THE DIRT ON CONSERVATION Winter Newsletter January 2015

Harrison Soil & Water Conservation District

SWCD Upcoming Events

Crop Production Partnership ~ March 19th, April 16th

Eastern Ohio Grazing Council ~ 4th Thurs. Jan-Oct

Tri County Agronomy Day ~ February 19th -Carroll Co.

Backyard Food Production ~ 2nd Thurs. Mar-Oct

Ag Breakfast ~ March 21st Capraro ’s Restaurant

Grazing Series ~ March 31st, April 7th & 14th, & 18th

Sales– tree, fish, rain barrel– due March 27th

*Visit www.hswcd.org for the calendar of events

Using Trees to Meet Your Needs Would you like to attract more birds to your property? Do you want to prevent erosion or stabilize a stream bank? Would you like to provide pollen and nectar for butterflies and bees? Do you need a windbreak or privacy hedge? These are just a few of the possible uses for seedlings which can be purchased from the HSWCD tree sale. A wide variety of trees are offered in order to meet the various needs and projects you may have in mind. Many of these tree species will be familiar to you, while others are less commonly seen today. Several of the species offered serve multiple functions. For instance, if you live in town on a smaller lot, want to attract birds and grow fruit, you might try the American Plum or American Elderberry. If you don’t want the fruit, but enjoy the beauty of flowering trees, an Eastern Redbud or Flowering Dogwood might be a better choice for you. Consider planting Ninebark instead of a Butterfly Bush. Ninebark is a native shrub which has beautiful flower clusters which attract bees and butterflies. n addition, it is a multi-season plant with nice fall color and peeling bark which provides winter interest. Deciduous trees can be great energy savers as well as providing beautiful fall color. Planted on the southern side of your house the tree will provide shade in summer and allow sunshine to warm the house in the winter after you've enjoyed the beautiful fall colors. Both Sugar Maple and Red Maple provide good shade and beauti-ful fall color. A Scarlet Oak would also be a good choice for color and shade. All of the trees offered are native to the region, except for the Blue Spruce. Native trees fit into the local ecosys-tem by providing food (nuts, fruit, pollen) and habitat (nesting sites, shelter) for native wildlife. Native plants tend to grow better and have less problems than non-native plants when correctly located. Shade/Sun, dry/wet soil, and soil pH should all be considered when choosing the best tree for your site. These plants are offered as seedlings to allow a large cost savings to you. While seedlings are small, they are also easier to plant. The low price allows you to purchase a large quantity or try something new. A listing of all the trees being offered this year and an order form can be found towards the back of the newsletter.

Getting Started Grazing Series

March 31st, April 7th, April 14th & a field day April 18th

6:30-9:00 pm ; Field day 10:00 am-2:00 pm

USDA Service Center Hopedale, Ohio

Tri-County Agronomy Day to Include Fertilizer Certification

CORE Session

Forages

Fumigation

Weed Control Programs for corn & soybeans

Fertilizer Certification Class (after lunch)

Pre-registration is required by Feb. 12. Call 330-627-4310. $35 per person and lunch is included. Please

pay at the door. Make checks payable to OSU Extension. No credit cards accepted. Farm Bureau Members

receive $10 discount. Have your FB membership number available when registering.

*If you wish to receive the fertilizer certification, you can attend the afternoon session at no cost. Please call to register.

Registration is required by March 23rd. Please call the

Harrison SWCD office 740-942-8837 to reserve your seat.

Cost is $35.00 per farm ( $35.00 for additional books)

Thursday, February 19, 2015

9:00am-4:00 pm

Ohio FFA Camp Muskingum

Hosted by Harrison, Jefferson, & Carroll Soil & Water Con-

servation Districts, Natural Resource Conservation Service,

& OSU Extension.

Topics include:

Getting started with managing inten-

sive grazing

Pasture plant growth

Meeting animal requirements

Environmental impacts of grazing

Pasture fertility

Paddock layout & design

How soils affect grazing

Economics of grazing

Water systems

Fencing

Marketing

Mineral supplementation

Extended grazing season

Looking forward, looking back - HSWCD 70 year anniversary Kathy Depew, Fiscal Agent, HSWCD Board of Supervisors The start of a new year is traditionally a time to review the past and use this information to form a plan for the fu-ture. This year marks the 70th anniversary for the Harrison Soil and Water Conservation District (HSWCD) which was officially organized May 23, 1945. It was the 38th district to be formed in Ohio and encompasses all of Harri-son County. The overall goal of the HSWCD is soil and water conservation through education and technical sup-port to the community. Over the course of the year we will share with you our local SWCD history, accomplish-ments and plans for the future. First, a quick overview of Ohio SWCDs. The Ohio SWCDs goals have expanded over the last 70 years. The Soil Con-servation Districts (SCD) were conceived after the catastrophic dust storms of the 1930s in recognition of the need to conserve our agricultural soil. Years lat-er, as interest in watershed protection increased, the mission expanded to in-clude water conservation. The name of the districts changed from SCD to SWCD with the inclusion of water in the title. The emphasis on agricultural ac-tivities grew to include additional activities, both urban and rural, which might impact soil and water conservation. The passage of the Clean Water Act added additional emphasis on water conservation and pollution abatement. The ability to adapt to these changing needs has allowed the SWCDs to remain relevant and useful over all these years. A unique advantage of the SWCD organization within the state is the high level of local decision-making and goal development. This structure provides the SWCDs the ability to tailor the programs to meet the needs of the local community. Each SWCD has a different emphasis depending upon the make-up of the county: rural/urban; agriculture/industry. Depending on local need, districts have added natural resource conservation projects benefiting recreation, forestry, and wildlife. This seemingly broad range of conservation topics always remains rooted in soil and water conservation. At the annual meeting our staff solicited input regarding topics of interest… If you were not at the meeting, take a few moments to reflect on the work the HSWCD has done in the past and what you might like to see accom-plished in the future. Please share with us your ideas and thoughts on planning for the future.

Order Rain Barrels Now for Our May Workshop!

New for 2015, Harrison SWCD is offering rain barrel kits for purchase in

conjunction with our spring tree and fish sales. Rain barrels attach to your

downspout to capture runoff from your roof. This water can be utilized later

for watering plants and gardens or other uses. In addition to providing a free

water source, rain barrels reduce flooding and improve water quality in near-

by streams.

Our rain barrel kits feature a 55 gallon food grade plastic drum with a re-

movable lid to allow for easy cleaning of the rain barrel. The kits include all

the fittings, spigots, and connectors needed to build the barrel.

We are offering 2 pricing options for the rain barrel kits. Option A is to pur-

chase the rain barrel kit for $45 and attend our May Backyard Food Produc-

tion Workshop (May 8th), where we will build the rain barrels together. Op-

tion B is to purchase the same kit at $50, but assemble it on your own

rather than attending the workshop. Additionally, Option C is to purchase

just a plastic 55 gallon drum with no kit. You can then purchase the additional fitting and valves on your own.

These barrels are different than those that come with the kits as they do not have a removable lid. If you plan to

attend the workshop, you will need Option A, as we will not cover how to assemble these barrels.

An order form for rain barrels, as well as our tree and fish sale can be found at the back of this newsletter.

Glen Kelly explains soils properties to Wood

Thompson (HSWCD Board Member, 1961-1981)

[USDA-SCS, 1969]

Harrison and Carroll countieshave funding available to assistwith the cost of installing fence toexclude livestock from streamswithin the Muskingum RiverWatershed. In addition toproviding funding for fencing, theprogram can also cover cost ofstream crossing stabilization andoff­stream watering systemsassociated with projects thatexclude livestock from the stream.

Fencing livestock from streamshas positive impacts on waterquality by reducing sediment inthe stream and reducingstreambank erosion. By keepinganimal waste out of the stream,bacteria and nutrients entering thestream are also reduced.

Aside from the environmentalbenefits, excluding livestock fromstreams improves herd health.Livestock with clean watersources gain more weight, more

quickly than those whose onlywater source is the stream.

If you are interested in applyingfor cost­share through thisprogram, contact your localSWCD office to find out moredetails or begin the applicationprocess.

While this funding is onlyavailable for property within theMuskingum River Watershed,your local SWCD and NRCSoffices can provide free technicalassistance to landownersanywhere in the county.

This program is funded by theODNR, Division of Wildlife (75%)through a grant from the US Fishand Wildlife Service and theMWCD (25%). Technical andadministrative support is providedby the Ohio Department ofNatural Resources Division of Soiland Water Resources.

Across the Watersheds|OF ATWOOD, LEESVILLE, TAPPAN, & CLENDENING LAKES

In This Issue:

­ Stream Exclusion Funding

­ Cover Crop Success

­ 4th Grade Field Days a Hit

­ New Web Resources

WATERSHED:the area ofland where all ofthe water that is under it ordrains offofit goes into thesame place.

The SWCD Watershed Programis a partnership betweenHarrison Soil & WaterConservation District (SWCD),Carroll SWCD, and MuskingumWatershed Conservancy District.The program is focused onmaintaining and improving waterquality in the watersheds of fourlakes: Atwood, Leesville, Tappan,and Clendening. Through theWatershed Specialist position,the SWCD offices are working tomonitor water quality, inventoryresources, educate the public,and implement practices tobenefit these watersheds.

Stream Exclusion Funding Available

For the past few year, landownersin Harrison and Carroll countyhave had the opportunity to applyfor funding to assist withestablishing a cover crop on theirfields following the crop harvest.

These cover crops provideprotection to the soil during wintermonths and spring rains, helpingto reduce soil erosion, holdnutrients in place, break up soilcompaction, and increase soilhealth.

In 2014, five landowners in thewatersheds above Atwood,Leesville, Tappan, andClendening Lakes participated inthis program.

Based on calculations done bythe SWCD, these cover cropsreduced nutrients and sedimententering the stream by:

­ 5,760 pounds of nitrogen­ 1,490 pounds of phosphorus­ 1,698 tons of sediment

This program will be continuing in2015. If you are interested inparticipating contact your localSWCD office. Additionally, theCrop Production Partnership willbe hosting several workshops andfield days in the coming monthsexploring a wide range of topics,including cover crops.

Cover Crops Protect Land & Lakes

| Across the Watersheds

4th Graders Learn AboutErosion at Field Day

In September, 4th grade studentsfrom Scio, Jewett, Dellroy,Carrollton and Augusta attendedfield days hosted at Zitko Farms inHarrison County and CampNEOSA in Carroll County.

Students had the opportunity toexperience hands­on education,with topics including native andpoisonous plants, recycling,wildlife, butterflies, forestry,livestock, and soils.

In addition to these topics, bothfield days included a session onwatersheds and streambankerosions.

Students were able to observe howstreambank erosion occurs usingthe Streamulator stream table. Thistable simulates the behaviours ofan actual stream and students hadthe opportunity to build a streamand see how changes to thestream and streambanks impactflooding, erosion and howsediment moves in the stream.

If you want to learn more aboutour local lake watersheds, all thedetails about the SWCDwatershed program online at:

www.hswcd.org/watersheds

This new resource has detaileddescriptions of each of thewatershed areas and the resourceconcerns for those areas. Detailsabout our water quality monitoringprogram and volunteeropportunities are featured as well.Additionally, information about

any current projects happening inthe watersheds will be madeavailable here. There is alsoinformation about the currentwatershed education programsoffered, as well as a list ofwatershed­related resources.

Any information available from thewebsite is also available at theHarrison or Carroll SWCD officeby speaking to the WatershedSpecialist.

Watersheds on the Web

Tree Seedling Sale

Conifers

American Arborvitae

Thuja occidentalis: Survives in a vari-

ety of conditions, long lived, medium

sized. Makes for great windbreaks,

animal habitat, and privacy.

Tamarack (Larch)

Larix laricina: A fast growing decidu-

ous conifer prefers poorly drained

soils. It is useful for shade, bank sta-

bilization, and fence posts.

Eastern White Pine

Pinus strobes: Occurs in a variety of

conditions, prefers acidic, moist,

deep soils. Good for bird nesting

sites, younger trees make good

windbreaks.

Blue Spruce

Picea pungens: Slow growing, long

lived, with dense foliage. Good for

wind breaks, animal habitat, privacy.

Shrubs and Small Trees

American Elderberry

Sambucus canadensis: Grows best

in full sun, will form thickets, tolerates

variety of conditions. Edible in a vari-

ety of ways, attracts many birds,

many different uses for the wood,

caution should be observed around

livestock.

Willow pack

Salix spp.: This willow mix is quick

growing but will not become overly

tall. They will probably form more of

a shrub like appearance. Willows

prefer wetter soils and are great for

soil stabilization, wildlife habitat and

occasionally browsed for food.

Flowering Dogwood

Cornus florida: Slow growing, pink

to white flowers in spring, red ber-

ries in fall, prefers well drained soils,

and is shade tolerant. This is an

ornate tree that can add color to any

area.

Ninebark

Physocarpus opulifolius: A very hardy

shrub, prefers moist soils, but toler-

ates a wide variety of locations. It

produces a large cluster of white

flowers that form into small red fruit.

Provides great cover for many ani-

mals and is a seed source for birds.

PawPaw

Asimina triloba: Quick growing, small

tree, prefers shade when young but

not when older, produces maroon

flowers in spring, browse resistant

leaves. This tree produces large edi-

ble fruit. Can be difficult to establish

but the payoff is well worth it.

Persimmon

Diospyros virginiana: Slow growing,

medium sized tree, very versatile to

site conditions. Consistent edible fruit

production, high wildlife use, bright

yellow fall color, white flower.

Shrubs and Small Trees (continued)

Eastern Redbud

Cercis canadensis: Fast

growing, small tree, prefers

open areas and moist soils.

Has a pink/purple flower,

and is very showy in the

spring.

American Plum

Prunus americana: Fast growing, small

tree/ large shrub, tolerates wide variety of

soils and sites, prefers being open grown.

Pale pink flowers in spring, medium sized

edible fruit, very good animal habitat and

food sources, can form thickets

Large Trees

Black Walnut

Juglans nigra: Medium to large

tree, tolerates occasional flood-

ing or drought, does not tolerate

shade. Edible nut, highly valued

timber species.

Black gum

Nyssa sylvatica: Medium sized, long

lived, slow growing, prefers acidic soil,

shade intolerant. Has food value to birds,

the fall foliage is spectacular, deep blue

fruit.

Kentucky Coffeetree

Gymnocladus dioicus: Medium

to large tree, slow growing, pre-

fers rich soils, somewhat shade

tolerant. Produces large pods

that contain seeds that when

roasted were used as a coffee

substitute by settlers

River Birch

Betula nigra: Medium sized, fast growing

tree, prefers wet sites, but tolerates

many. The papery looking bark and

weeping lower branches cause this tree

to be widely planted for its aesthetics.

Sugar Maple,

Acer saccharum: Medium sized,

fast growing, prefers well

drained soil, and tolerates shady

conditions. Many species of

wildlife will utilize this tree,

Prized in parts for syrup produc-

tion, and timber production.

American Hazelnut,

Corylus americana: This large shrub pre-

fers well drained sites, flowers early so

will only have large nut crops every 4-5

years, prefers full sun. It is great habitat

for birds but also provides edible nuts to

humans. This tree is an important food

source for a wide range of wildlife from

grouse to deer.

Red Maple

Acer rubrum: A little smaller than the

Sugar Maple, this tree prefers more sun-

light, It is adaptable to a wide range of

soil types and areas with use as a shade

tree and a source of seeds for wildlife.

Large Trees (continued)

Chinkapin Oak

Quercus mmuehlenbergii: Small to

medium sized for an oak, slow

growing and long lived, prefers well

drained sites. In the white oak

group, this tree is very attractive to

wildlife for production of one of the

sweetest acorns. Leaves are similar

to the chestnut, and chestnut oak.

Scarlet oak

Quercus coccinea: Small to Medium

sized red oak, fast growing, and long

lived, does best on well drained and up-

land sites.. Fall color is crimson , nut

production is important to wildlife, with a

bumper crop of acorns every 3-5 years

and are browsed heavily by wildlife.

Red Oak

Quercus rubra: Medium to large

tree, long lived and fast growing,

somewhat tolerant to shade and

drought but not flooding. Widely

grown and can be an important

timber species, this can be an im-

portant source of food for deer.

Swamp White Oak

Quercus bicolor: This medium white

oak, grows quickly, prefers wet sites,

and open areas. This tree produces

large acorns regularly, eaten by many

wildlife species especially water foul.

White Oak

Quercus alba : Can get to massive

proportions, long lived, grows best

in the open with moist but not wet

soils, resistant to drought. Acorn

production will occasionally have

bumper crop, commonly seen

throughout the Midwest, utilized by

wildlife as a food source.

Bitternut Hickory

Carya cordiformis: Medium sized, long

lived and slow growing, moderately

shade tolerant, prefers moist sites but

will tolerate a wide range. The wood is

prized for wood working, and flavoring

food when burned. Does not have shag-

gy bark like other hickories and smaller

nut is easier to clean up in a yard.

American Chestnut

Castanea dentata- Can grow very large, and grows quickly, toler-

ant of shade, and drought, but sensitive to wet sites. What we are

offering is pure American chestnut that has been propagated from

trees found still growing in the United States. The wood is very rot

resistant. The nuts are very good to eat and utilized by wildlife

when available. While they might succumb to blight after several

years, the opportunity to plant this important part of history is

something not to be missed.

Honey Locust (thornless)

Gleditsia triacanthos var. Inermis: Medi-

um sized, quick growing, tolerant of

most situations. This variety is thornless

and provides a much nicer version to

plant around a house. Seeds are used

by squirrels, deer and some birds.

Tulip Poplar

Liriodendron tulipfera: A tall quick

growing tree, prefers deep, well

drained soils. An important tree in

timber production and also a very

nice landscaping tree. Has a large

showy yellow flower in the spring.

Tree, Fish, & Rain Barrel Sale

The Harrison Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) annual Tree &

Shrub Seedling Sale is going thru March.

We are offering 28 different species of tree seedlings, all but one being

species native to this area. The fish sale will offer 8 species for stocking

ponds, including many gamefish, grass carp, and minnows.

This year, we are also selling rain barrels and the rain barrel sale will be

followed by a workshop to build your rain barrel in April.

When selecting trees to order, be sure to consider your site conditions

and the tree descriptions located on the previous pages. If you have any

questions, don’t hesitate to contact our office for recommendations.

Additional order forms and more information are available at hswcd.org

or by calling the Harrison SWCD at 740-942-8837.

Orders not picked up during the dates and times listed will be con-

sidered a donation to the SWCD office unless previously arranged.

Item ( All come in packs of 5) Cost Qty Total

Arborvitae $5

Tamarack $7

White Pine $5

Blue Spruce $5

American Elderberry $6

Ninebark $7

Flowering Dogwood $5

Native Willow Mix $6

Pawpaw $12

Persimmon $5

Eastern Redbud $5

American Plum $6

American Hazelnut $5

Black Walnut $5

Black Gum $7

Kentucky Coffeetree $8

River Birch $6

Sugar Maple $7

Red Maple $5

Tulip Poplar $5

Honey Locust (thornless) $6

American Chestnut $12

Chinkapin Oak $5

Scarlet Oak $5

Red Oak $5

Swamp White Oak $5

White Oak $5

Bitternut Hickory $7

Tree Shelters (Pack of 5) $10

TOTAL DUE

Limited Quantities Available. Orders are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Seedlings and plants are quality stock. Harrison SWCD offers no guarantee of

survival due to weather and planting conditions not under our control.

Fish Orders

Description Quantity Price Total

Largemouth Bass 2-3” $ .85/each

Bluegill 2-4” $ .75/each

Catfish 4-5” $ .75/each

Perch 2-3” $ .80/each

Crappie 2-4” $ .85/each

Shell Cracker (Red Ear) 2-4” $ .85/each

Flathead Minnow 1-2” $ .07/each

White Amur 8-11” $14.00/each

TOTAL DUE $

Tree Orders

Fish Order Deadline: Friday March 27 Fish Order Pickup: April 2, 11 am to Noon

Name:________________________________

Address:______________________________

City:_____________ State:____ Zip:________

Phone #:______________________________

Email:________________________________

Send Order Form & Payment to

Harrison SWCD

538 North Main Street, Cadiz, OH 43907

Deadline for all orders is March 27

Tree Order Deadline: Friday March 27 Tree Order Pickup: April 16-17

Description Price Order Quantity

Option A: Rain Barrel Kit and registration for $45

Option B: Rain Barrel Kit and instructions to $50

Option C: Plastic 55 gallon drum, non- $10

TOTAL DUE $

Rain Barrel Orders

Rain Barrel Order Deadline: Friday March 27

Supervisors

Craig Brokaw

Tillie Heavilin

Lynn Mendenhall

John Herbold

Kathy Depew

Staff

Keila Telfer

Jonathan Roales

Josh Britton

NRCS

Beth Kruprzak

Clint Finney

Chris Skatula

A Special Thank You to the Commissioners

The Harrison Soil & Water Conservation District

Board of Supervisors & Staff would like to thank

the Harrison County Commissioners for their fi-

nancial support and dedication to Soil & Water

Conservation. The financial assistance from the

county will be matched by state funds which en-

ables the district to better aid and provide assis-

tance to the landowners and residents of Harri-

son County.

Harrison Soil & Water Conservation District

538 North Main Street

Cadiz, Ohio 43907

Phone: 740-942-8837

Fax: 740-942-4036

Website: www.hswcd.org

NON-PROFIT PRSRT STD

US POSTAGE PD PERMIT #23

CADIZ, OH 43907