The Scott County NRCS office, in partnership with Practical Farmers of Iowa and additional sponsors, is hosting a Soil Health & Cover Crop field day on Thursday, March 26th, 2026 from 10am – 12pm, followed by a complimentary lunch. It will be located at 21559 240th St, Eldridge, IA 52748 and feature NRCS Area Resources Soil Scientist + 6th Generation Farmer Jason Steele and Area Soil Health Specialist + 5th Generation Farmer J.D. Hollingsworth as presenters. The field day will be partially indoors and partially outdoors.

The event is free, but please RSVP by 4pm on March 19th (563-391-1403 ext 3, kristen.fenderson@uadsa.gov) to help ensure accurate numbers for catering. For reasonable accommodations, please contact Kristen Fenderson at 563-391-1403 ext 3.

USDA and IDALS are equal opportunity providers, employers, and lenders.

Iowa Learning Farms (ILF), in partnership with C-CHANGE: Grass2Gas, will host a virtual field day on Thursday, Feb. 12, at 1 p.m. CT. The event, which is available at no cost, will feature a live discussion with Carl Kurtz, a professional writer, teacher, naturalist, and photographer with over 50 years of prairie establishment and management experience.

This field day aims to assist farmers, landowners, and conservation professionals with establishing and maintaining prairie perennial vegetation. These areas offer many benefits, including: pollinator habitat, reducing soil erosion from sensitive areas, building soil health, improving wildlife, providing beauty to the landscape, and serving as biomass feedstock for the production of renewable natural gas.

Any person interested in establishing and managing a prairie is welcome to attend the virtual field day. Participants are also encouraged to bring any questions they would like to ask.

To participate in the live virtual field day, visit Iowa Learning Farms Field Days – Exploring Prairie Establishment and Management With Carl Kurtz, or join from a dial-in phone line (Dial: 646-876-9923 or 646-931-3860, Meeting ID: 914 1198 4892). The field day will be recorded and archived on the ILF Virtual Field Day Archive for future viewing.

Iowa Learning Farms will also be hosting the following virtual field days:

Thursday, February 26th 1:00pm CT Iowa Learning Farms Field Days – Forestry On Tap: Microbiome, Local Wood Resources and Bioreactors

Thursday, March 12th 1:00pm CT Iowa Learning Farms Field Days – Evaluating Manure Application and Cover Crop Planting Timing to Maximize Water Quality Benefits in Corn

Thursday, March 26th 1:00pm CT Iowa Learning Farms Field Days – Co-benefits and Possible Unintended Consequences of Restoring Wetlands for Nutrient Reduction

Position Title: Conservation Technician Intern (480 hours)

Wage: $14 per hour. 

Employment Term: Start date any time after May 1, 2026. Must complete 480 hours by December 31, 2026 with flexibility to complete earlier.

Education: Must be a high school junior or senior or enrolled in college and majoring in a field of study related to agriculture, conservation/environmental sciences, engineering, construction trades, GIS, communications, public relations or urban planning.

Description of Duties:
Rural Conservation – status reviews, assist with surveying, outreach, conservation planning, other duties may be required and assigned as deemed appropriate. 

Urban Conservation – assist with community outreach and education events, assist with the cost share program, grant writing and reporting, other duties may be required and assigned as deemed appropriate

Office – update tract files, direct phone calls, and other office duties as deemed appropriate. 

Skills and Abilities: Must be able to create and maintain positive relationships with the public, communicate effectively both orally and in writing, work independently, and complete work in a timely manner.  The employee must be able to use a computer for the purposes of word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and email.  The employee’s direct supervisor will be the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. 

Send cover letter and resume by mail or email to:
Scott County SWCD
8370 Hillandale Rd
Davenport, IA 52806
phone (563) 391-1403 x 3
rowan.kuechenmeister@ia.nacdnet.net

After a two-year break, Scott County SWCD is once again hosting a Tree Sale Fundraiser!

Orders are due by Friday, February 27^th, 2026. All trees are sold as bare root stock in bundles of 5 and 25.

The scheduled pick-up day is Friday, May 1^st, 2026. It will be on one day only. The pick-up location and time will be sent in a postcard via email or snail mail and/or phone call.

The 2026 Tree Order Form is available below to fill out and either mail or drop off at the office with payment. Forms will also be available at the USDA Service Center office at 8370 Hillandale Rd, Davenport. All orders must be pre-paid by that Feb 27^th deadline. Information on the available tree species is also attached.

If you have any questions, you may call the office at 563-391-1403 ext.3 or email rowan.kuechenmeister@ia.nacdnet.net.

The proceeds from tree sales go towards supporting Scott SWCD activities, like providing scholarships and local conservation initiatives. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Application Deadline: February 6^th, 2026

Scott County Soil & Water Conservation District is participating in the Conservation Districts of Iowa (CDI) Conservation Scholarship again in 2026.

The top three scholarships will be awarded at the state level through CDI in the amounts of $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000. Winners from the remaining six regions will each receive $500. In addition, Scott SWCD will be awarding two (2) $1,000 scholarships to two (2) qualified Scott County High School Seniors. These scholarships are presented to area high school seniors to be used for their first year of education on the college level while pursuing programs of study in any field of agriculture or natural resources.

Please submit the completed application to the Scott SWCD office at 8370 Hillandale Rd, Davenport, IA 52806.

More information may be found at cdiowa.org/get-involved/scholarships. The Application form and Rules are also available below: