WINTER 2015 EDITION

Crossroads www.sussexconservation.org

2014 TAX DITCH OFFICER’S BREAKFAST

Sussex Conservation District
23818 Shortly Road The Sussex Conservation District held its bi-
Georgetown, Delaware 19947
annual Tax Ditch Officer’s Breakfast at Frankford
Administration
856-2105
Fire Hall on December 3, 2014. There were over
90 people in attendance. Laura Beck from the
Conservation Planning
856-3990, ext. 3
Office of Auditor of Accounts gave a presenta-
tion to the tax ditch officers in attendance,
Equipment/Billing
856-2105
stressing the importance of financial control on
tax ditches. David Baird, SCD District Coordina-
Stormwater Management
856-7219
tor and Bryan Jones, SCD Water Resource Plan-
ner gave a presentation entitled “Incorporating
Soil Health and Water Quality BMPs into Tax
Mark Your Calendars
Ditch Maintenance.” Both presentations were
Board of Supervisors Meeting well received yielding lots of great questions by
Sussex County Admin. Bldg.
March 10, 2015 the tax ditch officers in attendance.
9:00 a.m.
SCD Board Chairman, Joel Wharton and
SCD District Coordinator, David Baird
In addition to the presentations, the Tax Ditch
Farm Field Day
present Allen Messick of Bucks Branch
Carvel Research & Education Officer of the Year award was presented. This
Tax Ditch with Tax Ditch Officer Award.
Center, Georgetown
March 25, 2015 years recipients were Allen Messick, Leroy
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Messick, and Trey Ramey, all of Bucks Branch Tax Ditch. Ronnie, Allen, and Trey
Board of Supervisors Meeting were recognized for their tireless efforts in actively managing and maintaining
Cashar Evans Building the Bucks Branch Tax Ditch located in the Hearns Pond Watershed north of Sea-
April 28, 2015
7:00 p.m. ford. The managers truly understand the value of properly maintaining the ditch
and the importance it provides to landowners in the area. When practical, the
Board of Supervisors Meeting
Cashar Evans Building managers have been receptive to incorporating conservation practices into the
May 26, 2015 repair and maintenance plans for the ditch and
7:00 p.m.
rights-of-way that reduce soil erosion and improve
water quality. In 2014, the Tax Ditch partnered
Inside this issue: with private landowners, the Natural Resources Con-
SCD is Spreading the Word servation Service (NRCS), and the District to stabilize
Page 2
on Soil Health and repair eroding ditch banks using an environmen-
SCD Welcomes New tally friendly NRCS design. In the end, soil erosion
Page 3
Staff Member and nutrient runoff was significantly reduced and the
Cap Increase for Cover Crop adjacent farm is no longer losing productive farm-
Page 3
Payments land. The efforts of the Bucks Branch Tax Ditch Man-
Town of Henlopen Page 3 agers are another example of the agricultural indus-
try being excellent stewards of our land and water
Applications for Organic
Page 4 resources.
Initiative due March 30 Bucks Branch Tax Ditch
 Page 2 CROSSROADS

SCD IS SPREADING THE WORD ON SOIL HEALTH

The definition for of the farm panel talked
soil health is the con- about their experiences
tinued capacity of the of implementing soil
soil to function as a health management
vital living ecosystem practices on their opera-
that sustains plants, tion and what worked
animals, and humans. and did not work.
The USDA Natural There were lots of good 121 people in attendance at the Soil
Health Workshop during Ag Week.
Resources Conserva- questions and discus-
Marcia Fox of DNREC giving a presenta- tion Service has sion between the panel and the audience.
tion on the Cropland Transect Survey.
kicked off the Soil
Health Initiative in Delaware, and the Sussex Conserva- Due to the interest and success of the farm panel at
tion District is helping spread the word and educate the December workshop, the Soil Health Partnership
folks on the benefits of soil health. Improved soil decided to have another farm panel at the January
health can occur by implementing conservation tillage workshop which coincided with Delaware Ag Week.
practices, crop rotations, and planting cover crops. The January panel included Chip Baker of H & V Farms
This is not a one size fits all initiative and does not hap- in Millsboro, Guy Phillips of Georgetown, and Rob Gar-
pen overnight. Each farming operation is different. ey of Harrington. There were 121 people in attendance
However, instituting these practices on your operation at the January workshop held in the Exhibition Hall at
should increase organic matter, improve water availa- the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington. Along
bility, control weeds, recycle nutrients, and increase with the farm panel, two national soil health experts
crop yields increasing your bottom line. gave presentations. David
Lamm, National Soil Health &
The Sussex Conserva- Sustainability Team Leader with
tion District in coopera- NRCS, and Steve Woodruff, East
tion with our partners National Technical Support Cen-
the Natural Resources ter Agronomist, NRCS both
Conservation Service from Greensboro, North Caroli-
(NRCS), Delaware De- na gave presentations on
partment of Natural Re- “Understanding How Soil Func-
sources and Environ- tions Impact Your Farm” and
mental Control (DNREC) “Transitioning to Healthy Sys-
Watershed Assessment Members of the farm panel, Guy Phil- tems: Pitfalls and Promises.”
Rob Garey also talked about Soil Health Expert,
Program, and the Uni- lips and Chip Baker, speaking to the David Lamm
versity of Delaware, crowd during Ag Week in Harrington. “Selecting Cover Crop Species &
held two Soil Health Workshops in December and Janu- Mixes.”
ary. The first workshop in December was held at the
Carvel Research and Education Center in Georgetown The Delaware Soil Health Partnership made up of
with 81 attending. Attendees were given a general the Sussex Conservation District, NRCS, DNREC – Wa-
“Soil Health 101” presentation and a “Compaction: tershed Assessment Program, and the University of
Public Enemy No. 1” presentation which described the Delaware has a Farm Field Day scheduled for March 25,
basic soil health principles and the problems that com- 2015 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Carvel Research and
pacted soils can cause. There was also a farmer panel Education Center in Georgetown. If you have any
made up of three local farmers that are currently im- questions about soil health management or would like
plementing soil health practices. Jay Baxter of Baxter to get on a mailing list for more information, please
Farms Inc., and Guy Phillips, both of Georgetown, and contact the SCD office at (302) 856-3990, ext. 3 or visit
Rob Garey of Harrington were on the panel. Members our website at www.sussexconservation.org.
 WINTER 2015 EDITION Page 3

SCD WELCOMES NEW TOWN OF

STAFF MEMBER HENLOPEN ACRES
Claire Cooper joined the Matt Messina, SCD’s Water Resource Plan-
Sussex Conservation Dis- ner assisted on a project for the Town of
trict as a Conservation Henlopen Acres. He installed a 30’’ Tide-
Planner in November. Flex Checkmate Inline Check Valve in a
Claire is a recent graduate drainage pipe that discharges into the
of the University of Dela- town’s marina. The purpose of this project
ware where she received
was to stop the tidal waters from back-
her B.S. in Agriculture and
Natural Resources as well
flushing into their drainage system during
as Animal and Food Sci- high tides. The valve still allows storm-
ence with a minor in Histo- water to discharge as designed.
ry. In addition to working for the District, Claire also
works on her family’s crop farm in Bishopville, Maryland.
The 100 acre farm has been in the family since 1905.
They grow corn, soybeans, and winter wheat as a cover
crop. Claire owns four horses and is an avid horseback
rider. If you would like to contact Claire, she can be
reached at (302) 856-3990, ext. 3.

CAP INCREASE FOR

COVER CROP PAYMENTS Before Tide Flex Installation

Due to funding availability,

the Sussex Conservation District
is pleased to announce there
will be a cap increase paid to
landowners participating in the
District’s Cover Crop Program
from $10,500 to $15,000 this
year. Payments will be made once written certification
of destruction has been completed and returned to the
District office. Destruction Certification Forms will be Matt Installing Tide Flex
mailed out to participants around the first of March. If
you have any questions, please call the office at (302)
856-3990, ext. 3.

“A true conservationist is a man who

knows that the world is not given by his
fathers, but borrowed from his children.”
John James Audubon Completed Project
 APPLICATIONS FOR NRCS ORGANIC
INITIATIVE DUE MARCH 30
Delaware agriculture producers who are certified organic or transition-
ing to organic production may qualify for technical and financial assistance
through a national organic initiative administered by the USDA’s Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Organic producers can receive up to $20,000 per year or $80,000 over 6

years through the special organic funding. The assistance targets over two
dozen core conservation practices, including planting cover crops, estab-
lishing integrated pest management plans, constructing seasonal high tun-
nels, and implementing nutrient management systems consistent with organic certification. Applications for
the first ranking period of 2015 are due to NRCS offices by March 20 for funding consideration during fiscal
year 2015.

Eligible producers include those certified through the USDA’s Na-

tional Organic Program, those transitioning to certified organic pro-
duction, and those who meet organic standards but are exempt from
certification because their gross annual organic sales are less than
$5,000.

Producers interested in applying for the Organic Initiative funding

can submit applications anytime to their local NRCS Service Center. In
Sussex County, please call (302) 856-3990, ext. 3 or visit our website
at www.de.nrcs.usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

www.sussexconservation.org
Sussex Conservation District
23818 Shortly Road
Georgetown, DE 19947
All district programs are available on a nondiscriminatory basis .