MIDDLE SOUTH GEORGIA CONSERVATION DISTRICT

Middle South Georgia Conservation District is one of 40 conservation districts in the state of GA. Our district was created in 1945 in the aftermath of the Dust Bowl and encompasses nine counties in southwest Georgia.

As a legal subdivision of the state of Georgia, the District bridges the gap between federal and state resource management agencies and the local people; this allows decisions about natural resource issues and conservation problems to be made at a local level, with technical and financial assistance provided by the government. Middle South Georgia Conservation District comprises Ben Hill, Brooks, Colquitt, Crisp, Irwin, Thomas, Tift, Turner, and Worth Counties

News

MIDDLE SOUTH GA CONSERVATION DISTRICT NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATION GRANT

Tifton, GA August 21, 2024—The Middle South Georgia Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), a local agency dedicated to the conservation and stewardship of the area’s natural resources, will be awarding funds through their Environmental and Agricultural Education Grant to educators and other organizations located within the District’s service area. The service area includes Ben Hill, Brooks, Colquitt, Crisp, Irwin, Thomas, Tift, Turner and Worth counties. The purpose of the grant is to promote agriculture and natural resources education objectives.

Educators at schools within the service area grades Pre-K through 12th grade and other agricultural or natural resources-based entities are encouraged to apply for project funding up to $1,000.  Grant funding requests can include, but are not limited to, tools, books, software, lab equipment, field trips, and development of natural resources areas like gardens or nature trails. Application and more information is available at www.gacd.us/middlesouthgeorgia . The application deadline is September 30, 2024. For questions, contact Leanne Hopper at leanne.chafn@gacd.us or 706-436-7683.

Georgia Feral Hog Task Force Announces Pilot Trap Rental Program and Workshop in Middle-South Georgia Soil & Water Conservation District

Atlanta, Ga  – The Georgia Feral Hog Task Force, a multi-agency collaboration between the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD), and the University of Georgia, announced a new trap rental pilot program will be rolled out at a workshop in Tifton on Tuesday, January 23, 2024. The workshop is open to anyone in the Middle South Georgia Soil & Water Conservation District impacted by feral hogs and interested in renting a PigBrig trap. Attendance at the workshop is required to participate in the trap rental program. The workshop is limited to 30 participants.

More training workshops will be announced here.

MIDDLE SOUTH GA CONSERVATION DISTRICT HONORS 2023 CONSERVATIONISTS OF THE YEAR

Quitman, Ga March 21, 2024 —The Middle South Georgia Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), a local agency dedicated to the conservation and stewardship of the area’s natural resources, honored the 2023 Conservationists of the Year in each county within its area. The service area includes Ben Hill, Brooks, Colquitt, Crisp, Irwin, Thomas, Tift, Turner and Worth counties. The Conservationist of the Year Banquet was held at the Brooks County USDA Service Center in Quitman, Ga on Thursday, March 21, 2024.

Congratulations to Peter Fox for being awarded Ben Hill County's Conservationist of the Year. He farms 300 acres of timber which has been in the family for over 200 years. The purpose of the timber operation is to enhance wildlife. He has been in many NRCS programs over the years. Some of the conservation practices he utilizes is prescribed burning.

Congratulations to Dixie Hay Farm for being awarded Brooks County's Conservationist of the Year. Josh and Brandon Simpson farm 600 acres of hay, 700 acres of cotton, 130 acres of peanuts and run cattle as well. They have been in many NRCS programs such as EQIP and CSP. Some of the conservation practices they utilize is planting cover crops, putting in grass waterways, terraces, and more.

Congratulations to Davis Family Farms for being awarded Colquitt County's Conservationist of the Year. They farm 7500 acres of cotton, corn, and peanuts in Colquitt county as well as Dougherty, Mitchell and Worth counties. They also run approximately 300 head of beef cattle. The farm has been in numerous NRCS programs and they utilize conservation practices like planting cover crops, putting in terraces, installing grassed waterways, and much more.

Congratulations to Lenny Wells for being awarded Crisp County's Conservationist of the Year.  Lenny farms pecans in NW Crisp County on land that has been in our family since the 1890’s.  He started the operation in 2005 with his father by planting 25 acres of pecans.  The pecan operation has grown but remains small at 100 acres. Some key aspects of conservation practices on the farm are the maintenance of clover in our orchards to help build organic matter, provide supplemental nitrogen for the trees and improve the soil, planting pollinator strips along some of the orchard edges, scouting for insect pests, applying no more fertilizer than is required based on soil and leaf sampling, and conserving water through the use of soil moisture monitoring and recommended irrigation schedules.

Congratulations to Royal Farms for being awarded Irwin County’s Conservationist of the Year.  Charles Royal has broiler chicken houses as well as runs beef cows and cuts hay. His farm has been in several NRCS programs for stackhouses, pine trees, and cross fencing. He utilizes rotational grazing along with converting pine trees into CRP programs.

Congratulations to Copps Farms for being awarded Thomas County's Conservationist of the Year. Robby Copps farms cotton and peanuts, has beef cattle, 10 acres of Satsuma trees, and is also a partner in a produce stand. His farm has been NRCS CSP and some of the conservation practices he utilizes is cover crops, grid sampling, low pressure pivots, GPS, and drip control nozzles.

Congratulations to Russell Griffin for being awarded Tift County’s Conservationist of the Year. His family owns and operates a sixth generation family farm involved in the production of cotton, peanuts, pecans, hay, and cattle. Over the last several years their operation has utilized the NRCS EQIP and CSP programs to help further their conservation efforts. They use the practices of terracing, grassed waterways, and buffer strips around field edges to reduce erosion. 

Congratulations to Travis Wilson for being awarded Turner County's Conservationist of the Year. He farms 1000 acres of peanuts and cotton and runs about 220 head of cows. Travis’ fathers land was in NRCS programs in which he now farms. Some of the conservation practices he utilizes are drip irrigation systems, cover crops, installing terraces, and grassed waterways. 

Congratulations to King Farms for being awarded Worth County's Conservationist of the Year. He farms 600 acres of peanuts and cotton on his first generation farm. He has been in NRCS programs such as EQIP and CSP. Some of the conservation practices he utilizes include drip irrigation, planting cover crops, installing terraces, and more.

The Middle South Georgia Soil and Water Conservation District is a unit of state government that directs natural resource management programs in Ben Hill, Brooks, Colquitt, Crisp, Irwin, Thomas, Tift, Turner and Worth counties. The Conservation District works with farmers, landowners, and with other units of government to educate and actively promote programs and practices that support the conservation, and use and development of soil, water, and related resources. More information can be found at www.gacd.us/middlesouthgeorgia.

2024 District Poster contest winners

supervisors

meeting information

The Middle South Georgia Conservation District meets quarterly the first Wednesday of each month at 2:00 p.m. at the Tift County USDA Service Center, 1468 Carpenter Rd., Tifton, GA, 31793.

District Personnel

Leanne Hopper, GACD Regional Program Manager Southwest GA

leanne.chafin@gacd.us

706-436-7683

contact middle south georgia conservation district