most valuable resources. 

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The SWCD and NRCS are appointment only. Contact the office at 309-452-3848 ext 3
Save the Dates

2021 McLean County Plat Books Available!
Plat Books are $35 Cash/Check or $40 Credit. Add $5 per plat book for shipping

New Fish Structures Available for Purchase
Read below for more details


Orange Marking Flags Available
Orange marking flags are available in bundles of 100 for $12.00 per bundle.
Contact our office to purchase.
-Become an SWCD Newsletter Sponsor-
For $150 you will be included on our SWCD website, monthly E-newsletter, and bi-annual 1600 person newsletter. To sponsor, include a $150 check to McLean County SWCD and your business card. 
McLean County Conservationist of the Year
Mike Steffa named Conservationist of the Year!
 
Congratulations to Mike Steffa for being awarded the 2021  McLean County Conservationist of the Year! Mike has served our community for 33 years as supervisor, park police and now Park Director at Comlara Park. The Park offers roughly 1900 acres of recreation, including 10 miles of hiking and biking trails, 900 acres of surface area for boating and fishing, camping, hunting, photography, and swimming. In the last 8 years Mike has successfully planted more than 5,000 trees including Dunstan Chestnuts, Illinois Pecan, White Oak, Bur Oak, and Swamp White Oak throughout the park. Enhancing and converting the invasive areas to incorporate these important species to generate high quality habitat and community enjoyment. Mike, his wife Leanne and two children live in Lexington, IL. Mike can be found volunteering for the Friends of Everbloom and is the coach of the Lexington High School Bass Fishing Team. He was sportsmen of the year in 20021 and remains an active volunteer for the McLean County Sportsmen Club. Thank you, Mike Steffa for your service to our precious land and water resources. 
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas from The McLean County SWCD Board and Staff! 

Looking for some stocking stuffers? We have the 2021 Plat Books and Porcupine Fish Attractors Available! See more details below to purchase. 
2021 Plat Books On Sale
The McLean County Soil and Water Conservation District offers the 2021 McLean County Plat Book for purchase. Plat Books are $35 Cash or Check or $40 by Credit Card. Contact our Office at 309-452-3848 ext 3 to purchase.

Fish Structures Available

Porcupine Fish Attractors For Sale
$60 each or two for $100

Order Deadline: December 16th,2021
Orders can be placed and scheduled for pick-up by contacting Brett Irwin 309-452-3848 ext 3
Attractors include everything needed to assemble

Porcupine Fish Attractors improve spawning habitat while providing valuable structure for all species of fish in all size lakes. From farm ponds to big reservoirs these fish attractors help anglers biologists and professional lake management companies enhance quantity and quality. Used by professional guides tournament anglers and more to attract fish to specific locations. Works great around piers boathouses docks or main lake creek channels and flats. Designed to help you catch fish without losing hooks or lures!

Easily assembled and installed. Stays put. Shows up good on LCR and flasher sonar units. Mark your spots with GPS or landmarks for both night and ice fishing trips. Fish relate to them quickly as algae and plankton form to attract baitfish luring larger fish to their locale. Provides refuge and shade to young fish too increasing survival rates. Make great fishing spots out of unproductive waters. Doesn't deteriorate when submerged. Environmentally friendly.

4% Fee for Credit Cards, shipping not available

Welcome Pam Hogue!

McLean County welcomes our newest Soil Conservationist to the Normal USDA Service Center, Pam Hogue!  Pam was born and raised in Indiana. While attending Purdue University, Pam gravitated toward the agricultural sciences and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Soil and Crop Management. She worked several years for a non- profit organization dealing with seed quality and purity. For the past eleven years, she has worked as a substitute teacher for grades K-2 and more recently, as a teaching assistant in special education. Soil Conservationists at the Natural Resources Conservation Service are line officers who plan the application of total resource management systems and provide conservation planning assistance from initial evaluation to completion.
EQIP Funding Pool Available in the Clinton Lake and Lake Bloomington Sub-Watersheds

____________________________________________________________________
Champaign IL, November 16, 2021
— State Conservationist Ivan Dozier announced the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will offer funding for the following Landscape Initiatives throughout the state: the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI), and the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI). Producers who have agricultural land in an Initiative project area can apply for assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to implement a range of conservation practices that will improve water quality and decrease soil erosion.

Financial assistance will be available to producers whose land is located in the watersheds listed below. While applications are accepted throughout the year, interested producers should submit a signed application (NRCS-CPA-1200 form) to the local NRCS field office, or through the Farmers.gov website using their account, by the deadline of January 7, 2022, to ensure their application is considered for 2022 funding. A blank NRCS-CPA-1200 application form may be obtained from the local office or on the Illinois NRCS website. Producers wishing to use Farmers.gov, can sign in or create an account by clicking on “Sign up” in the upper right of the website.

To see if you are eligible to participate in the program, producers should contact their local NRCS field office or visit the Illinois NRCS website at www.il.nrcs.usda.gov.

Cover Crop Program Sign-up Dec. 15

Farmers can apply for Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) Fall Covers for Spring Savings Cover Crop Premium Discount Program starting at 8 a.m. Dec. 15, according to Agriculture Director Jerry Costello II. The 2022 acreage limit was doubled to 100,000 acres compared to the 50,000-acre cap for 2021.
Link to Full Article Here
Invasive Species ID

Johnsongrass
Sorghum halepense

Sorghum halepense is adapted to a wide variety of habitats including open forests, old fields, ditches and wetlands. It spreads aggressively and can form dense colonies which displace native vegetation and restrict tree seedling establishment. Sorghum halepense has naturalized throughout the world, but it is thought to be native to the Mediterranean region. It was first introduced into the United States in the early 1800s as a forage crop.

To control this invasive species, learn more by: Clicking Here 

Learn more by: Clicking Here
CRP Guidelines for Fall Harvest
Landowner Reminder
As a reminder, the Conservation Reserve Program has various standards required to sustain wildlife habitat standards. These areas must be avoided to load auger carts, semis, and wagons during harvest. Additionally CRP acres are not permitted to have lime stock piling, round bale storage, or equipment storage. The purpose of the Conservation Reserve Program is for wildlife habitat preservation. 
Do you Plan to Burn your CRP?
Inquire about your CRP Burn Plans and Permit Applications for Mid Contract Management. Contact Brodie Eddington, Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologist in our office. 

Email: beddington@pheasantsforever.org
Phone: 309-452-3848 ext 3
McLean County Contractors List
Click Here for Contractors
McLean County contractors can provide conservation services to you for the installation of practices and programs. For a full list of contractors and their services, click the below link. If you would like to be added to our contractors list. Please return the below application to our office at 402 N Kays Drive, Normal IL 61761
Become a McLean County Contractor
Timber Management Resources
Before You Agree to a Timber Harvest

Selective timber harvesting is an important woodland health practice to promote native species and wildlife habitat. Professional consulting foresters are available to assist woodland owners with a variety of forestry-specific needs: Forest Management Plans, Timber Sales, and Wildlife Habitat Projects; and management plan implementation practices such as Crop Tree Release / Timber Stand Improvement, Invasive Species Control, Prescribed Fire, Pruning, and Tree Planting. The University of Illinois Extension Forestry has an incredible website to connect landowners with consulting foresters, woodland information and other resource professionals. 

Learn More and Locate a Consulting Forrester HERE 
McLean County Pheasants Forever Drills

The McLean County Pheasants Forever chapter has made three Truax Drills available for wildlife habitat installation in McLean County. These drills were purchased in cooperation with Illinois DNR through Habitat Stamp funds purchased by Illinois Hunters. Reporting of seeding is required to maintain records of habitat installed. The Drills are located at the SWCD office for rental. 

Rental Agreement Details: Checks made payable to: Pheasants Forever

  • $250 Security Deposit (Returned when equipment is returned in good working order. **Operable and Clean) Drill inspection is made by Resource Conservationist, and must be dropped off with the employee present.
  • $50 per Business Day Cost. (Planter to be picked up and returned on same day. If not, an additional $50 charge for each day utilized.
  • $100 per Business Day Cost for Waterway Seedings

Equipment Requirements/Specifications

Learn how to calibrate the Drill for the Correct Seeding Rate Per Acre

- Minimum 50 Horsepower Tractor
- Drill has Pioneer ends and 2 hydraulic Lines for raising/lowering
- A truck with a hitch pin needed for transport (45mph max speed)
- Drill is pulled with a tow bar
- Drill is 8 feet wide and does 5 feet of planting
- The three seed boxes are capable of planting native seed mixes, pollinator habitat, food plots, and cool season plantings.
Reduced Property Tax Assessments

Under the state of IL Vegetative Filter Strip Assessment Law. Contact the office for application. The Vegetative Filter Strip Assessment Law provides for a reduction in the assessed value of cropland certified as meeting the requirements of the law to 1/6th of its productivity index equalized assessed value as cropland. Please contact our office to request an application, or email brett.irwin@il.nacdnet.net . 

Public Act 89-606
 
CRP Practices outside of the Filter Strip practice also may qualify. Provide your CRP Contract, FSA Map, and Parcel Number to the McLean County Tax Assessors Office. 
SWCD SPONSORS

-OUR POLICY-

The McLean County Soil and Water Conservation District does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status or disability. This policy covers all programs, services and procedures of the District, including employment. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
 

-SWCD BOARD MEETINGS-

SWCD board meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at our office. Contact our office for changes and details.

Our mailing address:
402 N Kays Drive Normal Illinois 61761
309-452-3848 ext 3
mcleancountyswcd@gmail.com

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McLean County Soil & Water Conservation District · 402 Kays Dr · Normal, IL 61761-2286 · USA

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