One of Flint River SWCD’s sponsored programs saw a new development in 2023. Skywater, a project plan to restore the water flow through Radium Springs, just completed its draft environmental assessment. In addition to funding, FRSWCD also contributes staff and volunteer time to the project.

The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture (GFA) provides students with opportunities to pursue agriculture-related courses of study. For the 2024 cycle, GFA is offering $65,000 in scholarships. These applications are due March 1, 2024.

ATHENS, GEORGIA, Feb. 5, 2024 – The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia is announcing a Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) sign-up today.

JANUARY 31, 2024

The Environmental Protection Division (EPD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources is modifying the 2012 agricultural permitting suspension in Southwest Georgia to allow new and modified surface water withdrawal permits in the Suwannee and Ochlockonee portions of the suspension area.

On November 15-17, 2023, USDA-NRCS held a conservation planning, recordkeeping, and programs education and outreach classroom training series in Albany, GA at the Riverfront Resource Center.

ATHENS, GA, October 2, 2023 — State Conservationist Terrance O. Rudolph of the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announces a Fiscal Year 2024 statewide federal assistance opportunity for agricultural and forest producers, through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). This sign-up that concludes on November 17, 2023, will utilize 2018 Farm Bill and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding.

ATHENS, GA, August 24, 2023 — State Conservationist Terrance O. Rudolph, for the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia, today announced a sign-up for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) for fiscal year 2024. To be considered for the upcoming fiscal year’s funding pool, applications must be submitted by October 6, 2023.

On Tuesday, July 18, 2023 the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) and the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District (FRSWCD) held a workshop at the Mitchell County Ag Center highlighting soil health management systems in row crops.

We sat down with Mr. David Holton, Supervisor for Flint River Soil Water Conservation District as he celebrates 20 years of service to the organization.

Today is the last day of Smart Irrigation Month!

Join us as we highlight Karla Thompson of JET Farms Georgia. Karla is a peanut, fruit, and vegetable farmer living in Georgia. She is a member of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation Peanut Leadership Academy Class XII and the Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership Class of 2019.

Mark Gwines is a producer in Worth, Dougherty, and Lee Counties, growing corn, cotton, peanuts, and pecans. He has been farming since 1987 and now farms with his son Luke.

Mark and Luke joined Flint River SWCD to tell us how and why Smart Irrigation Technology has been beneficial for their operation:

We asked Glenn Heard, a producer in Baker, Decatur, Miller and Seminole counties, how he uses smart irrigation and VRI on his farm in Southwest, Georgia.

The UGA C.M. Stripling Irrigation Research Park (SIRP) was developed to be a state-of-the-art irrigation research and education center to assist farmers in managing irrigation and the general public in understanding the role of water in the economy of the region.

On McLendon Acres, we utilize smart irrigation through the use of soil moisture sensors, pivot monitoring and control applications like Valley AgSense, and irrigation scheduling programs. 

July is #SmartIrrigationMonth! Follow along this month as we spread the word, and share the benefits of smart irrigation scheduling and so much more!