The Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts has suspended three statewide conservation programs due to federal funding delays and freezes. The affected programs—Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative (CCSI), Resilient Indiana (RITA), and Urban Soil Health (USH)—have ceased operations, resulting in staff furloughs.These programs provided outreach, technical assistance, and training to farmers, foresters, and landowners, supporting soil health and water quality initiatives across Indiana. IASWCD Executive Director Liz Rice emphasized the organization’s commitment to supporting Indiana’s 92 Soil and Water Conservation Districts despite the uncertainty surrounding funding restoration. The organization is awaiting federal reimbursement of over $400,000 and continues to advocate for the return of these programs.
