White County Soil & Water Conservation District

06/10/2026

Check out how to identify Poison Hemlock!

If this plant is growing in your yard, ditch, or along your fence line, don't ignore it.

Poison hemlock is one of the most common invasive plants along roadways, and this time of year it's hard to miss with its tall stems and clusters of white flowers. The problem? It spreads quickly, crowds out native plants, and is very toxic.

Knowing how to identify poison hemlock is the first step to protecting your family, pets, and local ecosystems. Check out this week's Invasive Plant of the Week graphic to learn what to look for and help stop its spread before it produces thousands of seeds.

Have you spotted poison hemlock in your neighborhood this year? Let us know in the comments!

For more information on invasive species please visit sicim.info

06/03/2026

🐝 Bee-ing active in our community! Last night, Katie (SWCD Educator) and Grace (RITA) teamed up to teach local kids all about the importance of bees at the Power of Produce (POP) Club!

To bring the lesson to life, the kids got creative and crafted their very own bees to take home. We love seeing our youth connect with nature and conservation.

05/22/2026

We will be closed Monday, May 25th, 2026

05/21/2026

Not sure when or how you’re supposed to control that invasive plant taking over your yard?
Check out this post below from SICIM!

05/19/2026

Open to all youth in grades 3–12! 4-H membership is not required to attend!

Purdue Extension is hosting its 2nd annual Crop and Soil Science Workshop on Tuesday, June 16th. Participants will enjoy many different interactive activities, plus lunch will be provided.

Please check out the flyer!

05/12/2026

Today we went and looked at this EQIP cover crop field, and it’s a great example of how management choices can boost conservation outcomes.

Leaving cereal rye to grow longer in the spring—often until it reaches 18–24 inches or joints—helps maximize biomass. That extra growth leads to better w**d suppression, improved moisture retention, and stronger soil erosion protection. Depending on the crop, rye can be terminated 10–14 days before planting or, in soybeans, even left standing at planting.

This heavier mulch layer supports healthier soils throughout the season, though it does require thoughtful management to avoid nitrogen tie-up or early-season moisture competition.

Programs like EQIP provide both financial and technical assistance to help producers adopt cover crops and other soil‑building practices that make a lasting impact on working lands.

If you’d like to learn more or see how EQIP could support your operation, reach out to White County NRCS Service Center or your local NRCS Service Center.

05/08/2026

Stop by our office and talk to our local District Conservationist Derek Carty.

Conservation planning with us is free, confidential, and completely voluntary. We would love to visit with you about your operation, so find us at your nearest USDA Service Center to meet with us this spring.

04/22/2026

Celebrate this Earth Day by stepping outside and soaking up some fresh air! Whether you’re hitting the trails, planting a tree, or just enjoying a local park.

04/20/2026

Had a great time at the Bluestem Nature Center!

04/16/2026