S ALCHA - D ELTA S OIL & W ATER C ONSERVATION D ISTRICT VOLUME 33,ISSUE 2 2ND QUARTER 2013 DATES TO REMEMBER May 27 WELL WATER TESTING CLINIC—JUNE 3-5 Memorial Day, Office Closed When is the last time you had your water testing kit includes a test for June 1 household well water tested? It’s likely arsenic, coliform, and nitrates+nitrites, Well-water Testing Kits that the majority of homeowners have along with easy-to-follow sampling available during Friendly never tested their household drinking instructions. Frontier Days, Sullivan Roadhouse area water. Drinking water can contain Following collection, samples can be contaminants that are invisible to the June 3, 4, 5 dropped off at the District office. The Well-water kits available, naked eye and harmful to human health. District will cover the cost of delivery samples due by 12:30 pm at Arsenic is a highly toxic contaminant to the lab for analysis. Results will then SWCD office and can occur naturally. It is a hazardous be mailed from the testing laboratory June 4 material and a possible carcinogen. to both the homeowner and District Board Meeting, 8:30 am Coliform bacteria are an indicator of office. July 2 the presence of fecal contamination. We are offering this Board Meeting, 8:30 am These bacteria can present a very serious kit at a reduced July 4 health risk that can cause illness and rate. For a District Independence Day, Office could signal a threat to your drinking cooperator (a pro- Closed water supply. ducer of renewable August 6 Nitrates+nitrites, over a relatively short resources and Board Meeting, 8:30 am following a con- period of time, can be very dangerous, Board meetings are usually causing serious illness to infants. Excess servation plan), scheduled for the first nitrates+nitrites could result from over- the cost is $60. Tuesday of every month at use of fertilizers (organic or synthetic), For all other homeowners, the cost is 8:30 am in the Jarvis Building $90. The regular price for this kit is conference room. confined livestock feeding and composting areas, failing septic systems or inadequate $140 plus cost of shipping. Payment in dilution or separation between the septic full will be due at time of pick up. system and the well. The risk of Although the kits can be picked up any nitrate+nitrite contamination is greater time from 8am to 4pm during the set on sandy/gravely soils with shallow clinic dates, homeowners are cautioned water tables (less than 30 feet). Other to return collected samples to the INSIDE THIS ISSUE areas at risk include: drip irrigation District office the same day samples systems, without an anti-siphoning were collected to ensure quality samples Farm Forum 2013 2 valve, uncased wells, wells without a are submitted on time to the lab for FFA State Convention 3 bentonite seal around the casing, and analysis. For instance, if the water Garden Slayers 4, 5 unsealed wells that are not in use. samples were taken on June 4, they The Salcha-Delta Soil and Water would need to be brought to the District 64 N Restoration 6 Conservation District is hosting a Well- office by 12:30 pm of the same day. FSWCD Tree Sale 6 Safe water testing clinic the first week If you have any questions, please contact CES Classes 7 in June for homeowners within the Meghan Lene at the District office at District boundaries. Kits can be picked up 895-6279. and returned at the District office on By Meghan Lene rd th th the 3 , 4 and 5 of June. A Well-Safe Agricultural Specialist VOLUME 33, ISSUE 1 CONSERVATION CORNER P A G E 2 36TH ANNUAL FARM FORUM HELD FEBRUARY 23, 2013 On one of the rare warmer days of this past winter, talked about his farming experience in Delta. th the 36 Annual Farm Forum, co-sponsored by the After lunch, students from the local Delta FFA chapter UAF Cooperative Extension Service and the Salcha- talked about what projects they are involved in and Delta Soil & Water Conservation District, was held at presented a slideshow about their recent trip to the the Delta High School. Despite the numerous activities National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. As a special about town that weekend, the Forum brought in about addition, FFA student, Hailey McNabb, gave a moving 110 attendees to listen to the presentations, browse recitation of the FFA creed, while a musical rendition vendors’ displays, and enjoy the delicious potluck of “America the Beautiful” and a slideshow of farm luncheon. scenery played in the background. This year’s topic line-up was mostly geared towards Johanna Herron from the Division of Agriculture local farming and food production, with both local talked about the “Farm-to-School” program and the and visiting speakers. After Deputy Commissioner of the “Nutritional Alaskan Foods in Schools” grant. Alaska Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Ed Fogels, Farmer Co-op manager, Zach Knight, brought everyone gave the welcoming speech, Bryce Wrigley, owner and up-to-date on the status of the Co-op. Lastly, Francois operator of the Alaska Flour Company, started the first Vecchio, a Salumiere, Charcutier and Wurstmeister presentation of the day by talking about the status of from Palmer, captivated the audience with artisan the flour mill market and discussed food security sausage making and how artisan food development issues in Alaska. Next up was Mike Stephens, the could be an important part of the Alaskan food market. new Soil Conservationist at the Delta NRCS field office, who discussed what programs were available The Cooperative Extension Service and Salcha-Delta and recent updates affecting producers. Dave Roberts, Soil and Water Conservation District would like to owner of Alaska Gourmet Cookies, then spoke about give a big thank you to all who donated their financial the company’s cookie manufacturing process. support, door prizes, food, and time to make the Farm Forum a success. A special thank you goes to Carol Right before lunch, Rex Wrigley, Board Chairman of McNabb and the Friends of Delta Ag, who put in a the Salcha-Delta Soil and Water Conservation District, superb effort with the luncheon. The Farm Forum gave a short introduction before the District’s video wouldn’t be the same without them! presentation of project highlights from 2012. After the video, Mr. Wrigley introduced John Robinson of Till next year’s Farm Forum comes around, please Robinson Farms as the 2012 Cooperator of the Year and submit any suggestions and ideas about topics and presented Robinson Farms with the Salcha-Delta SWCD improvements to the CES office at 895-4215 or the 2012 Cooperator of the Year sign. Mr. Robinson shared SWCD at 895-6279. a presentation about his family’s farm production and By Violeta Vorobyov Administrative Assistant Bottom left corner—Rex Wrigley, left, presented the 2012 Cooperator of the Year sign to John Robinson, right. Bottom middle—FFA Delta Chapter president Kristof W., far right, introduced his fellow FFA members, l-r: Keldrake W., Josh C., Shelby F., Hailey M., and DeeDee W. Bottom right corner—Francois Vecchio spoke about artisan sausage making. VOLUME 33, ISSUE 1 CONSERVATION CORNER P A G E 3 2013 ALASKA FFA STATE CONVENTION Alaska FFA members from across the state gathered at the 37th Annual State FFA Convention held April 24-27th in Fairbanks. Approximately 100 members and guests from North Pole, Delta Junction, Effie Kokrine Charter School, Kodiak, Palmer, Homer, and Midnight Sun chapters attended the convention. Students competed in career development events, such as floriculture, agricultural mechanics, prepared and extemporaneous speaking, veterinary science, and job interviews. Participants also competed in the Alaska Envirothon at Chena Lakes. During the Envirothon, students tested their knowledge about soils, wildlife, aquatics, forestry, and other environmental topics. Above, r-l—Carol McNabb, FFA advisor; Kristof Webb; Tammie Kovalenko, FFA advisor and receiver of Best Advisor Students also had the opportunity to attend work- Award and Honorary State Degree; Hailey McNabb; shops directed by National FFA Southern Region DeeDee Webb; Amelia Davis; and Shelby Fisher. Vice-President Wiley Bailey and SE District Vice- President Easton Lovelace, the 2010-2011 Iowa Officer Convention this fall. Miss Fisher also received her Team. Both Bailey and Lovelace travel throughout State FFA Degree and was voted in by the Alaska FFA the country leading personal growth and leadership Association as vice-president of the Alaska State FFA training seminars for FFA members. Association. The Delta Junction FFA Chapter is excited to announce Chapter members Hailey McNabb and Kristof Webb, that, for the second year in a row, a Delta Junction brought home state honors in the Creed Speaking FFA member was awarded the highest award in FFA. and Job Interview events, respectively. Miss McNabb The “State Star Farmer Award” was bestowed on placed first in Creed (a creed is a statement of belief). Shelby Fisher. Star awards are chosen based on out- The FFA Creed is one of the longest-standing traditions standing achievement in a Supervised Agricultural of the organization, and was written by Erwin Milton Experience (SAE), active participation in FFA, and “E.M.” Tiffany of Wisconsin in 1930. Only high school leadership experiences. Each year, Alaska FFA freshman may compete in this career development selects one member from all the award categories and event. Miss McNabb will be going on to represent from the top applicants. This winner, including Shelby Alaska at the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Fisher for this year, will then go on to represent Kentucky this coming October, where she will Alaska for the national title at the National FFA compete against students from fifty-one other states and territories.