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Summer 2010

Congratulations to Jim Hilton, Hilton Farms, in Norridgewock and  Alan and Norma Bardo, of Madison! Jim has earned our Outstanding Conservation Farmer of the Year award, and the Bardo's are the Outstanding Conservation Woodlot Owners of the year. The awards will be presented at the SCSWCD Annual Meeting and Banquet on August 27, 2010 at 6:00 at the Somerset Grange #18 in Norridgewock. The catering will be done by the Grange, so it's bound to be delicious! Please pre-register by calling Rose or Pam at our office - 474-8324 x 3 - so we can give the Grange members an accurate head-count. Payment of $10.00 per person may be made at the door.

New projects and programs focusing on conservation, and in line with area identified priorities, prompt workshops, training, and education in a wide variety of topics. Whether folks need information about their woodlot, technical assistance with agricultural operations, planning a rain garden, or stocking their pond with trout, we're on hand to assist.

The workshop we held in partnership with Maine Forest Service, Small Woodlot Owners Association of Maine (SWOAM), and the University of Maine on Woody Biomass Retention Guidelines was well attended and provided a great opportunity for questions, information, and experiences in this expanding field. The guidelines are available online at the Maine Forest Service website.

In our current newsletter (in partnership with Kennebec County SWCD), Conservation Times, you'll find the 2010 bulb sale information. A popular program, we've seen steady growth in orders each year (pun intended!). Be sure to send in your order form early  to minimize 'sold out' risk. Also in the Summer 2010 newsletter, you'll find information about our upcoming elections.

SCSWCD continues to assist Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) in administering Farm Bill projects and programs. Some exciting new programs are being offered in the world of agriculture and forestry. The Somerset County NRCS Field Office is proud to lead the state in funding for vital conservation work through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), as well as other programs targeted toward forestry practices. For more information on these programs, call our office at (207) 474-8324 x 3 or visit the Maine NRCS website.

                         Somerset County SWCD  12 High Street  Skowhegan ME  04976  (207) 474-8324   ext. 3