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Office Closure Extended
For the protection of our staff, their families, our USDA co-workers, and the public, Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District’s Office will be closed through April 3rd.
SKOWHEGAN – For the protection of our staff, their families, our USDA co-workers, and the public, Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District’s Office will be closed through Thursday, April 30. During this time period staff will be teleworking from home and can be reached as follows:
Email – info@somersetswcd.org
Phone – 207-474-8323 (leave message and your call will be returned within 48 hours)
To directly email staff members:
Joe Dembeck – Executive Director – jdembecksc15@gmail.com
Laura Suomi-Lecker – Technical Director – laura.lecker@me.nacdnet.net
Jennifer Brockway – Outreach Coordinator – somersetswcd.outreach@gmail.com
Please note, postal mail can still be sent to 70 East Madison Rd, Skowhegan, ME 04976. Mail will be received and processed during the office closure, including any Trout Sale orders.
Plan to stay connected with us via email, District website (www.somersetswcd.org), Facebook and Instagram.
Somerset SWCD's AgAllies Program Featured in National Publication
Somerset SWCD Ag Allies’ partnership with land trusts is now featured in a new article in the Land Trust Alliance’s Saving Land Magazine looking at the 3 billion bird loss and what land trusts can do to help curb the declines. Saving Land is the nation’s leading magazine written by and for land conservationists that is available quarterly to Land Trust Alliance members and partners.
SKOWHEGAN - Two years ago our Technical Director Laura Suomi-Lecker recognized the critical role land trusts can play in grassland bird conservation - and she forged a partnership with Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust to enroll more conserved lands in Somerset SWCD's AgAllies Program.
In 2019 she worked with 18 land trusts around the state, with even greater participation anticipated in 2020!
AgAllies’ partnership with land trusts is now featured in a new article in the Land Trust Alliance’s Saving Land Magazine looking at the 3 billion bird loss and what land trusts can do to help curb the declines. Saving Land is the nation’s leading magazine written by and for land conservationists that is available quarterly to Land Trust Alliance members and partners. The 42-page color magazine offers stories, tips and resources on the latest trends in land conservation. Its total distribution is around 4,400 people.
See the links below to access the article online.
Article: https://www.lta.org/news/3-billion-birds-gone
Full magazine: www.lta.org/savingland (scroll to Spring issue)
Office Closure Notice
For the protection of our staff, their families, our USDA co-workers, and the public, Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District’s Office will be closed through April 3rd.
SKOWHEGAN – For the protection of our staff, their families, our USDA co-workers, and the public, Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District’s Office will be closed through Friday, April 3. During this time period staff will be teleworking from home and can be reached as follows:
Email – info@somersetswcd.org
Phone – 207-474-8323 (leave message and your call will be returned within 48 hours)
To directly email staff members:
Joe Dembeck – Executive Director – jdembecksc15@gmail.com
Laura Suomi-Lecker – Technical Director – laura.lecker@me.nacdnet.net
Jennifer Brockway – Outreach Coordinator – somersetswcd.outreach@gmail.com
Please note, postal mail can still be sent to 70 East Madison Rd, Skowhegan, ME 04976. Mail will be received and processed during the office closure, including any Trout Sale orders.
Plan to stay connected with us via email, District website (www.somersetswcd.org), Facebook and Instagram.
Register Now for March Apple Tree Pruning Workshops
Late winter is the time for pruning apple trees, and Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) is pleased to announce a skill-building workshop at the Somerset County Cooperative Extension Office, 7 County Dr. in Skowhegan.
SKOWHEGAN – Late winter is the time for pruning apple trees, and Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) is pleased to announce a skill-building workshop at the Somerset County Cooperative Extension Office, 7 County Dr. in Skowhegan.
The introductory workshop runs from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 1, with a repeat of that session on Saturday, March 14. Apple tree enthusiast Joe Dembeck will discuss methods and tools used to prune apple trees in order to increase their viability and production. After a brief overview indoors, participants will head outdoors to learn and test their skills pruning apple trees next door at the Yankee Woodlot Demonstration Forest.
Participants should dress warmly for the outdoors and are welcome to bring their own pruning equipment if they like. There will be pruning poles/saws, hand saws, loppers, etc. to try.
The workshops are free but advanced registration is required. Space is limited to 20 participants per session. To register for either session or FMI, e-mail SomersetSWCD.outreach@gmail.com or 207-679-7306.
The workshops are co-sponsored by Somerset County SWCD, Maine Woodland Owners - Upper Kennebec Valley Chapter, Somerset County Cooperative Extension and Maine Forest Service.
Somerset SWCD Welcomes Newly Elected Board Member
The Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District is pleased to announce Jon Doty of Madison as a newly elected member of the Board of Supervisors.
SKOWHEGAN – The Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District is pleased to announce Jon Doty of Madison as a newly elected member of the Board of Supervisors.
Doty, a consulting forester with Two Trees Forestry, was elected in December 2019 to a three-year term on the all-volunteer governing board.
"Jon provides a new and younger energy to the Board of Supervisors which will certainly provide a different perspective and outlook on District activities,” says District Executive Director Joe Dembeck. “The District's staff welcomes Jon and looks forward to working with him."
Newly elected Board of Supervisors member Jon Doty of Madison.
A graduate of Skowhegan High School who completed his master's degree in forestry at the University of Maine, Jon works with private woodland owners around the state to develop and implement plans for forest management. He is an approved Technical Service Provider with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, with experience in invasive species mitigation, boundary line maintenance and woodlot road construction. In his free time, Jon enjoys skiing, biking, hiking and trail running, among a slew of other activities. Newly settled in Madison, Jon is looking to become more active in the community and connect with like-minded individuals engaged in working the land in a manner most harmoniously balanced between human and ecological needs.
The mission of the Somerset County SWCD is to promote the conservation and stewardship of soil, water, woodlands and wildlife habitat through outreach, education and technical services for the farmers, woodland owners, residents and municipalities of Somerset County. The District is governed by a Board of Supervisors representing the diverse interests of Somerset County. To learn more, visit Somerset SWCD on Facebook or at www.somersetswcd.org, email info@somersetswcd.org or phone 207-474-8323 x3.
Ackley Departs Board of Supervisors
After 15 years of service, John Ackley of Skowhegan is leaving his post on the Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors.
SKOWHEGAN - After 15 years of service, John Ackley of Skowhegan is leaving his post on the Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors.
A professional forester who has worked in the forest industry in the Upper Kennebec Valley for 35 years, John has provided keen insight and leadership since becoming a District Supervisor in 2004. John served as Treasurer for the District throughout his time on the Board.
“John served the District long and well. He always brought a positive attitude to the board. He modeled cooperative decision-making, forged partnerships with other agencies, was a wealth of knowledge and an all-around great guy to work with,” says Ann Mefferd, chairperson of the Board of Supervisors. “He will be missed, but he continues the mission of stewardship through his leadership position in forestry."
The mission of the Somerset County SWCD is to promote the conservation and stewardship of soil, water, woodlands and wildlife habitat through outreach, education and technical services for the farmers, woodland owners, residents and municipalities of Somerset County. The District is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Supervisors representing the diverse interest of Somerset County. To learn more, visit Somerset SWCD on Facebook or at www.somersetswcd.org, email info@somersetswcd.org or phone 207-474-8323 x3.
Maine Association of Conservation Districts Earns the Austin Wilkins Forest Stewardship Award
The Maine Association of Conservation Districts (MACD) has been recognized for its commitment to Maine’s forests with the “Austin Wilkins Forest Stewardship Award”.
AUGUSTA – The Maine Association of Conservation Districts (MACD) has been recognized for its commitment to Maine’s forests with the “Austin Wilkins Forest Stewardship Award”.
Governor Janet Mills, Commissioner Amanda Beal and Maine Forest Service Director Patty Cormier presented the award at a Blaine House ceremony on Oct. 23, 2019. The award is the foremost recognition for Maine individuals, groups, organizations or companies that stand above their peers to show a continuous commitment or single exemplary contribution to the culture, heritage and future of the Maine forest. The award was presented to Andrew Reed, MACD President and Carol Weymouth, MACD Executive Director.
“Our forests have always been – and will always be – at the core of Maine’s history and our future,” said Governor Mills. “Congratulations to the Maine Association of Conservation Districts on this well-deserved honor and on behalf of the people of Maine, thank you for all you do for our great state.”
The MACD represents the 16 Soil & Water Conservation Districts across the state, including Somerset County SWCD. Conservation Districts were created by Maine and other states as a response to the massive loss of topsoil in the “Dust Bowl” of the 1930’s. Locally-led soil and water conservation programs have been a cost-effective response to soil erosion, non-point source pollution of lakes, rivers and marine waters, and now, to the vital issue of mitigating climate change through better soil health practices and sustainable forest management.
At the award ceremony, Commissioner Beal noted that, as Maine addresses climate change, Conservation Districts will be essential partners.
Districts in Somerset, Piscataquis, Oxford and York Counties own or manage demonstration forests where the focus is on good forestry practices, public education and public recreation opportunities.
In Skowhegan, the Somerset SWCD manages the 300-acre Yankee Woodlot Demonstration Forest that highlights diverse habitat, production forestry and recreation. The parcel is owned by the State Bureau of Parks and Lands and provides a prime location for teaching and learning. Current initiatives underway at the Yankee Woodlot include trail improvements with the Maine Conservation Corps, interpretive signage to explore management actions, and installation of Picture Posts as part of a national project to document environmental change over time.
“The Yankee Woodlot in Skowhegan is an example of how the District works closely with the Maine Forest Service, Bureau of Parks and Lands, Maine Woodland Owners and University of Maine Cooperative Extension to provide examples of different forest stewardship practices through on-the-ground implementation and a variety of workshops annually,” says Joseph Dembeck, Somerset SWCD Executive Director.
In addition to managing demonstration forests, for several years all 16 Districts have worked in partnership with the Maine Dept. of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry to increase public awareness of invasive forest pests. They have offered education and outreach programs on forest pest identification, the dangers of transporting firewood, and methods for woodlot owners to protect their trees. Districts in Somerset, Kennebec, Knox-Lincoln and Waldo now work with the Maine Natural Areas Program to help landowners identify, map and control invasive plant species on their property.
AUSTIN WILKINS
The namesake of the award, Austin Wilkins, pioneered the development of the Maine Forest Service and led the fight against the devastating forest fires of 1947. The fires that scorched the landscape in Bar Harbor and southern Maine’s York County prompted Mr. Wilkins to develop policies to reduce the chances that such conflagrations could occur again. He was instrumental in the establishment of a forest fire compact that called for the six New England states, New York, New Brunswick and Quebec to provide mutual help in battling fires. He joined the Maine Forest Service in 1928 and was appointed commissioner 30 years later by Governor Edmund Muskie. Mr. Wilkins retired in 1972 after serving under 13 governors as a commissioner or a deputy commissioner. Governor John Baldacci called Mr. Wilkins a “'true leader and one of the forestry greats of Maine” and praised “his quiet and thorough approach and his eloquent speaking.” Mr. Wilkins was the author of “Ten Million Acres of Timber,” a history of the Maine forestry district, as well as a book about the Civilian Conservation Corps. He remained active in forestry matters well into his 90s. He died in 2005 at the age of 102.
Board of Supervisors Election Notice
Persons desiring to run for the office of District Supervisor for the Somerset County Soil and Water Conservation District should contact the District office at 70 East Madison Road, Skowhegan ME 04976, telephone (207) 474-8323, to obtain nomination papers. Nomination papers must be received at the District office no later than November 18, 2019. Persons wishing to vote in the election of District Supervisor must contact the District to receive a ballot.
Persons who desire to run for office of Supervisor must be a resident registered voter residing within the boundaries of the Somerset County Soil and Water Conservation District. All registered voters within the boundaries of the Somerset County Soil and Water Conservation District are eligible to vote.
Additional information may be obtained by contacting the District.
NRCS selects new District Conservationist for Somerset County
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has selected an experienced soil conservationist skilled in livestock practices, farming, and natural resource management, to serve as the new district conservationist for Somerset County.
BANGOR, Maine (June 26, 2019) – The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has selected an experienced soil conservationist skilled in livestock practices, farming, and natural resource management, to serve as the new district conservationist for Somerset County.
Nick Pairitz – who most recently served as an NRCS soil conservationist in the USDA Service Center in Skowhegan – started at the new position on June 23. His predecessor Ron Desrosiers is now serving as the NRCS district conservationist for Waldo and Knox Counties in Belfast, Maine.
District Conservationist for Somerset County Nick Pairitz. Thomas Kielbasa/NRCS photo.
“For the past four years I have worked with a variety of agricultural producers here in Somerset County,” Pairitz explained. “That includes everyone from small vegetable gardeners and woodlot owners, to large-scale dairy farmers. As the new district conservationist, I plan to continue our work with existing clients, increase participation from new clients, and help them find innovative ways to address natural resource concerns on their farms.”
Pairitz said NRCS will continue to work closely with the Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District and other local agencies to help agricultural producers and private landowners address natural resources in Somerset County. Upcoming emphasis by NRCS and partners will be placed on animal waste storage, forestry practices, cropland and pasture management, and water conservation methods.
Pairitz grew up in Indiana and received a bachelor’s degree in Soil and Crop Management from Purdue University in 2004. He began working with NRCS in Montana as a soil conservation technician in 2008, assisting ranchers and farmers with a numerous conservation practices including: cover crops; crop rotation; reduced tillage; fencing; grazing management; and irrigation . In 2015 he began working with NRCS in Somerset County.
“Nick is already a trusted member of Somerset County’s agricultural community, and as the newest district conservationist he’ll continue that strong partnership between the USDA and local landowners,” Assistant NRCS State Conservationist Dan Schmidt said. “We know that water quality – both surface and groundwater – is a high resource concern to Somerset County residents, and we are placing high importance on helping farmers implement agricultural practices to address those concerns. Nick and his staff at the local USDA Service Center will be major factors in ensuring those concerns are mitigated.”
Pairitz’s office is located at the USDA Service Center at 70 East Madison Rd. in Skowhegan, and he can be reached at (207) 474-8323 or nicholas.pairitz@usda.gov.
“I invite folks to stop in or call our offices to chat about their farms and see what ways NRCS can help you with your farming or forestry operations,” Pairitz added.
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides leadership and technical assistance to address natural resource conservation issues on private land. NRCS employees work to improve and protect natural resources in partnership with Maine's 16 Soil and Water Conservation Districts, federal, state and local agencies, farmers, landowners and communities. The partnership's commitment to conservation provides a solid foundation to a locally-led program delivery system. The partnership is also committed to a voluntary, incentive-based approach to private land stewardship and conservation treatment.
Maine Farmer Needs & Priorities Report Released
The results of a statewide outreach project late last year can now be found in a report released this month.
The results of a statewide outreach project late last year can now be found in a report released this month.
Results from a Statewide Engagement Process: Maine Farmers' Needs and Priorities was developed by project consultant Ellen Skakalski. The data contained in this report are the direct feedback of participants engaged in a statewide outreach process carried out between August 2018 and January 2019 that was designed to gather input on the needs and priorities of Maine farmers. The framework of those discussions and this report was organized in accordance with the 2013 Strategic Plan of the Agricultural Council of Maine (AGCOM).
Information in the report is strictly data with minimal interpretation. The next step in this initiative is for industry representatives to review the report, to identify themes that are representative of and broadly applicable to Maine’s diverse farming community, and to prioritize action items relevant to economic sustainability. Once identified, these unifying themes can serve as the basis for further program and policy development work that benefits Maine farms and businesses.
There are three formats of the final report available: the executive summary; the report; and the report with appendices, which includes all of the feedback that was contributed throughout this process.