marionswcd

It’s harvest time in Marion County, and it’s a “Tighty Whities” harvest, the end of the “Soil Your Undies” local challenge. Ten prominent Marion County farm women planted undies on their farms to learn more about soil health and help educate others.

Women taking  the challenge (NOT pictured in order)  were Tracy Duerst; IOKA Farms of Salem, Brenda Frketich; Kirsch Family Farms of St. Paul, Gayle Goschie; Goschie Farms of Silverton, Elaine Gumc; 4G Farms of Aumsville, Trish Hogervorst of Salem, Rochelle Koch; Whole Circle Farms of Silverton, Lori Pavlicek; 4B Farms of Mt. Angel, Joanne Ross; Scott Creek Farm Miniature Horses of Salem, Alexa Weathers; Willamette Mission Farms of Gervais, and Regan Wyckoff; M & R Stables, Turner.

In May, each farm woman “planted” a white XXXL  100% cotton pair of briefs, hoping the healthy microbes in the soil would degrade the cotton. 60 days later the results were displayed. The more shredded the undies were, the greater the breakdown.  Very little breakdown of the cotton meant that the soil was not hosting enough microbes. Marion Soil and Water Conservation District hosted the challenge on behalf of the local Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS).

The group of ten women “harvested” their Tighty Whities and met on participant Gayle Goschie’s farm and chose to “Dine in the Vines” at the hop field to compare results.  The follow-up of the soil experiment yielded eight women with no cotton undies at all, just the elastic band when they dug up undies.  Two women had a small amount of cotton, and both planted their undies a little late.  Several women were afraid they wouldn’t even find the undies they buried.

Betsy Verhoeven OSU Asst Professor talked with the group about soil health. Most “undies” were planted in a silty clay loam and in spite of little rain, had great microbial activity.

Gayle Goschie, who hosted the meeting for Marion Soil and Water Conservation District said “It was a very successful undertaking, we were not sure what to expect. Lots of jokes, of course, but we are always open to learning about soil health.”

The conservation district is challenging other farmers to follow the lead of these ten women and take the challenge and see for themselves the differences in their fields soil health.  The results of the challenge will be on display and the participants will be attending the Marion SWCD Soil Health Workshop on November 6, 2019 at the Chemeketa Eola Campus in West Salem.

Are you concerned about soil health? Take the challenge, just go to the NRCS website bit.ly/soilundies  and get started.  If you have questions about soil health, we will be glad to help you.  Reach us at www.marionswcd.net or call Marion SWCD at 503.391.9927.

For More Information please download this flyer.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to lease space in this desirable office building strategically located at 338 Hawthorne Avenue N.E, just north of Costco, and south of Lancaster Mall, Minutes from I-5. Currently the headquarters for Marion Soil and Water Conservation District.This quality professional office building has all the amenities that professional office users crave. If your natural resources non-profit or similar business needs a professional office building join us to make this your new home! 

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See attached flyer for more information.

Please share with anyone who may be looking for office space!

Rochelle Koch is a farmer that uses sustainable, ethical and organic practices.   Good soil health contributes to producing, protecting, and encouraging the perpetuity of the farm.

Gayle Goschie of Goschie Farms in Silverton is a nationally known hop grower.  She and her brothers were the first hop growers to practice micro-irrigation and to earn a Salmon-Safe certification.  She is a true leader in soil and water conservation and soil health is critical to this farm’s success.

Elaine Gumc of 4G Farms in Aumsville has some new hazelnuts! She and her husband are installing drip irrigation in two phases in the orchard.  Elaine is interested to learn about soil health in this former perennial ryegrass field.

Application

Instructions

SAMPLE APPLICATION

GRANTS TO PLANT
This program provides funding to help offset seed, labor, and equipment costs associated with the planting of cover crops. Funding will be awarded on a per acre basis with a limit of $7,500 per entity, per fiscal year under current district financial policies. A sum of $37,500 has been allocated to this program for its initial startup. The goal of this program is to reduce soil erosion and promote soil health throughout the district.

PAYMENT SCALE
Farmers can receive incentives ranging from $30-$70 an acre with a maximum payout limit of $7,500 to plant cover crops in the fall of 2019. These crops will be in place until early spring of 2020. A payment scale had been created with several different options depending on how the crop is planted and where the project is located. The goal is to promote the best management practices for establishment of cover crops while using the least amount of natural resources.

HOW TO APPLY
• Applications will available at the Marion Soil and Water Conservation District Office located at 338 Hawthorne Ave NE Salem, OR 97301 and on our website at https://www.marionswcd.net/
• Applications will be accepted from August 1st – October 29th, while funding is available.
• Applications will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis
• Applications must be received by Marion SWCD staff and approved by the board of directors before planting can occur
• Required application documents to include: Cover Crop application, soil map (for each field) and current field condition photo(s)
• Marion SWCD staff will provide technical sheet(s) for project area(s)

ELIGIBLE COVER CROPS
• Cereal Grains: Wheat, Rye, Barley, Triticale, and Oats
• Annual Ryegrass and other grasses
• Forage Radish and other brassicas
• Legumes: Crimson Clover, Winter Peas and Vetch
• Canola is not eligible for this program
• Multiple specie blends are encouraged
• Seeding rate guidance available from District staff, Oregon State Extension and local agronomy centers

PLANTING DATES
• Planting cereal grains at suggested variety guidelines is recommended to increase survival rates.
• Mixes containing legumes, forage radish, or oats should be planted by October 1, 2019 to ensure winter hardiness.
• Projects planted before October 31st are eligible for the early planting incentive.
• All cover crop planting must be completed before November 30th, 2019 (no exceptions or extensions will be accepted). If implementation cannot be done before the deadline the contract will be void.

PLANTING AND GROWING REQUIREMENTS
Cover crops can be established in three main ways: No-till drill, conventional seed drill, and broadcast seeding followed by light tillage. Grower will be responsible for weed suppression with spot treatments and re-planting if necessary. Work with these projects will be conducted in a manner and time that minimizes disturbance to sensitive wildlife areas. Eligible crops may be grazed or chopped for on-farm livestock forage after becoming well established. This will reduce the award $10 per acre and cannot be done before February 1st. Crop termination will take place between March 1st and June 1st, 2020 with best management practices such as herbicide application, mowing, crimping or hay/forage harvest. Cover crops cannot be harvested for seed.

GUIDELINES AND CONDITIONS
• All seed purchased must be tested and labeled following Oregon Seed Law and Regulations.
• Purchased seed must be free of prohibited noxious weed seeds and have a minimum germination rate at least 80 percent.
• Applicants must be in good standing with Marion SWCD and in compliance with the Oregon Department of Agriculture to be eligible for this program.
• Projects must be within Marion Soil and Water Conservation District boundary
• Applicants can apply for a parcel of land no more than three consecutive years for funding.

This program provides funding to help offset seed, labor, and equipment costs associated with the planting of cover crops. Funding will be awarded on a per acre basis with a limit of $7,500 per entity, per fiscal year under current district financial policies. A sum of $37,500 has been allocated to this program for its initial startup. The goal of this program is to reduce soil erosion and promote soil health throughout the district.

PAYMENT SCALE
Farmers can receive incentives ranging from $30-$70 an acre with a maximum payout limit of $7,500 to plant cover crops in the fall of 2019. These crops will be in place until early spring of 2020. A payment scale had been created with several different options depending on how the crop is planted and where the project is located. The goal is to promote the best management practices for establishment of cover crops while using the least amount of natural resources.

COMPLETION AND PAYMENT PROCESS
Applicants will be paid upon completion of planting. Staff may visit project areas during cover crop timeline for verification vegetation and field status. Paperwork must be completed and submitted to the board of directors at their next scheduled meeting for final payment approval.
Completion documentation must be turned within 30 days after planting and include seed bag tags, receipts, and expense tracking form. Payment of 75% of the payment will be issued after board approval, the remaining 25% will be paid after crop termination.

PENALTIES
Projects installed shall be properly maintained and shall be used in a manner that is consistent with the purposes for which they were established. If a project is removed, modified, fails, or is incomplete, the Cooperator may be required to return some or all of the District’s funds and may be ineligible for other district programs.

The Marion SWCD is an equal opportunity employer, providing services to the public without regard to race, religion, color, sexual orientation, gender
identity, national origin, mental or physical disability, marital status, age or other protected status or activity in accordance with applicable law.

and her husband spend two years reclaiming a riparian area of 7 acres. This formerly overgrown pasture has her questioning soil health.

Tracy Duerst and her family farm east of Salem. They grow grass seed, meadowfoam, oats, hazelnuts, Christmas trees, plus they also have a custom seed cleaning operation and marketing division. She is teaching her two granddaughters about the importance of soil health for future generations.

Joanne Ross of Scott Creek Farm  is the premier Miniature Horse breeder of the pacific northwest.  What is under that grass? She will be finding out!