A group of Georgia’s top environmental leaders visited Southwest Georgia this month to learn about the region’s natural resource-based economy through the statewide leadership program Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership (IGEL).

Governor Brian Kemp has declared July 2019 as Smart Irrigation Month in Georgia. Smart Irrigation Month serves as the showcase month to promote the social, economic, and environmental benefits of and farmers’ commitment to the adoption of efficient irrigation technologies, and leading-edge products and services in agriculture, landscape, and turf irrigation.

At the recent monthly meeting of the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District in Colquitt, the Board of Supervisors voted to hire Perri Campis as the District’s Project Director. Campis will provide direct support to the District’s Executive Director in project development, implementation, and management. 

The Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has recently partnered with the Seminole County FFA Chapter and Young Farmer group to provide an affordable no-till grain drill for rent to local farmers. The purpose of this rental program is to encourage and assist farmers in the implementation of a no-till crop production system and the planting of cover crops. The FFA and Young Farmers will maintain the drill and provide service and technical assistance to participating farmers.  

USDA featured the new Irrigator Pro smartphone app - and all of the partners who made its development possible - on the farmers.gov website.

On April 4th the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District, in partnership with ABAC’s Destination Ag Team, presented a dynamic education program to second graders from Dougherty County’s Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School. This program exposes students to various aspects and careers in agriculture and natural resources, while meeting Georgia’s education standards. The event took place at Chehaw park, where students and teachers enjoyed the opportunity to learn from the Destination Ag Team, Farmer Fredo of Flint River Fresh, and Chehaw Park.

Over $15,000 in college scholarships, back-to-nature field trips, and a true

taste of college life will be on the line for high school students who attend this year’s Natural

Resources Conservation Workshop (NRCW) on June 9-13 at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural

College.

The Flint River Soil & Water Conservation District is pleased to announce the 2019 Soil Stewardship theme: “Life In The Soil: Dig Deeper.” Soil Stewardship Week will be officially celebrated April 28to May 5, 2019, and is a fun and educational learning experience for all students! Soil Stewardship Week helps remind each and every citizen of the power of each person to conserve natural resources and improve our world. This year marks the 64th Anniversary of NACD Soil and Water Stewardship Week!

The Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is now accepting applications for the position of Project Director. The District’s Project Director will be responsible for the implementation, management, reporting, and coordination of ongoing District projects. Additionally, the Project Director will be expected to formulate and develop new projects that align with the District’s mission.

A new version of Irrigator Pro will be available for free in the upcoming 2019 crop season. A team of partners has been working to update the Irrigator Pro platform to increase adoption and accessibility for growers. Now, Irrigator Pro is available to download as a smartphone application in the Apple iOS and Google Play stores. A new cloud-based website platform will also launch in 2019.

Students in Dougherty County will have the opportunity this spring to participate in free programming at Chehaw Park to learn about agriculture and natural resources through a partnership between Destination Ag and the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD).

The Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District is sponsoring Agricultural & Environmental Education Grants. More information and the grant application are available at flintriverswcd.org/education.

State Conservationist Terrance O. Rudolph of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Marty McLendon, chairman of the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) announced today that a sign up for the Climate Resiliency in Georgia, Florida and Alabama project is under way. The deadline for eligible producers inGeorgia to apply is April 20, 2018.

The Flint River Soil & Water Conservation District is pleased to announce the 2018 Soil Stewardship theme: “Watersheds... Our Water, Our Home.” Soil Stewardship Week will be officially celebrated April 29 to May 6, 2018, and is a fun and educational learning experience for all students! Soil Stewardship Week helps remind each and every citizen of the power of each person to conserve natural resources and improve our world. 

2017-2018 Agricultural and Environmental Education Grants applications available at flintriverswcd.org/education. Deadline: January 5, 2018.

The District's new urban agriculture conservation program takes root in Albany, Georgia with the addition of Fredando Jackson to the team.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently announced awards for the 2017 cycle of funding for the Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) Program. The Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District, based in southwest Georgia, will lead one of 33 projects selected nationwide for funding. CIG is a competitive grant program administered by NRCS that advances the development and implementation of conservation-driven technologies and practices.

The Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) recently held their annual meeting at Lake Lanier Islands in Buford, Georgia. The Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District, comprised of 9 counties in southwest Georgia, received the distinguished honor of being named District of the Year. The District of the Year award was established by GACD in 2001 to recognize the conservation district in Georgia which best plans, implements, and reports a conservation program during the year. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced recently the selection of 88 locally-led conservation projects across the United States through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District, comprised of 9 counties in southwest Georgia, was selected to lead a project focused on strengthening climate resiliency for farmers and landowners in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.