Richard Gassman and Linda Tuttle were re-elected to the Hancock SWCD Board of Supervisors at the 70th Annual Meeting, August 2, 2016 at The Lodge in Riverbend Recreation Area. Richard and Linda will be sworn into office in January and will serve 3-year terms as super-visor. The Hancock SWCD supervisors and staff thank Steve Ruggles for being a candi-date for the board of supervisors. The Hancock SWCD current supervisors are: Dave Reese-Chairman, Mark Shick-Vice- Chairman, Richard Gassman-Fiscal Agent, Linda Tuttle-member and Evan Jackson- member.

Supervisor Elected

The Outstanding Cooperator award was presented during the Hancock SWCD 70th Annual Meeting to Roger and Lori Rader Farms. Roger and Lori have been cooperators with the Hancock Soil & Water Conservation District since 1998. They have made many improvements on their farms in Pleasant Town-ship. The various practices include a waste storage facility,

animal mortality composter, covered feedlot, heavy use pad, water control structures, conser-vation tillage and cover crops. This award and plaque are sponsored by Sparks Commer-cial Tire, Inc. We appreciate Terry Sparks continued interest and encouragement of sound conservation practices.

ConservationCloseUp H a nc oc k S o i l & W at er C on se rv at i on

Outstanding Cooperator

Fall 2016

Linda Tuttle - Member

Evan Jackson - Member

Richard Gassman -Fiscal Agent

Mark Shick - Vice-Chairman

Dave Reese - Chairman

Pictured: Supervisor, Dave Reese and Roger Rader

2016 Board of Supervisors

2016 Farm Tour The 2016 Farm Tour on September 17, 2016 was a success despite being dampened a little by mother nature! Thanks to the 8 great host families, those attending learned about agriculture, the environment and had a great time! The farm tour committee wish-es to thank the following sponsors for making this great event possi-ble with their generous donations:

Hancock County Convention

& Visitors Bureau

Advance Drainage Systems, Inc.

Ag Credit

Boes Brothers, Inc.

Chamber Agri-Business

Committee

Citizens National Bank

Findlay Implement Co.

Findlay Publishing Company

First Federal Bank

Hancock Farm Bureau

Hancock Soil & Water

Conservation District

Hancock Wood-Electric

Cooperative

Kalmbach Feeds

Legacy Farmers Cooperative

Ohio Soybean Council

OSU Extension Service

Streacker Tractor Sales

The University of Findlay

University of Findlay Animal Science Center

D & M Farms LLC

Horn Farms

The Rieck Center for Habitat Studies

The University of Findlay

Good News Grass & Cattle

Fruth’s Sugar House, Greenhouse & Floral

VanSant Farms

Spahr Jersey Farm

Grant Funds Available Grant funds are available for the Sediment and Phosphorus Reduction in Brights Ditch Water-shed. The practices available for

cost-share are:

First & Third Year

1) Precision Nutrient Manage-ment Plan - 3-year commit-ment includes: Grid Soil Test-ing-$10 per acre, Précised Fertilizer application-$20 per acre, Conservation No-till-$15 per acre and Cover Crops-$30 per acre

Second Year 1) Précised Fertilizer application-

$20 per acre., Conservation No-Till-$15 per acre, Cover Crops-$30 per acre.

Cost share is also available for:

1) Water Control Structures-No Main - $1,500 Flat Rate with $500 per unit

2) Water Control Structure - with main - $4,000 Flat Rate with $1,000 per unit.

The purpose of this grant is to reduce sediment and phosphorus loading and runoff volume from the Brights Ditch watershed from reaching the Blanchard River and ultimately Lake Erie.

If you have questions, contact the Hancock SWCD at 419-422-6569, the Wyandot SWCD at 419-294-2312 or Phil Martin, BRWP, at 419-422-6487.

Water Control Structure

Why Plant a Windbreak? The purpose of the Northwest Ohio Field Wind-break program is to establish wind-breaks on or adjacent to crop fields. Field windbreaks reduce wind erosion, protect crops and provide for wildlife habitat. The program is not intended for farmstead, pasture, or home site plantings and orders will not be accepted solely for these purposes. Incidental plantings adjacent to buildings may be accepted if they meet all of the following criteria: 1) The planting is bordered on one side by a crop field and each row adjacent to the building area is a continuation of field windbreak row that is planted at the same time. 2) The planting is part of a larger field windbreak system and the area adjacent to the buildings constitutes no more than ten percent (10%) of the total row feet planted. 3) The total order constitutes a minimum of 3,500 row feet. 4) The section can be efficiently planted by the crew as part of the total job. As a result of the increased inter-est for multiple row shrub plantings through the CRP & CREP, wind-breaks having only wildlife shrubs as the species being planted are eligible to be planted through the NW Ohio Field Windbreak Program. These windbreaks will be considered as hedgerow plantings. The following guidelines will be used for hedgerow plantings through the Northwest Program: 1) The windbreaks must be

through the Conservation Re-serve Program (CRP) or Con-servation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).

The Division of Forestry agrees to plant the seedlings, apply an herbi-cide in the Spring, and return in the Fall to do a survival count and a second application of herbicide.

1) Replacement seedlings would be offered to the landowners to plant themselves.

2) Field wind break plantings will have a priority over hedgerow plantings. The pre-ferred method for hedgerow plantings is through district tree planters or private tree planting vendors. Hedgerow plantings may be planted through the Northwest Ohio Field Windbreak Program to the extent that time allows.

The landowner is responsible for and must be committed to the maintenance and upkeep of the field windbreak after planting. This includes protecting the windbreak from fire, grazing, herbicide and wildlife damage and replacing dead trees as needed. Applications must be received by December 9, 2016. Contact Gary Tuttle at 419-422-6569 or http://forestry.ohiodnr.gov/landownerassistance for more information.

Field Windbreak

Multiple Row Shrub Planting