Photo: Tony and Lyn Martin in front of sunflower field

Every June, the Warren County SWCD Supervisors have the opportunity to choose a farmer that practices good soil health and improving water quality in our community. This year they have chosen Tony and Lynn Martin for the 2025 River Friendly Farmer Award. He will receive his recognition at the Indiana State Fair on August 6th at the 4-H Building on the state fair grounds in Indianapolis. Tony has worked hard to help conserve our natural resources, including but limited to practices such as field borders, filter strips, planting trees, no-till practices, cover crops, limiting mowing during nesting season, participating in research to make the Jordan Creek cleaner. Tony comes from a long line of conservationists in his family. His grandfather, D.L Martin was one of the first five supervisors for Warren County SWCD in 1945.

We provide information about Soil & Water Conservation in the County. Every county in the state of Indiana has a SWCD. We strive to help educate residents and landowners and their families about soil, water, and other natural resource conservation.

We have a lot of information available to share concerning conservation including but not limited to gardening info, forester contacts, seed companies, and mixes on cover crop, waterways, watersheds, no-till farming, and pasture management information.  We have books available to borrow as well. 

If you need a book or some information or volunteer, please feel free to contact the office at 765-764-8047 or email at julie-clark@iaswcd.org

Wow, what a summer so far.  Has it been great for you too?  It feels like we actually had a proper spring this year.  Summer has always been my favorite season.

The district has many of events planned for this quarter, some of which are still in the planning stages.  Keep an eye on our website for details and registration availability.

            Even though school starts on August 5th for Warren County, there is still a lot of summertime to happen. There is a lot of the growing season left for the gardeners, growers, and farmers. 

            The picture above is of Fred and me during our recent trip to Tennessee.  We were blessed to witness a great couple getting married on our anniversary date. I am so blessed in this season of my life and to be around so many great people!

            Let’s talk about seasons for a minute.  There are many seasons in life that we experience.  Growing up, my view of seasons was different from what it is now.  We still have the typical seasons of spring, summer, fall and winter.  But we also experience other seasons such as planting, mowing, gardening, harvest, hunting and trapping seasons. Life has its seasons too- seasons for joy, sadness, grief, calmness, reflection, among others.  These are not just feelings or moods; they are true seasons in our lives. 

I ask you: What season are you going through and how about those around you?  How can you encourage someone else facing a tough season?  Sometimes you don’t have to do much, just be present and offer kindness.  It can be all it takes for one person.  Some people will never know the touch of a friend or know the power that kindness and love hold.  Love wins every time!  

Victor Shelton is a retired Agronomist/Grazing Specialist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). He continues to write Grazing Bites in his spare time from his property in southwest Indiana. 

We are continuing with the FLASH Group for gardens and orchards education outreach!  This means if you have a garden, you are going to be putting in a garden or orchard that is going to produce fruits and vegetables for human consumption, we can provide you with a free-soil sample. 

The benefits of having a soil test in your potential or already established plots would be to know what is in your soil and what is going to help your produce for growth.  The soil test would tell you how much nitrogen, magnesium, potash, potassium, calcium, saturation, pH and organic matter you have in your soil.  It will also give you recommendations of what fertilizers are needed to amend your soil for garden plants, according to A&L Greatlakes Laboratories. 

We, as SWCD can offer technical advice on the common names, easier methods to amend your soil, as well as what to plant and where.  We offer resources such as rain barrel system information, irrigation system information, high & low tunnel information, rain gardens, beehives, bee keeping information, native species listings, as well as a variety of other information available, all upon request. 

Schedule your free garden or orchard soil test sample with either Lori Jordan at the Covington USDA Service Center at 765-793-2764 Ext 3 or Julie Clark at the Williamsport USDA Service Center at 765-764-8047

Do you know a farmer that is trying to conserve their soil and water resources?  We are looking for recommendations for River Friendly Farmer nominations. If you know a landowner and farmer that is trying to improve and conserve the soil and water, feel free to submit a nomination for them using the link below.

We are allowed to nominate 2 per year for state recognition at the Indiana State Fair. Feel free to click on the link above for the google form to submit nominations. Your nominations will be reviewed by the board of supervisors in the May board meeting.

Calling all groups that require volunteer hours!

Parks Programs, FFA, NHS, FCA, 4-H, Junior Leaders, Master Gardeners and anyone else

Do you need volunteer hours for any of your organizations you belong to?  Volunteering looks great on college applications.  Some even require it for acceptance into college.  There are always places and people who need some assistance of various kinds and can’t afford to pay labor costs.  Most churches, park programs, concession stands, various businesses, non-profit organizations are a huge one that needs a lot of volunteers.

There are several churches in our small county as well as non-profit organizations like A Better Way Co-Op which is connected to Bundles of Blessings-a diaper program for parents in Warren, Benton, and Fountain Counties.  Businesses like the SWCD can use volunteers as well, if not here, then for the Benton County SWCD as well.  There are health benefits to volunteering as well.  The more social a person can be, the longer they can live, or at least your quality of life will improve.   

To be kind to one another, to do for others instead of ourselves, to enjoy each day as it was our last.  Volunteering helps with all those attitudes in this life. 

August 1-17, 2025

Make sure to visit the Pathway to Water Quality exhibit and get a fresh glass of water from a well.

July 31 ---- FSA is accepting offers for Continuous CRP through July 31, 2025.  Offer acceptance is subject to availability of acres.

August 1 ---- Last day to file County Committee Nomination forms.

August 1 ---- Deadline to Request farm reconstitutions and transfers for 2025.

August 15 ---- Deadline for producers to submit applications for ECAP.

September 1 ---- Labor Day Holiday. USDA Service Center is Closed.

Ongoing – Submit an Application for a Farm Storage Facility Loan

Continuous - Submit an Application for FSA Farm Loans

Continuous - Signup for Local County Office FSA Text Alerts - Text Your Service Center Keyword INWARREN to FSANOW (372-669)

Continuous – Sign up for GovDelivery Newsletters, Bulletins and Indiana Press Releases (Subscribe to USDA Emails for Farmers | Farmers.gov)

Hunting and Trapping Dates for 2025-2026

March 1-June 15 and December 1-February 28- Dormant/Frost Seeding dates for Warm Season Native Habitat Plantings