Okaloosa County BOCC — May 3, 2016 — YRSWCD 2015 Annual Report — reading text

Resource Conservation and Development Councils, Burlin Findley, Blackwater SWCD;  Florida Conservation District Employees Association (FCDEA) President, Audrey Kuipers discussed activities of the association;  Soil and Water Conservation Council by Wilber Dean. District success stories were presented; the State AFCD Poster Contest was judged; and the Speech contest was judged. This year’s topic was “Hardworking Pollinators – Why are They Local Heroes?” The Area 1 speech representative from Jackson County came in 4th. The 2016 Poster Contest and Speech Contest topics were presented. The Poster Contest topic is “We All Need Trees,” while the Speech Contest topic is “Why Do We All Need Trees?’ Finally the Nominations Committee presented the slate of nominees for officers: with Pamela Fentress, Highlands SWCD, nominated from the floor for Secretary/Treasurer. The new officers for the 2015-2016 year are: Archie Matthews, Alachua SWCD, President; Burlin Findley, Blackwater SWCD, 1st Vice President; Scott Wynn, Hamilton SWCD, 2nd Vice President; and Pamela Fentress, Highlands SWCD, Secretary/Treasurer.  2015 Legislative Farm Tour. The 2015 Okaloosa/Santa Rosa Legislative Farm Tour Day was held on 27 August 2015. The tour began at the Okaloosa Farm Bureau in Crestview and headed towards Santa Rosa County. The first stop was at the UF/IFAS- Jay Research Facility with a tour of the corn grist mill and experimental sod fields where they are testing different salt tolerant grasses. One presentation was on an invasive species Palmer Amaranth, a form of pigweed, is beginning to show up in this area. It has not been a problem in this area, however it is introduced from seeds on equipment or soil and by the time it reaches our area the seed is 7  already resistant to herbicides. Immediate treatment is highly recommended when it first shows up since the weed is very prolific. The second stop was lunch at Bear Lake Recreational Area in Blackwater State Forest. The third stop Marshall Farms in Baker to tour the peanut fields in the process of harvesting and sample boiled peanuts. Marshall Farms uses the newest technology of Grid Soil Sampling and GPS- guided planting to assist the production from planting through harvesting. The last stop was at the Peaden Brothers Distillery in Crestview to tour the distillation operation. Element II. Goal 3: Achieve a high level of conservation and improve public awareness and understanding of soil and water conservation and soil erosion mitigation benefits within the Yellow River Soil and Water Conservation District area.  Conservation Rental Equipment. One of YRSWCD’s objective under this goal to provide rental equipment to local landowners. YRSWCD has four pieces of equipment: No-Till Grain Drill, Cultipacker, Aerator, and Hay Blower. This equipment is available on a first come, first serve approach. The fees charged are used to maintain the equipment. This project is a service to the community not a money making venture.  The work with the Okaloosa S.C.I..E.N.C.E. Initiative has increased the public’s knowledge and understanding of conservation in the schools. At several of the meetings and seminars Linda Johnson has disseminated material on soil and water conservation, waterwise planting, erosion control, and provided copies of the soil survey. Element II. Goal 4: Strengthen relationships between Yellow River Soil and Water Conservation District and other agencies to solve conservation problems and needs within the District.  USDA NRCS Civil Rights and Non-Discrimination Policy. In March 2015, Yellow River SWCD Board of Supervisors reviewed the current “Civil Rights Responsibilities for Partners” policy from USDA NRCS. At the end of the review the new policy was signed by each member of the Board and the District Conservationist, Darryl Williams. At that same meeting the USDA Non-Discrimination Policy was also review and all members signed the agreement. Yellow River SWCD is committed to provide all citizens with information and assistance.  HEL and Wetlands Conservation Compliance. In March 2015, the Yellow River SWCD Board of Supervisors reviewed the current policy on “Highly Erodible Land (HEL) Conservation and Wetland Conservation Compliance.” This review is required under the 1985 Food Security Act. All Supervisors present agreed with the policy.  USDA NRCS Memorandum of Understanding, Corporate Agreement. In June, the Board of Supervisors reviewed all three sections of the current Corporate Agreement between USDA NRCS and Yellow River Soil and Water Conservation District. The Board voted on each section of the agreement: Section 1 Statement of Work for Cooperative Agreement between Yellow River SWCD and USDA NRCS , motion passed; Section 2 Special Provisions for Grants and Cooperative Agreements Act of 1977, motion passed; Section 3, Acknowledgement of Section 1619 Compliance, motion passed.  Local Working Group. On August 11th 2015, the YRSWCD Board of Supervisors met as part of the local working group to the Application Ranking Summary criteria for the new USDA 8  NRCS Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) under the 2014 Farm Bill. The objective is that applications meet local and national priorities. There are now six (6) fund categories under EQIP: Working Lands for Wildlife – Gopher Tortoise; Pollinators; Long Leaf Pine Initiative; Forestry; Cropland/Specialty Crops; and Socially Disadvantaged Grazing Lands. The Evaluation Ranking Tools provide assessment of impact on: Water Quality; Water Conservation; Air Quality; Soil Health; Wildlife Habitat; Plant and Animal Communities; Energy Conservation; and whether the proposed action would enhance existing conservation practices. One of the priorities in this ranking is Native Americans and Veterans.  Susan Holley, District Administrator, is a member of the Okaloosa County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee. This group addresses farm community needs throughout the year. They also have several projects, one of which is the annual Farm City Day, held before the week of Thanksgiving. On this day they parade tractors with trailers laden with produce. The one with sweet potatoes is always a hit. They take a route through downtown Crestview and end at Woodlawn Church for a food give away. This year, they stopped at Richburg School and allowed the student to select a sweet potato. Any leftovers were not wasted, but donated to food pantries and soup kitchens.  Over the past year Linda Johnson has worked with the Okaloosa S.C.I.E.N.C.E. Initiative. This partnership has allowed Yellow River Soil and Water Conservation District to get the message of our organization, our mission, and resources available into the community. Acknowledgements Yellow River Soil and Water Conservation District wishes to thank all our partners who have provided valuable support and assistance in our effort to conserve and preserve Okaloosa County’s natural resources. The Yellow River Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors would like to recognize just a few of the many organizations that have made our efforts possible. The YRSCD Board wishes to extend a sincere THANK YOU to:  The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners, for their continued financial assistance and confidence which has enabled us to carry out our conservation mission.  The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, for providing the office space, as well as technical and cost-share assistance which allows us to better serve Okaloosa County’s citizens, land users, and local units of governments.  The USDA NRCS Plant Material Center at Brookfield, FL for their tireless effort to supply YRSWCD with planting material.  The Okaloosa County Cooperative Extension Service, IFAS at UF, Staff, for all their help with informational materials that make many of the district activities possible.  The USDA Farm Service Agency office, for providing cost-share producer eligibility and administering farm records. 9   The Florida Forestry Service, for their assistance to landowners with forest planning and management.  Crestview News Bulletin, for all their support and assistance in publishing the conservation news and for their continued support of the important mission of natural resource conservation.  Crestview Community Television, for all their support and assistance in communicating the conservation news and for their continued support of the important mission of natural resource conservation.  Hook and Trigger, for all their support and assistance in publishing the conservation articles in support of the important mission of natural resource conservation.  Eglin Air Force Base at Jackson Guard, for working with us to protect the threatened and endangered Okaloosa Darter by installing erosion control practices on non-point and point source pollution sites.  The Okaloosa County Farm Bureau, for continued assistance and support with the District’s conservation activities.  The Okaloosa County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, for their continued assistance and support with the District’s conservation activities.  The Northwest Florida Water Management District, for assisting, not only the Yellow River Soil and Water Conservation District, but also the landowners of Okaloosa County with information, educational materials, and technical guidance.  The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, for providing continued assistance with District activities.  The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, for providing continued assistance with District’s conservation activities.  The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, for providing continued assistance with District’s conservation activities.  The US Fish and Wildlife Service, for providing continued assistance with the District’s conservation activities.  Okaloosa County School System, for their support of our educational programs.  Okaloosa S.C.I.E.N.C.E. Initiative, for their support of our educational programs.  The Yellow River Soil and Water Conservation District Staff, for their continued effort to fulfill the District’s mission and help administer the programs. Thank You! 10