Orange County NC Soil and Water Conservation District

04/29/2026

The NC Envirothon was held on April 24-25 at Cedarock Park in Burlington. Ultimate Ecologists, a homeschool team from Orange County, placed FOURTH overall in the middle school competition out of 47 teams. Congratulations to Ultimate Ecologists!!!

03/23/2026

Do you have a fire ant problem? Fire ant bait spreaders are available to rent from April to November for agricultural producers! It can only be used on agricultural land.

To reserve a broadcast spreader, call Orange Soil and Water Conservation District at 919-245-2750. The NC Cooperative Extension in Orange County also has a fire ant bait spreader and can be reached at 919-245-2051.

03/20/2026

Join us for the annual Durham-Orange County Pond Clinic! This free event will be held on Saturday, May 16th from 9AM-1PM in Hillsborough, NC. Topics include pond maintenance, construction, wildlife management, and aquatic weeds. Lunch will be provided. The event also includes a youth Catch & Release Fishing tournament with prizes.

Register by April 30th at orangecountync.gov/Pond or call 919-245-2750.

02/03/2026

The Resource Conservation Workshop will be hosted at North Carolina State University on June 14-19. High school students across North Carolina are invited to attend this weeklong camp exploring careers in natural resource conservation and agriculture. Applications are accepted for rising 10th-12th graders.

If you are a high school student in Orange County that would like to attend the RCW, please reach out to the Orange Soil and Water Conservation District for more details and a copy of the application! Districts select students to attend and may award scholarships to cover the cost ($650 per student). The deadline to apply is March 31, 2026.

For more information, visit go.ncsu.edu/rcw

01/23/2026

Sharing a news release below for our farmers due to the forecasted storm event this weekend.

"The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will activate its hotline Saturday, Jan. 24, to connect farmers with resources that can assist with damage and other agricultural emergencies related to the storm. The toll-free number is 1-866-645-9403. A live operator will be available on the hotline Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Monday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“We know based on the current forecast the damage for agriculture could be significant,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “We are preparing to aid farmers that experience damage to livestock operations, crops, nurseries and infrastructure. In addition to our hotline, I encourage those who may need assistance to reach out to your local extension agents and county emergency management officials as our Emergency Programs Division communicates and coordinates assistance with them as well.”

Farmers can also find recovery resources on the department’s disaster web page, "

Disaster Information for Farms and AgribusinessesDisasters. You can't predict when a tornado, hurricane, hazmat or other emergency will strike your business. But you can be prepared and have a plan in case something does happen. Farms, ranches, food warehouses, pesticide dealers and more all have di...

01/22/2026

Are you passionate about environmental science and natural resource management? Gather your 5-member team and dive into the Area 3 Envirothon adventure! Reach out to the Orange Soil & Water Conservation District at [email protected] or 919.245.2750 to get started and discover more.

Wondering what the Area 3 Envirothon is all about? This annual challenge is your chance to shine, test your environmental science skills, and compete for recognition and scholarships.

When is it? Tuesday, March 10, 2026.

Join us at Alamance Community College in Graham for an unforgettable event. Boost your team's chances with up-to-date study resources from the NC Envirothon website:
NC Envirothon - Study Resources

Sign up your team here:
https://www.ncarea3envirothon.org/team-registration

Mark your calendars and gear up for an exciting experience!
• February 13, 2026: Area 3 Envirothon team registration deadline.
• April 24, 2026: NC Envirothon. Team registration deadline is April 4, 2026.

08/25/2025

Please join us for the 2025 Tri-County Field Day! Register by September 16th at: https://go.ncsu.edu/2025-tri-county-field-day

08/25/2025

Last week, the Orange Soil & Water Conservation District (OSWCD) celebrated three exceptional students who received scholarships for the Resource Conservation Workshop (RCW)!

The OSWCD sponsored two students and wants to give a shout-out to the Hillsborough Garden Club (HGC) for sponsoring a third student! The students were Savannah Durham (Orange High School), Ruth Sherran (East Chapel Hill High School), and Brianna Li (Chapel Hill High School).

The students had a blast exploring conservation topics, learning about natural resources, and tackling real-life environmental challenges. They also gained hands-on experience with soil, water, forestry, and wildlife through field studies, outdoor adventures, and behind-the-scenes tours of cool conservation spots.

The Resource Conservation Workshop is a week-long event held every June at NC State University. Participants are chosen through their local Soil and Water Conservation District. For more info, contact the Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District!

06/11/2025

Do you have farm or forestry land in Orange County? Are you interested in learning more about conservation easements and planning for the future?

Join us for the upcoming Conservation Easements and Farm Succession Planning event on June 25th at the Bonnie B. Davis Center. Registration information is listed below.

05/20/2025

Thanks to everyone that came out to the Durham and Orange Soil and Water Conservation District's Pond Clinic last weekend!