Free timber tax webinar available on Feb. 1, 2012

Please click on the brochure to the right for additional information.

ACDEA scholarship applications available

The Walker County Soil & Water Conservation District is now accepting applications for a $500.00 scholarship sponsored by the Alabama Conservation District Employees Association. Applicant must be a U. S. citizen, high school senior, and living in the State of Alabama. Applications may be picked up at the District office located in the Walker County Board of Education Building, 1710 Alabama Avenue, Suite 207, in Jasper. Deadline to receive completed applications in the District office is March 9, 2012. For more information, please contact Katherine Patton at (205) 387-1879 or kpattonwalkersoil@gmail.com.

2011 Walker County Land Judging

The Walker County Soil and Water Conservation District along with the Natural Resources Conservation Service hosted the 2011 annual land judging contest for high school students on October 25th at the farm of Daniel Tubbs, located in Oakman. Score cards are completed on four different land uses: cropland, pastureland, forest land and home sites. This event is designed to help the students learn more about land, soil types and capabilities, methods of soil conservation, treatments to obtain higher crop production and the selection of suitable home sites. There were five schools from Walker and Morgan Counties that participated in this year's contest. We would like to extend a special thanks to Daniel Tubbs for the use of his farm, District Three Commissioner Ben Huggins and his staff for digging the judging pits and to the Walker County Forestry Planning Committee for providing lunch.

Pictured to the right is Curry High School who placed 1st in the contest.

Pictured to the left is Oakman High School who placed 2nd in the contest.

Plans Underway for Alabama Forage Conference

Farmers from across the Southeast will have an opportunity to hear from national leaders on forage and grazing practices at the Alabama Forage Conference, being held on December 1, 2011, at Lake Guntersville State Park Lodge, 1155 Lodge Drive, Guntersville, Alabama.

Topics include extending the grazing system, finishing beef on grass, nutrient management for southern forages, weed control on pastures and haylands, and many more. As part of the conference, participants can choose from three concurrent afternoon sessions on: clover, fertility, and weed control.

Lunch is included in the registration fee which is $25 per person before
November 18 and $30 per person after that date. Checks should be made payable to the Alabama Forage and Grassland Coalition. Interested producers can register for the conference by sending their name, address, and registration fee to: Alabama Forage and Grassland Coalition, c/o Kay Holloway, 201 Funchess Hall, Auburn University, Alabama 36849.

For more information about the conference or if you are interested in having an exhibit, contact Eddie Jolley at (334) 887-4564, email eddie.jolley@al.usda.gov, Kent Stanford at (256) 557-1206, email stanfmk@auburn.edu,or visit the Natural Resources Conservation Service website at: www.al.nrcs.usda.gov.

The North Region Forestry Field Day and 2011 TREASURE Forest Award

The North Region Forestry Field Day and 2011 Helene Mosley Memorial TREASURE Forest Award will be held on Bill and Jeanie Snoddy's Loblolly Farm in Double Springs on Friday, October 7th. This program is one of three regional programs held across the state.
Loblolly Farm carries the special designation of Helene Mosley TREASURE Forest, which means that Bill and Jeanie Snoddy have developed and managed the forest according to a long-range plan. They've focused on timber production, recreation, aesthetics, and wildlife. The development has allowed their family and friends to derive a great deal of enjoyment from the property over the years.
The field day includes learning stations on landscaping for wildlife, herbicide applications for aesthetics, pond construction and management, and aesthetics for the forested landscape.
The program begins with registration at 8:30 a.m., followed by a tour featuring four learning stations. After lunch, the Alabama Natural Resources Council will present the TREASURE Forest Program Awards. The program will conclude at 2:30 p.m. with door-prizes for participants. Lunch is included and the program is free with pre-registration before October 5th. Pre-register by calling (205) 489-5014.

Area III Association of Conservation Districts Annual Meeting

The Area III Association of Conservation Districts Annual Meeting was held on July 21, 2011 at the Bell Conference Center on the UWA campus in Livingston, AL. The Walker County Soil and Water Conservation District was awarded the conservation education district of the year. Pictured to the right is Katherine Patton, DAC for the Walker County Soil and Water Conservation District accepting the conservation education district of the year award. Also, the photo in the center is Joe Love, Supervisor for the Walker County Soil and Water Conservation District who was recognized for his 25 years of service with a service pin.

Walker County grazing clinic

A grazing clinic will be held in Walker County at the Alabama Cooperative Extension System Building on August 2, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. with registration check in at 8:00 a.m. The registration fee for attending this clinic will be $30.00 and must be paid by July 22, 2011. Included in the registration fee will be a copy of Southern Forages, a forage measuring stick, additional educational materials as well as lunch. Please call the NRCS Jasper Field Office or The Walker County Soil and Water Conservation District at (205) 387-1879 for registration or questions.