Licking County Soil & Water Conservation District

10/29/2026

Do you own farmland or rural land in Licking County? Join us November 5th!

Licking County Soil & Water Conservation District, Licking Land Trust, Licking Park District, the Licking County Auditor’s Office, and Licking County Farm Bureau are teaming up to host a free Landowner Meeting. It’s a chance to plan for the future of your land and learn about your options.

📅 Thursday, November 5, 2026
🕠 5:30 PM
📍 Marne Church, 1019 Licking Valley Rd NE, Newark

This event is free, but please RSVP so we can plan accordingly. Scan the QR code on the flyer or visit https://m.signupgenius.com/ #!/showSignUp/10C0549AAA92DA3FDC61-66235370-2026?useFullSite=false to register.

10/28/2026

🌿USDA funding available for wetlands and floodplains!

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced an investment of $5 million in partnerships to help agricultural producers and private landowners restore and steward wetlands and floodplains through conservation easements.

Funding supports:
• Wetland and floodplain restoration
• Maintenance, repairs, and habitat improvements
• Assessments of easement conditions

These projects help improve water quality, reduce flood risks, and support wildlife habitat.

Eligible applicants include nonprofits, state and local governments, Tribal entities, colleges and universities, and businesses.

Applications are due November 19, 2026.

For more information, visit https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/emergency-watershed-protection/news/usda-to-invest-5-million-to-help-partners?utm_campaign=092526protectwetlands&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Please share with organizations working to protect and restore wetlands and floodplains!

10/26/2026

🦋🌱Update on Milkweed Seed Pod Collection

Licking County Soil and Water Conservation District will not be collecting milkweed seed pods this year.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to our dedicated volunteers and backyard conservationists who have already begun harvesting.

What should you do with your pods?
If you have already collected mature milkweed seeds, we highly encourage you to use them to expand your own backyard pollinator habitats, share them with neighbors, or donate them to local neighborhood seed swaps!

Remember to store any harvested pods in paper bags, never plastic, to prevent moisture and mold.

10/24/2026

October 24 is International Day of Climate Action!

Here in Licking County, caring for our soil and water is one way we can take action close to home.

Looking for a place to start?
🌳 Plant a native tree suited to your yard.
🌱 Add native plants or a rain garden to help rain soak into the ground.
🍂 Compost leaves and yard trimmings to use in your garden.
💧 Test your soil before applying fertilizer so you use only what’s needed.
🥕 Plan meals and use leftovers to reduce food waste.

Choose one action you can keep doing beyond today. Licking Soil & Water is here to help you learn about conservation options for your property. Share this post with a friend to spread the word!

10/23/2026

Interesting in learning more about cover crop methods? Join Licking Soil & Water for our soil heath breakfast event!

Our 2026 Soil Health Week breakfast event, Cover Crop Applications & Methods, will feature two local Ohio farmers – Brandt Family Farms and Kevin Carr – and their thoughts on different cover crop methods and seeding mixes.

November 13, 2026, 8 a.m.
771 East Main Street, Newark, OH 43055
Complimentary breakfast included! 🍳

Registration is required! To reserve your spot, scan the QR code on this flyer or visit https://m.signupgenius.com/ #!/showSignUp/10C0549AAA92DA3FDC61-66346040-2026?useFullSite=false.

10/21/2026

Still time to take advantage of this special event. Stop by Friday, October 22!

Disaster Recovery Center Outreach Event Today & Tomorrow! 🏠🌧️

The Licking County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security are set up in the Hebron Municipal Complex for a two-day Disaster Recovery Center outreach event for today Wednesday 10/21 and Thursday 10/22.

If you or someone you know in Licking County were impacted by the severe weather event of August 10–22, 2026 come speak with Representatives from FEMA and/ or the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will be here to answer questions, provide guidance, and assist you!

📅 Wednesday, October 21 & Thursday, October 22
🕘 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Tentative)
📍 Hebron Municipal Complex, 934 W. Main Street Hebron, OH 43025

10/21/2026

🌱 Thinking about planting native plants? Get to know your soil first!

A soil test can help you choose native plants suited to your soil’s pH and nutrient levels. OSU Extension in Licking County offers soil testing for lawns, gardens and farm fields, with recommendations to help you make informed planting and fertilizer decisions.

At Licking Soil & Water, we encourage soil testing to help you avoid unnecessary fertilizer applications and protect our local streams.

Learn how to collect and submit your sample:
https://licking.osu.edu/program-areas/agriculture-and-natural-resources/soil-testing

10/19/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined Licking Soil & Water Conservation District for our 82nd Annual Banquet! It was a chance to celebrate local conservation and recognize the people doing this work in our community.

Please join us in congratulating this year’s award winners:
🏆 Cooperator of the Year: Jeff Kling
🏆 Volunteer of the Year: Jane Weiland
🏆 Educator of the Year: Linda Nicodemus
🏆 FFA Soil Judging Rural Team: Utica FFA
🏆 FFA Soil Judging Urban Team: Utica FFA
🏆 FFA Soil Judging Rural Individual: Matthew Hindel
🏆 FFA Soil Judging Urban Individual: Benjamin Rudolph

Congratulations to all our honorees, and thank you for your work and dedication! We’re grateful to everyone who supports soil and water conservation in Licking County throughout the year.

10/16/2026

Get out and vote in the 2026 Board of Supervisors Election!

Licking SWCD is governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors elected by landowners and residents of Licking County. This year, one Supervisor will be elected to a three-year term beginning January 1, 2027.

Meet the candidates:
Jeff Carr (incumbent) of Hanover is a past two-term board member and Director of Water Resources for an Ohio engineering firm.

Bill Goodman (incumbent) of Johnstown serves on the Licking SWCD Board and the State of Ohio Soil & Water Conservation Board.

Drue Roberts of Granville Township is a geologist with a Master’s in Geology and a background in environmental management.

Voting is open to anyone 18 or older who owns or occupies land in Licking County.

Two ways to vote:

📍 In person: 771 E. Main St., Suite 100, Newark, during normal business hours, Oct. 1–30

✉️ Absentee: Request a ballot by Oct. 23 by calling 740-670-5345, emailing [email protected], or writing to the office. Absentee ballots must be received by Oct. 30.

Every vote helps guide the future of conservation in our community!

10/15/2026

Our office is closing early today at 3 p.m. We’re busy setting up for the Annual Banquet – hope to see you there!