Soil & Water Conservation

Union County Soil & Water Conservation District offers a wide array of services to the citizens of Union County including:

• Natural Resource Best Management Practice Design and Support
• Soil Interpretative Services
• Nutrient Management
• Natural Resource-Specific Mapping via GIS
• Educational and Technical Training
• Soil and Water Resource Consultative Services

No-Till Seed Drill

The No-Till Seed Drill provides farmers and landowners of Union County an opportunity to use affordable equipment to plant their grasses, legumes and small grains. This is a method of “drilling” plants seeds with very little soil disturbance and thus is conservation/resource friendly. It also is a more precise method of planting which means increased efficiency and more economical. The drill can be rented for $10 an acre to citizens planting in Union County. Contact our office at 704-233-1621 for more information.

Grassworks Tow- Behind Weed Wiper

In a partnership with the Union County Cattlemen's Association, the Union County Soil and Water Conservation District purchased a Tow-Behind Weed Wiper. The Weed Wiper provides farmers and landowners of Union County an opportunity to use affordable equipment to rid their pasture land of pesky weeds. The machine has an easily adjustable wiper height so that it only wipes the weeds. The Weed Wiper can be rented for $50 per day to citizens in Union County, $75 per day for out of county use and $40 per day for members of the Cattlemen's Association.

North Carolina Agricultural Cost Share Program

The North Carolina Agriculture Cost Share Program is a state-funded program administered to reduce the input of non-point source pollution into our streams, lakes and rivers. This reduction is achieved by providing cost share assistance to agricultural landowners and operators who use Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce pollutants (sediment, animal waste, pesticides, nutrients, etc.) leaving the land and entering the waters. Cost Share amounts are up to 75% of average cost to install BMPs.

Cost share monies for Union County have been used for such BMPs as waste storage structures, incinerators, fencing for livestock exclusion, watering facilities and heavy use area protection, as well as pasture renovations and well installation. Other cost shared BMPs include lagoon closures, dead poultry composters, stream bank stabilization, sod-based rotations, critical area plantings and many others. These practices must be installed to meet USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service standards and specifications, along with proper maintenance of practice.

For more information contact our office at 704-233-1621 Extension #3 or visit the NC Department of Agriculture website.

The importance of conserving our natural resources must start with education. Union County Soil & Water Conservation District takes great strides to provide educational opportunities to the residents of Union County and the State of North Carolina using programs such as:

• Resource Conservation Workshop - Union SWCD sponsors a student annually to attend the Resource Conservation Workshop at North Carolina State University. This week long camp offers studies in a wide array of natural resource topics.
• Envirothon - The Envirothon is a regional, state and national competition testing middle and high school students on their knowledge of environmental science and natural resources. Awards and scholarships are offered to winners.
• District Education Contests - Poster, essay and computer design slide show contests are offered to all schools of Union County. These contests gauge students’ ability to express environmental science and conservation knowledge. Winners on a district level go on to the state level.

Union SWCD also offers independent instruction on a variety of topics about soil, water and conservation. In-class instruction, outdoor hands-on and science field days are some examples of how the Soil & Water District helps educate students on protecting natural resources. Many programs come from the following but are not limited to Project Food, Land and People, Project WET, and Project WILD.