Join Fulton County Soil and Water Conservation District and various collaborative partners on Friday, April 4 at 9:00am at the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance at 1442 Richland Rd. SW, Atlanta, Ga for a free workshop including Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) training and certification through Produce Food Safety Services, lunch by Chef Zu of Kings Apron Holistic Nutrition, an overview of the City of Atlanta’s Farmstand Ordinance and Q&A, and a visit to Patchwork City Farms Market Stand! This event is free, but space is limited to 30 participants, so register today to secure your spot! Register at www.gacd.us/events. This event is brought to you by the Fulton County Soil & Water Conservation District, City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of Sustainability & Resilience, AGLanta, Core2Globe, West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, Kings Apron Holistic Nutrition, Fulton County UGA Extension, and more.

You are encouraged to represent your Conservation District at GACD’s annual 2025 CONSERVATION DISTRICT DAY at the CAPITOL and help deliver our message to elected officials. By visiting with Georgia Legislative members, we can mobilize an effective grassroots network when a critical issue is under consideration. Your participation guarantees a powerful action network.

You will not want to miss out on this opportunity to make an impact in your District and state. Show your support of natural resource stewardship with your presence at the 2025 CONSERVATION DISTRICT DAY. 

Tuesday, Feb. 18th
9:00am (Check-in begins at 8:30am)
Tanyard Creek Overlook - 4361 Cherokee St., Acworth, GA 30101

District supervisors, Local Issuing Authorities (LIA), and partner agencies - please join us for the annual Group 1 Meeting for engaging presentations on protecting urban waterways, LIA responsibilities and partnering with Conservation Districts and more! Breakfast will be served and we will wrap up around noon. 

Group 3 District Supervisors: join us for partner updates, a big breakfasts, and hear from UGA Ag & Applied Economics professor about the extent of damage from Hurricane Helene.

GEORGIA FERAL HOG TASK FORCE PARTNERS WITH MIDDLE SOUTH GA SWCD TO HOST FERAL HOG TRAP RENTAL TRAINING

In January 2024, 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 with the Middle South Georgia Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD). The rental program is open to anyone in the Middle South Georgia SWCD impacted by feral hogs and attends the training workshop. 

The partnering agencies will host a training workshop on October 29, 2024 at the Tifton USDA Service Center located 1468 Carpenter Rd, Tifton, GA. The workshop will be in the morning from 8:00am to 12:00pm. Again, this training workshop is required to be able to rent a trap and is only open to landowners in Ben Hill, Brooks, Colquitt, Crisp, Irwin, Thomas, Tift, Turner, and Worth Counties.

Topics will include wild pig biology, regulations and laws, personal protective equipment and carcass disposal, demonstration on setup and use of the Pig Brig trapping system.

There is no cost to attend the workshops, but space is limited to the first 30 registrants. Pre-registration is required. More details and registration information is available at www.GACD.us/events. 

Catoosa County Conservation District is partnering with the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission (GSWCC) to offer a Level 1A (Blue Card) Initial Certification course on Monday, September 30 at 8:00AM at the Colonnade at 264 Catoosa Circle, Ringgold, GA 30736. This is an 8 hour state-certified course delivered by GSWCC with a test at the end. Passing score of 70% or greater will earn certification. Certification valid for 3 years. Pre-registration is required to reserve your seat and textbook. Cost includes textbook. Lunch will be provided on-site by Limestone Valley Resource Conservation and Development Council. Register before Sep. 22nd.

When constituents talk, the Georgia Legislature listens. You are encouraged to represent your Conservation District at GACD’s annual 2024 CONSERVATION DISTRICT DAY at the CAPITOL and help deliver our message to elected officials.

By visiting with members of the Legislature, we can mobilize an effective grassroots network when a critical issue is under consideration. Your participation guarantees a powerful action network. Show your support of natural resource stewardship with your presence at the 2024 CONSERVATION DISTRICT DAY.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Room 123

8:00AM Check- In/ Donuts & Coffee

8:30AM

Welcome and Invocation

Proclamation Presentation

Review of Process for Meetings

Review of Ask

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

REGISTRATION

Complete the registration form below to confirm your attendance.

Deadline to register is January 24, 2024.

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

Atlanta, Ga  – Today, 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 35 participants. Additional details below: 

What: A workshop to roll out a new trap rental pilot program. It will cover topics including feral hog behavior and biology, Georgia feral hog hunting/trapping rules and regulations, zoonotic disease concerns, PPE and safe carcass handling, and installation and use of the PigBrig trap. 

Who: Representatives from GDA, USDA, DNR, GACD, and UGA will lead the workshop. Anyone in the Middle South Georgia Soil & Water Conservation District (Ben Hill, Brooks, Colquitt, Crisp, Irwin, Thomas, Tift, Turner, and Worth Counties) impacted by feral hogs and interested in renting a trap is welcomed to attend; however, participation is limited to 35 attendees and attendance at the workshop is required to participate in the trap rental program. At this time, the program is ONLY available to Georgians in counties listed above, and 

When: 1:00-5:00PM on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 

Where: Tift County Extension Office – 1468 Carpenter Road South Tifton, Ga 31793

Trap Rentals: Trap rentals will be $80/month with a $200 deposit and a maximum rental term of 3 months. Trap rentals will become available in the days following the workshop. 

Additional Info: If you have questions or need additional information please contact the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts at info@gacd.us, (833) 411-4223, or online at www.gacd.us .

District Supervisors - join us for the GACD Group 1 Meeting Wednesday, November 1 at 9:00am at Tanyard Creek Overlook - 4361 Cherokee St., Acworth, GA 30101. Event is free to attend and lunch will be provided. Please register at www.gacd.us/events. This event is sponsored by Atlanta Kubota, Cobb EMC, and Cobb County Conservation District.

SOIL HEALTH WORKSHOP TO TAKE PLACE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY—Central Georgia Soil and Water Conservation District and other partners are hosting a Soil Health Workshop on September 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m at the Washington County Ag Center. The workshop is free to attend thanks to Washington County Cattlemen’s Association, who is sponsoring lunch. Registration is required so lunches can be ordered.

Participants will hear from farmers and other specialists (UGA Extension, NRCS, Pine Country RC&D) on topics such as soil analysis, improving and maintaining soil health, Best Demonstrated Practices, how soil quality impacts its water holding capacity, usage of no-till drills to reduce fertilizer needs and grow healthier soils, and a field trip to Turner Farms for demonstrations.

The event would not be possible without sponsors: Washington County Cattlemen’s Association, Washington County Farm Bureau, NRCS, UGA Extension, Pine Country RC&D, and GSWCC. To register, please call 478-387-3125.

About Central Georgia SWCD: Soil & Water Conservation Districts were created by the Georgia General Assembly to protect soil and water resources, following the Dust Bowl of the 1930's. SWCD's provide a way for citizens to set local resource priorities for state & federal assistance programs. Each district is made up of one or more counties and each county typically has one appointed and one elected representative.

Cobb County Conservation District is partnering with the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Monarchs Across Georgia to offer an educational workshop about pollinators to the community. All are welcome. There is no cost to attend, but you must register online at www.gacd.us/events. Refreshments will be provided thanks to Cobb County Conservation District. Please join us to learn all about Georgia’s pollinator species such as butterflies, hummingbirds, bees and more, plus, the ecological benefits of having pollinators around! This free workshop will be held on Tuesday, September 19 at 10:30am at the Cobb County Farm Bureau at 2850 Powder Springs Rd., Marietta, Ga 30064. Check-in will open at 10:00am. Workshop will end at noon.

The Catoosa County Conservation District is partnering with the Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Commission (GSWCC) to host a Level 1A (Blue Card) Initial Certification Course on Wednesday, July 26, at 8:00 a.m. at The Colonnade at 264 Catoosa Circle, Ringgold, GA in the White Oak/Barnhardt Rooms. 

Persons involved in land development, construction, planning, permitting, monitoring, inspection, or land-disturbance activities in Georgia must be certified through the GSWCC program in accordance with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.

This eight-hour course is presented by the GSWCC and includes a test to obtain Level 1A (blue card) Certification. Certification will be issued to persons scoring 70% or greater on the test. Certification is valid for three years. The registration fee is $125 and includes the course textbook, test, and lunch provided by Limestone Valley Resource Conservation and Development Council. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required by July 19 to reserve your textbook. To register, please visit: www.GACD.us/events.

Participants should arrive at 7:45 a.m for check-in and textbook distribution. The course will be from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30pm and will include a lunch break (lunch provided).

The Catoosa County Conservation District is a state government entity that advocates for the stewardship, protection and enhancement of the natural resources of Catoosa County to sustain and improve the quality of life for its citizens. For more information on the district, please visit https://catoosaconservationdistrict.org/.