2017 - 06

CTD Newsletter - June 2017

2017 NMP Course Information

Attention Planners! The 2017 Nutrient Management Considerations in Conservation Planning (NMP) Course (June 26th - June 30th) Prerequisites and Registration forms are due June 9th. Please visit our website HERE to find information about this course.

Upon completion of this training planners will be able to:

• Properly utilize the NRCS Nutrient Management Practice Standard (590) including understanding what is the appropriate documentation to complete the 590 practice

• Select and use the appropriate NRCS evaluation tools

• Understand agronomic rates and how to properly select and utilize Land Grant University (LGU) fertilizer recommendations and guides

• Identify water quality resource concerns and plan mitigation strategies related to land application of all nutrient sources (i.e., fertilizers and manures)

For more information please contact Nichole Embertson | NEmbertson@whatcomcd.org or Jess Davenport | jdavenport@scc.wa.gov

*Update* NRCS - Conservation Planning Policy Revisions

As some of you may know from the March 2nd webinar NRCS has revised 180-GM, Part 409, “Conservation Planning Policy,” in January 2017. The revisions include:

• Changes to 409.9 – criteria to achieve an NRCS Conservation Planner Role Designation

• New Sections were added:

• 409.12 – criteria to achieve Technical Specialist Planner Designation

• 409.13 Exhibit 1 – Sample Worksheet to Evaluate Conservation Plans submitted as part of a Certified Conservation Planner Role designation or Redesignation

• 409.14 Exhibit 2 – Sample Worksheet to Evaluate Area-wide Conservation Plans Submitted as Part of a Master Conservation Planner Role Designation or Redesignation

Why is this import to you? NRCS or partner employees independently assisting customers through the nine-step conservation planning process and developing RMS or progressive conservation plans will be designated as one of the following three roles:

• Apprentice Conservation Planner

• Certified Conservation Planner

• Master Certified Conservation Planner

The full explanation for the Transition Plan for Policy Implementation can be found HERE(https://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/ViewerFS.aspx?hid=40488) in Nation Bulletin 180-17-2. In brief:

• 3 – year timeline for completing the necessary activities to implement the revised requirements

• Individuals will retain their designation listed in the National Conservation Planner Database while working to meet the new policy provisions

• Individuals not completing the National and State requirements for the assigned planner role by the end of the 3-year period will have their current planner role designation suspended

The CTD is currently working with Washington State NRCS staff to assist our Washington State Conservation Districts in this process. Please be looking for more information as this process moves forward. Please contact us with any questions at info@wactd.org.

Annual Training Needs Inventories

NRCS is doing its annual training needs inventory (TNI) to assess core course to offer. Please ask your District manager to pass the information along so that your voice can be heard. All TNI information will be pooled by CD and collected by NRCS District Conservationists for statewide consolidation. You will also see an electronic TNI put out by the CTD in early July to assess non-NRCS trainings that you need to improve you technical and professional skills. Thank you in advance for helping us with your input!

WADE Lawn Games

We are looking forward to seeing folks at WADE next week! The CTD will be hosting the third annual Lawn Games on Monday night from 7:00pm to dark at the back meadow/lawn. We will be having a bean bag toss tournament plus many other lawn games to play. This is a great way to meet new people and connect with colleagues. Bring a beverage (no glass please) and friend, or just show up ready to play! We will have some refreshments available. See you soon!

We need your bean bag sets!

We are hoping to have a mighty bean bag toss tournament at WADE Lawn Games this year, but need a couple more sets to make it big. If you have a set you can bring, please let Bryan Inglin (Bryan.Inglin@wa.nacdnet.net | 360-748-0083 x 124) know asap, or just bring it along. If you have a lawn game that you love, please bring that to share. See you there!

District Highlight: Getting to Know You

District Name: Palouse Conservation District

District Size: 365,020 acres/570.34 sq miles

District Population: 34,617

Number of Employees: 15 full time, 8 seasonal & 3 summer interns

Main Programs: CREP, RCPP, Riparian and Habitat Restoration, Palouse Prairie Restoration, Direct Seed, K-12 Education, BMP Effectiveness Monitoring, Livestock Management, Tree Sale, VSP

Key Partners: USDA (NRCS and FSA), Department of Ecology, Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington State Conservation Commission, Department of Transportation, City of Pullman Stormwater, Snake River Salmon Recovery Board, Palouse Prairie Foundation, Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association, Washington State University, AmeriCorps, Palouse Land Trust,

Project/Program Most Proud of: Our Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), which is finishing its second year out of 5, is already about ½ - 2/3 of the way towards meeting its deliverables including converting 22,314 acres of conventional tillage to minimum till/direct seeding; 150 acres of riparian buffers; 12,460 acres of precision nutrient management; and 42 acres of conservation easements.

Fun Fact

Did you know...

Our predecessor, the North Palouse Conservation District, was the first Conservation District established in the state of Washington.

Featured Program: Clark Conservation District - Poultry Processing Equipment

Is your District looking to diversify? Check out the mobile poultry processing equipment Clark Conservation District offers. The equipment is all packed into a box trailer for ease of transport. They rental fee is $20 per rental time (plus a refundable $50 cleaning deposit) and includes kill cones, a kill stand, scalder, feather plucker, and chill tank, as well as cleaning supplies.

Supplies the renter must provide includes:

2 strong people to move equipment, a water spigot (2 hoses are ideal), ice, electricity, propane take, sharp knives, table for dressing birds and bags for meat.

The equipment accommodates chickens, ducks, small turkeys and other similar sized poultry.

If you are interested in this program please send an email to staff@clarkcd.org or check out their website HERE.

Featured Photo

District: Kitsap Conservation District

Description: Alpacas