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:

Iowa Learning Farms is hosting a no-cost field day at Paustian Family Farms in Walcott, IA on July 15th. Check out the event page at https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/events/paustian-field-day for more information!

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is again offering state cost-share incentives for using cover crops. The program is available to eligible first-time users, as well as returning participants, and is now open for applications at the Scott County SWCD.

The program offers a flat payment rate of $30/acre for first-time users and $20/acre for previous users at a maximum of 160 acres. Acres enrolled for state cost share may not overlap with acres enrolled in any federal cost share program for the cover crop practice. Applications are funded on a first-come first-served basis, but with priority given to first-time users.

The minimum required seeding rates for common cover crop species to be eligible for payment is as follows:

• Cereal Rye – 45lbs/acre with or without incorporation
• Winter Wheat – 45lbs/acre with or without incorporation
• Oats – 60lbs/acre with or without incorporation
• Crimson Clover – 10lbs/acre with incorporation, 11lbs/acre without incorporation
• Radish – 5lbs/acre with incorporation, 6lbs/acre without incorporation

If you have questions about other cover crop species or want to do a mix of species, please contact the office for recommendations and seeding rates.

You can fill out an application at the office or download the file below, then either mail the filled form or email it to rowan.kuechenmeister@ia.nacdnet.net, along with information on which acres you intend to seed and what species.