Ne Regional Hub Team Teleconference s1

03.18.15 HUB TELECONFERENCE NOTES NE REGIONAL HUB TEAM TELECONFERENCE March 18, 2015

Present: Lisa Holscher, IASWCD / CCSI Meg Leader, ISDA Andrea Baker, Kosciusko SWCD Michael ODonnel, Purdue Extension, Delaware County Dave Lefforge, ISDA

Notes by: Lisa Holscher  Sampling o 2015 Protocols will be going out as soon as they are reviewed by Eileen Kladivko. MAY add additional depths to Basic Fertility and Soil Health Measurements to work with Brad Joern on his research. (Joern’s project will focus on the use of cover crops, notill, and manure/compost on highly disturbed lands. CCSI sites can be used as a comparison) o Supplies will be shipped out. May group some site supplies at Wabash SWCD o Shipping labels will be emailed close to each sampling run. o The location of the NE thermometer distributed at Dec ’14 Annual Meeting is unknown. Dave L. to recheck his truck. Lisa H. to recheck with Barry Fisher. o Jamie Scott plots . Had not been taking soil moisture. Suggested that Andrea B. talk to Susi Stephan at Wabash SWCD re using scale. o Werling . Cover crop = cereal rye. Dave L. to confirm . 2015 crop = soybeans. Dave L. to confirm

 Engagement o General engagement in the NE region is low. Attendance at the IASWCD Regional Meeting was extremely low. Advanced Cover Crops registrations are also very low. May want to recheck distribution flow – information may not be reaching staff? o District Supervisors . IASWCD Regional Meetings used to be called “Supervisor Workshops”. Got together about 2x/year and had speakers on topics like how to be better leaders. . It might make sense to extend invitations for Supervisor Trainings/IASWCD Regional Meetings to Purdue Extension – for better engagement of superfisors. . Follow-up on Blackford SWCD trip to Mike Werlings – seems like they are putting out a cover crop plot. Perhaps that one-on-one type meeting is a good way forward.

 Workshops o Ray Archuleta . Julie Harrold on lead for NE event. . Will try to target CCA engagement.  Will offer CEUs and CCH  If CCA board will help identify, might be more efficient at connecting with local CCAs . UPDATE – Tony Bailey and Shannon Zezula, NRCS, are working with Purdue to have Archuleta at the Nidlinger stop on the Farm Management Tour. This would reach a whole audience that is currently untapped. o Ray Weil . Location – Nidlinger? August 19th . Suggested Speakers/Topics  Ray Weil – inside and also in soil pit 03.18.15 HUB TELECONFERENCE NOTES  Barry Fisher – focus on practical application of soil health systems for NE  Farmer Panel – Their experiences in adopting soil health practices and systems – the good AND the bad. Need suggestions for Farmer Panel o Educator Workshops . STRONG interest from groups and individuals across the state to develop lesson plans supporting soil health demonstrations – Current Teachers, NRCS staff, SWCS members, ISDA FFA liason, Extension, SARE (on even a more national basis). Coordinating and harnessing the energy will be a challenge – will need individuals to:  Provide guidance – making sure content is consistent and appropriate  Reality checks – that products are useable.  Coordinate with existing ag and science education programs at Purdue, w/ FFA, HISTA, 4H, etc. o Other Events . Jamie Scott Field Day – April 4th . Small Farm Conference – Recently held. Of all the tracks, the single highest attendance was at the cover crops + soil health presented by Dan Perkins.

NEXT TELECONFERENCE – April 15th 03.18.15 HUB TELECONFERENCE NOTES  High Tunnels (Dan Perkins via email)  Jasper area is willing to host, be sites  Tour bus workshop.  March-April-May or July timeframe or Sept-Oct to early November  We have two or three farms we could visit over the course of morning or afternoon. o One Day Event – Morning ICP folks, afternoon farmers . Two site visit, tour, talk in Morning . Lunch . Same two sites in afternoon Or  Suggest two day event o First day ICP training and open to farmers o Second day Farmer focus o Longer time at each site, maybe start with classroom session

NEXT Teleconference – Needs to be adjusted (April 8 = Advanced Cover Crops Training) 03.18.15 HUB TELECONFERENCE NOTES

High School Soil Health Day 03.18.15 HUB TELECONFERENCE NOTES Friday, February 20, 2015

Where: Mike Brocksmith Farm 678 S. Hickory Corner Road Vincennes, IN 47591

Agenda:

8:30 – 9:00 Registration 9:00 – 9:15 Welcome, What is Soil Health? 9:15 to 11:15 Hands on Activities 11:15 to 11:30 Soil Health Essentials 11:30 to 12:00 Move to VU 12:00 Free Lunch in Tecumseh Dining Center 12:45 VU Admissions 1:15 Tour VU – Meet Faculty 2:00 Return to School*

Sponsored by: VU’s Agribusiness Program NRCS, Soil Health Team

*Mileage will be reimbursed once an invoice is submitted with mileage.