Middle South Georgia SWCD to Host "From Forest to Fields" Conservation Field Day & Lunch

TIFTON, Ga July 13, 2026 – The Middle South Georgia Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) invites producers, landowners, community members, and elected officials to attend From Forest to Fields: A Conservation Field Day & Lunch on Thursday, August 13, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Ken & Brian Ponder’s Farm in Tifton, Georgia.

The event will feature interactive field demonstrations showcasing conservation practices and natural resource management strategies while providing opportunities for attendees to learn from conservation professionals and partner agencies. State and federal legislators representing the nine counties served by the Middle South Georgia SWCD have been invited to participate throughout the event, allowing them to engage directly with producers, landowners, conservation partners, and community members while experiencing conservation efforts firsthand.

The program will conclude with a lunch at the USDA Service Center, where attendees and legislators can continue discussions and strengthen relationships in an informal setting. The lunch provides an opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss local conservation and agricultural priorities, and foster collaboration among landowners, conservation organizations, and policymakers.

The Middle South Georgia SWCD serves Ben Hill, Brooks, Colquitt, Crisp, Irwin, Thomas, Tift, Turner, and Worth counties, making this event an excellent opportunity to build partnerships and encourage meaningful dialogue between local communities, conservation leaders, and elected officials.

The event is free and open to all producers, landowners, and community members, but registration is required. To register, visit www.gacd.us/events or contact 706-436-7683 or leanne.chafin@gacd.us for more information.

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.

Limestone Valley Soil & Water Conservation District is partnering with the Appalachian Cattlemen’s Association to offer a free workshop to learn about different forages, benefits of each, and a forage plot tour on Monday, August 3 at 6:00pm at the Gilmer County Ag Center at 346 Clear Creek School Rd., Ellijay, GA. Free BBQ dinner sponsored by Limestone Valley SWCD and GACD. 1 hour pesticide credit for private applicators & commercial plant agriculture (category 21). Join us for this informative event to learn from soil health and forage experts. This event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required by July 27. Register below. Check-in and dinner at 6:00pm, program starts at 6:20pm. Questions? Call GSWCC Region I office at 706-624-1214.

This event is open to the public. No registration required. Join us to learn about conserving natural resources and agricultural tips. Shop for fresh market goods at the Union County Farmers Market.

DeKalb County Soil and Water Conservation District has partnered with the City of Stonecrest to offer a free Feral Hog Control Educational Workshop open to the public on Tuesday, June 2 at 5:30pm at Stonecrest City Hall Annex Room at 3120 Stonecrest Blvd., Stonecrest, GA 30038. Join us to hear from experts with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division, the University of Georgia, US Department of Agriculture and more on how detrimental feral hogs are to our native wildlife’s habitat and food resources. Feral hogs have become an increasing problem in DeKalb County, particularly in the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area. The event is free, but pre-registration is required. Space is limited. Sign up below by May 26 to reserve your spot.

Catoosa County Conservation District is hosting a Level 1A Fundamentals Blue Card Initial Certification Course on Thursday, May 14 at 8:00am at The Colonnade at 264 Catoosa Circle, Ringgold, GA 30736. The cost is $135 per person and includes the textbook, 8 hour course, and test at the end. Passing score of at least 70% will result in 1A certification, which is valid for 3 years. Free lunch will be provided courtesy of Limestone Valley RC&D Council. Pre-registration is required to reserve your spot. Sign up below by May 7. This is a state-certified NPDES Level 1A Initial Certification Course taught by the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. 

District Supervisors and Partners - join us for this year’s Group 1 Meeting for a presentation from US Fish and Wildlife Service on a new Riparian Agroforestry program featuring both managed and naturalized plantings of native fruit-bearing tree species such as Pawpaw, Elderberry, etc. We will also be kicking off the first meeting of the revamped Urban Conservation Districts Committee. This will be an opportunity for urban districts to come together to share ideas and have discussion relevant to urban districts. Breakfast refreshments as well as a taco bar will be provided for lunch. Join us Tuesday, May 5th at Tanyard Creek Overlook at 4361 Cherokee St., Acworth, GA 30101. Check-in will begin at 8:30am and the program will start at 9:00am. This will be a half day event. Register here by April 21st! Special Thank You to our sponsors, Catoosa County Conservation District, Gwinnett County Soil and Water Conservation District, Limestone Valley Soil and Water Conservation District, and the GSWCC!

GACD Group 3 (Flint River, Lower Chattahoochee River, Middle South Ga, and Ocmulgee River Conservation Districts) are invited to tour UGA’s Grand Farms, hear a Quail Forever presentation, along with partner updates and lunch on Thursday, March 12th at 9:00am.

Coosa River Soil and Water Conservation District is hosting a Level 1A Initial Certification Course for contractors, developers and anyone involved in land disturbance activities to obtain Level 1A Certification. The course will be Thursday, January 22 at 8:00am at the Dade County Commissioner’s Board Room (Room 259) at 71 Case Ave., Trenton, GA. This 8 hour course includes the test. Passing score of 70% or greater will result in 1A Certification. Certification valid for 3 years. State-certified NPDES course delivered by GSWCC. Pre-registration required. Cost is very affordable at just $50 per person and includes textbook and lunch. Register at www.gacd.us/events.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR 2026 CONSERVATION DISTRICT DAY AT CAPITOL

Get ready to stand out and make your voice heard! You’re invited to proudly represent your Conservation District at GACD’s 2026 CONSERVATION DISTRICT DAY at the CAPITOL—your opportunity to champion conservation and speak directly with Georgia’s elected leaders.

By meeting face-to-face with members of the Georgia Legislature, you become a vital part of a powerful grassroots force—ready to activate when the most important issues arise. Your presence doesn’t just matter… it makes an impact.

This is your moment to help shape the future of natural resource stewardship in Georgia. Don’t miss your chance to influence change, amplify your District’s voice, and stand up for the land and water we all depend on.

Join us at the 2026 CONSERVATION DISTRICT DAY and let your commitment to conservation take center stage! 

Tentative SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

8:00AM Check- In/ Coffee

8:30AM

Welcome and Invocation

Briefing

Legislator Comments

10:15AM Individual Meetings with Legislators (Scheduled Independently)

11:00AM Gather at Steps in front of Governor Kemp’s Office for a Group Picture

Dismissal

We encourage you to personally reach out to your legislators before the event to let them know you will be calling them out Tuesday morning for a meeting.

-To locate your legislators go here:

https://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do and enter your info into the MVP Login box.

-Click on "My Districts and Elected Officials" on the top toolbar. The links to "state house" and "state senate" will lead you to your district information for your elected officials. Clicking on the district links for your Georgia Senator and Georgia Representative will bring you to the Georgia General Assembly website where you can locate their contact information.

Feral swine have become increasingly detrimental in Georgia, causing significant damage to agricultural crops and natural resources throughout the state. The economic impact of damage caused by feral swine in Georgia is estimated at $150 million. A group of agricultural and natural resource organizations are partnering to bring Georgia’s top experts on feral swine together in a series of educational workshops for farmers and landowners. 

The partnering agencies will host the workshop and trapping demonstration opportunities on November 19, 2025 in Camilla, Ga at the Mitchell County Ag Center located at 4590 Hwy 37 E Camilla, Ga. The workshop will be from 9:00am -12:45pm with lunch provided. This workshop is sponsored by the Flint River Conservation District.

Topics will include disease issues, swine biology, economics, water quality issues, effective control techniques, transport issues, and regulations to be followed by a question and answer panel of experts. There will also include a feral swine trapping demonstration.

Partnering agencies for this effort include the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA Wildlife Services, Georgia Association of Conservation Districts, Georgia Department of Natural Resources - Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Department of Agriculture, and University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources.

There is no cost to attend the workshops, but space is limited. Pre-registration is required.

Limestone Valley Soil and Water Conservation District is offering a FREE wild pig control workshop and trapping demonstration open to the public on Oct. 22 at 5:30pm at Gilmer County Ag Center at 385 Clear Creek School Rd., Ellijay, GA. Wild pigs cause millions of dollars of damage to property, farmland, and wildlife habitat annually. Landowners, farmers, hunters, outdoorsman and anyone interested are invited to join us to learn how to effectively control wild pigs, different types of traps and how to use and set them up, and much more. Dinner will be provided sponsored by Limestone Valley SWCD. This event is free, but sign up is required by October 13. Sign up today!

Cobb County Conservation District is offering a NPDES Level 1A Fundamentals Blue Card Certification Course in Acworth on Thursday, May 8, 8:00am-4:30pm. This is an 8 hour course with a test at the end. Lunch will be provided by Cobb County Conservation District. Register by April 30. Registration fee is $135 and includes textbook and lunch. Space is limited. Register today!

WHERE: Tanyard Creek Overlook - 4361 Cherokee St., Acworth, Ga.

Passing score of 70% or greater results in certification. Certification is valid for 3 years. This course is delivered by the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission (GSWCC) in accordance with Georgia Environmental Protection Division guidelines. The course is sponsored by Cobb County Conservation District. Visit www.gacd.us/cobbcounty for more information.

Towaliga Soil and Water Conservation District is offering a free workshop demonstrating no till drill equipment and benefits on May 2 from 9:00am-2:00pm at Vaughn Farms. Lunch is included. Pesticide credits also available. Register by April 25. See flyer below for address and details.

Join the Catoosa County Conservation District for a FREE fun and engaging half day outdoors on April 22 (Earth Day!) at 9:00am at Blue Springs Hunting Club to learn from UGA Extension and fisheries experts about pond health, weed management, fish health, stock management and more! Lunch will be provided by Walker County Young Farmers and Limestone Valley RC&D Council. Register by April 14 to reserve your spot! See flyer for details and register below!