Phone: (607) 756-5991 Fax: (607) 756-0029 N E W S L E T T E R winter 2015 * SWCD...established to promote the conservation and wise use of our county s natural resources IN THIS ISSUE: Soils Remapping 1 Upcoming SWCD Events 1 District & Partner Reminders 2 Tree/Shrub Order Form 3-6 SWCD Staff & Board News 7 Calendar of Events 8 Spruce Up America (SUPA) Spruce Up America is a tree planting program that encourages collaboration between schools and community groups or civic organizations. Projects completed through the program must be a cooperative effort. Together, these groups develop a planting plan and submit an application to the Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). Approved projects receive free planting stock & guidance through SWCD. All projects must take place on community property and must provide a public benefit. Rural Landowner Workshop: This spring we are organizing a workshop on Saturday, March 21st. Possible topics include composting, beekeeping and/or fruit tree management. Please check our website or contact us for more information at (607)756-5991. Cortland County Soils Remapped Are you aware that the soils in Cortland County have been remapped? The United States Department of Agriculture s (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently completed and released an updated Soil Survey of Cortland County. Soils survey information is utilized regularly by conservation professionals, community planners, urban development, engineers, health departments, and agricultural producers just to name a few. With recent mapping some common soil types have been re-named, combined, eliminated, etc. "The existing soil survey was very good, but was outdated and focused primarily on agricultural interpretations," said Eugene Wright, SWCD Board Chairman. NRCS soil scientists performed the work of updating the soil survey. The previous soil survey was based on older formats that were not designed for the current diverse range of applications now required of soil survey information. In all, thousands of modifications were made to the spatial and attribute data, resulting in a more accurate soil map as well as soil interpretations that are more diverse and reliable. Soil survey information for Cortland County is available from or can be found on the Web Soil Survey, an interactive web service where individuals can define an area of interest and generate a soil map at http:// websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov. SWCD staff can still provide technical and interpretive assistance. Feel free to contact SWCD with soils or general mapping requests. Spring Fish Sale Cortland SWCD s spring fish sale for pond stocking is scheduled for Saturday, May 16th, 2015 at the Cortland SWCD office. Like last year, we will be offering the following varieties of fish: rainbow trout, largemouth bass, channel catfish, yellow perch, grass carp and fathead minnows. The order form and pricing information will be available soon so please check our website or feel free to give us a call for more information.
Page 2 Soil Group Worksheets Landowners filing for an agricultural assessment in 2015 must file applications with their local assessor by March 1 st. To complete an application landowners must have a Soil Group Worksheet (SGW) prepared by the SWCD for each tax parcel they intend to enroll. Landowners who have previously had a worksheet completed for a tax parcel do not need a new one unless ownership, parcel acreage or land use has changed. Landowners participating in the program for the first time, or those who need a revised worksheet, should make an appointment with our office before Friday, February 20th. When making the appointment, have the tax map number, location, and acreage for each parcel available. This information can be found on the most recent tax bill. A fee of $50.00 will be charged for each worksheet and an additional $3 if you would like them mailed. USDA Update The Agricultural Act of 2014 (the Act), also known as the 2014 Farm Bill, was signed by President Obama on Feb. 7, 2014. The Act repeals certain programs, continues some programs with modifications, and authorizes several new programs administered by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA). Most of these programs are authorized and funded through 2018. NRCS Programs (continuous sign-up) Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) - Financial and technical assistance for agricultural land easements (formally the Grassland Reserve Program and the Farm and Ranch Land Protection Programs) and wetland easements (formally the Wetlands Reserve Program) Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA) - Financial and technical assistance for microirrigation systems Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Helps agricultural producers maintain and improve existing conservation systems and adopt additional conservation activities to address priority resource concerns Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) - Financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to address natural resource concerns Focus Areas include: Livestock Waste, Grazing, Forestry, Wildlife Habitat, Organic, Ag-Energy and Seasonal High Tunnels FSA Programs For the latest on 2014 Farm Bill programs administered by FSA, visit the Farm Bill website at www.fsa.usda.gov/farmbill and for FSA program overview read the FSA Farm Bill Fact Sheet titled, What s in the 2014 Farm Bill for Farm Service Agency Customers? For more information on USDA, please contact the local Service Center at 1 North Main Street in Cortland or visit us online at www.nrcs.usda.gov or www.fsa.usda.gov. Notice About Agricultural Grant Funding The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets just announced a Request for Proposals for the Agricultural Nonpoint Source (Ag NPS) Abatement and Control Program. SWCD is developing a timeline but will likely set a mid- February deadline for contacting us. Interested applicants must submit a written request for assistance to the SWCD office as soon as possible to apply. Producers must also meet prerequisites which include having an updated AEM Tier 3A plan. This grant program supports Cortland County s Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) Strategic Plan by funding planning and implementation practices. Twelve million dollars was made available through this round of funding to protect soils and waterways in New York State.
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Page 7 SWCD Staff & Board News Emily Walters began working as a Conservation Aide in July 2014. As a 2013 graduate of the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, the position opened a door of opportunities to practice field skills and organize outreach activities for the SWCD. She successfully coordinated Conservation Field Days, catering to all of the sixth graders in the County, and in the fall organized the Annual River Clean Up reaching out to community members to improve their environment. You may have seen some of her articles in the Cortland Standard every Monday, discussing conservation and environmental topics. Emily continues to assist SWCD with programs and is currently working on outreach activities in the Upper Susquehanna watershed, including the Upper Susquehanna Coalition website. Cortland County SWCD would like to thank Patrick Snyder Esq. for his 23 years of service as Member at Large on the SWCD Board of Directors. Pat continues to assist our local communities and is still active as an attorney and engineer. We would also like to welcome John Merriman to our board. John Merriman was formerly a Deputy Regional Permit Administrator for the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation in Region 7 and is familiar with the role of SWCD. John is a long time resident of Cortland County and has previously served on the Lime Hollow Nature Center Board of Directors. NYS DEC Winter Wild Turkey Flock Survey The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is looking for landowners to help with a large-scale study of wild turkey movements, survival, and harvest. DEC has begun the third year of a four-year study in which wild turkey hens (female turkeys) will be captured and fitted with leg bands. The objective of the banding study is to examine harvest rates, survival rates, and movements of hens. All work is done by DEC personnel on public and private lands from January through March. SERVICES AGRICULTURAL LAND CONSERVATION CONSERVATION EDUCATION FISH STOCKING PROGRAM HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE LIVING SNOW FENCE SEEDLING PROGRAMS SITE PLAN REVIEWS SOIL GROUP WORKSHEETS SOILS INFORMATION STREAM DISTURBANCE PERMIT ASSISTANCE STREAM STABILIZATION ASSISTANCE URBAN CONSERVATION WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND MUCH MORE CONTACT OUR OFFICE FOR MORE INFORMATION DEC seeks landowners in DEC Regions 3 through 9 who would be interested in allowing birds to be trapped on their land, as well as alerting project coordinators when they see turkeys on their property. DEC would appreciate reports from landowners, hunters, birdwatchers or others about winter turkey flock locations anywhere in New York State. Observations of turkey flocks (of even a few birds) during January through March can be reported to the project coordinator for your region. For more information on this project please contact Michael Schiavone at (518)402-8886.
Cortland County SWCD 100 Grange Place, Rm. 204 Cortland, N.Y. 13045 Phone: (607)756-5991 Non Profit Org. US Postage PAID Permit #28 Homer, NY 13077 *2015 Tree & Shrub Order Form Enclosed* ALL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OF CORTLAND COUNTY SWCD AND USDA ARE OFFERED ON A NONDISCRIMINATORY BASIS WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, RELIGION, SEX, AGE, MARITAL STATUS, OR DISABILITY. CORTLAND COUNTY SWCD AND USDA ARE EQUAL OPPOR- TUNITY PROVIDERS AND EMPLOYERS. Board of Directors: Donnell Boyden - Treasurer Tracey Evanick - Vice Chair John Merriman Member at Large Charles Subdrink Legislator Eugene Wright - Chairman SWCD Staff: Amanda Barber - District Manager Ronald Bush - Natural Resource Conservationist Bethany Bzduch - Natural Resource Conservationist Lauren Lyons-Swift - Natural Resource Conservationist Barbara Miner - Fiscal Officer Shawn Murphy - Natural Resource Conservationist Jared Popoli - Conservation Assistant Patrick Reidy - Water Quality Specialist Stacy Russell - Natural Resource Program Specialist Russell Smith - Natural Resource Conservationist Emily Walters - Conservation Aide Calendar 2/10/15 Board Meeting 2/16/15 Office Closed for President s Day 2/26-28 NYS Farm Show Syracuse 3/01/15 Deadline for filing Agricultural Assessment 3/10/15 Board Meeting (subject to change) 3/10-13 Water Quality Symposium 3/21-22 Marathon Maple Festival 4/03/15 Deadline for Tree Order Forms 4/14/15 Board Meeting 4/22/15 Earth Day 4/23/15 Tree Pick-up Cortland County Fairgrounds 4/24/15 Arbor Day 5/16/15 Spring Fish Sale Pickup 5/25/15 Office Closed for Memorial Day 5/27-28 NYS Envirothon Hobart & William Smith 6/06/15 Water Festival 7/03/15 Office Closed for Independence Day The Cortland County Soil & Water Conservation District is online. You can find us at www.cortlandswcd.org. Right now you will find copies of the Tree and Shrub order form, an electronic copy of our newsletter, fish sale information and other natural resource programs.