SWCD Technical Assistance

Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) are a key resource for providing conservation education, financial assistance, and technical assistance to local landowners and land users. While the first two are fairly straightforward, technical assistance is a bit more complex. SWCDs employ knowledgeable staff who conduct site visits, take phone calls, and interact with walk-in clients to address a wide range of conservation concerns. This hands-on technical assistance is a crucial part of the SWCD’s mission. 

A combine harvests soybeans in Charles City County, Virginia. 

To illustrate, District staff recently helped a local farmer calibrate their yield monitor. Yield monitors measure grain entering a combine and record georeferenced data that farmers use for purposes like estimating nutrient removal and documenting yields. The calibration process involves weighing grain loads, inputting weights into the monitor, and accounting for factors like crop density and moisture. 

Providing this kind of technical expertise is an integral and rewarding part of the SWCD’s work. Staff must be highly knowledgeable across conservation disciplines in order to effectively troubleshoot issues and equip landowners with the who, what, when, how, and why to properly address their conservation needs. 

While picturesque, the proximity of many farm fields to rivers, creeks, and streams requires high levels of careful management to ensure nutrients and sediment do not enter local waterways 

District staff use a weigh wagon (mobile scale) to measure the volume of soybeans harvested, which will then be used to calibrate the combine’s electronic yield monitoring system. 

The Colonial SWCD is committed to being a trusted advisor for local landowners and land users. Providing knowledgeable, experienced technical assistance is a core part of our mission and a priority for our Board of Directors. Whether it’s calibrating precision ag equipment, interpreting soil test results, or developing a comprehensive conservation plan, our staff are here to help you address pressing resource concerns and maximize the productivity and sustainability of your operation. We’d like to give a special thanks to our colleague Trevor Guy, the Precision Ag Specialist at Three Rivers SWCD, for assisting with the yield monitor calibration. We encourage you to reach out to your local SWCD office anytime for one-on-one guidance and support. Working together, we can ensure the health and resilience of our shared natural resources for generations to come. 

Read more articles in the Winter 2024 CSWCD Newsletter here.