Taylor County Land Conservation Department

Now hiring: Forestry Steward summer LTEs (2) for Clark County and Taylor County. 30-40 hrs/wk, $16-19/hr, May - Labor Day.
See our website for details and how to apply:
https://www.goldensandsrcd.org/employment

Did your pastures struggle this year with the spotty rains? You may be eligible for disaster assistance through the USDA Farm Service Agency LFP-Livestock Forage Disaster Program. Check in with your FSA office for more information.

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/livestock-forage/index

Our Annual Tree Sale is Now Open!

As usual, we have a variety of hardwoods, conifers, shrubs, and apples from which to choose. Also included in the sale are several mixes of seed from Pheasants Forever as well as tree and garden supplies. Order by January 10 and get 10% off all tree orders.

Trees and shrubs are bundled in groups of 25. Too much of one species for you? Then try our Hardwood, Shrub, or Apple Mini-Pack packages. The first two offer five each of five different species and the apples include five seedlings of both apple types.

For more information, or to order, check out our online store at https://taylorcountytreesale.com/ or contact us for email, mail, or in-person orders.

Plan on picking up your trees in either Medford or Phillips in late April or May. Further details will be available closer to spring.

With our Drinking Water Testing Program coming up next month, you may want to check out this free webinar tomorrow from The Private Well Class, a project of the Illinois State Water Survey. Hydrologist Steve Wilson will cover common questions like to take care of a well and what makes a well susceptible to contamination. https://privatewellclass.org/safe?mc_cid=f3efbea1f6&mc_eid=e57d658ede

If you'd like more info beyond this webinar, we recommend their self-paced course designed to help a homeowner better understand how to properly care for their water well, to ensure their water remains safe to drink. The lessons are emailed, one per week for 10 weeks, and are available in English or Spanish. https://privatewellclass.org/enroll

Is My Water Safe to Drink? - Common Questions about Private Wells Steve Wilson Groundwater Hydrologist Steve Wilson is a 30-year veteran of the Illinois State Water Survey. Most of his research has been related to groundwater quantity and quality issues in the sand and gravel aquifers of Illinois. He authored the curriculum for our (free!) flagship e-course.

We are hiring!

MISSING: One of our Taylor County Health Department car magnets.
LAST SEEN: Traveling south on highway 13th between the curve by Solace Ink Company and before the town of Stetsonville. Went missing on Monday, July 17th at around 10:00am.

The good news is, our phone number is on the magnet. If you see it, please give us a call so we can be reunited 😄

Dates are set for the 2023 Drinking Water Testing Program! The cost for Taylor County residents is $40 per test package. Bottles will be available Sept. 11-15 at our office in Medford and Sept. 14 in Gilman and Rib Lake. The bottle return date is Monday, Sept. 18. See the flyer for more details.

The discounted rate is limited to residents and well owners in Taylor County. Residents of other counties who do not own land in Taylor County can participate at the normal cost, $68 for the homeowners package and $60 for the metals package.

County conservationist Brent found this monster wild parsnip plant today while he was out monitoring and treating known sites of the invasive plant. Our department has been working to keep wild parsnip under control in Taylor County for many years now. This nasty plant invades roadside ditches, fields and pastures. Its sap causes severe rashes and blisters when it contacts skin in sunlight.

You can learn more, including how to control wild parsnip, here: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Invasives/fact/WildParsnip

Apply now to Sandhill Wildlife Area’s Learn to Hunt Deer program for an immersive educational experience and a chance to contribute to deer management goals on the 9,150-acre property.

This program is open to youth hunters aged 12-15, as well as adult hunters age 16 and older with no prior experience hunting deer with a firearm.

It's a unique hunting opportunity that combines classroom instruction and field experience, followed by a mentored hunt. Participants and mentors are required to attend a one-day workshop offered on one of the following days: Aug. 23, 25 or 26, followed by the hunt on Nov. 4, 2023.

The deadline to apply is July 1. Space is limited to 60 participants. However, if more than 60 people apply, a random drawing will select participants. A mentor is required for all participants.

Apply now to join this amazing opportunity: https://widnr.widen.net/view/pdf/1pc5wbselr/Form2300_101.pdf?t.download=true&u=1lsved

We have some seed and tree planting supplies left from our spring sale. Stop by our office before the end of June if you'd like to purchase any!

Rigid Seedling Protection Tubes - 4 ft. - $3 each or a 10pk for $28

Bamboo Stakes 5 ft x approx. 1/2" diameter - 50 cents each. We bought them to go with the tubes, but they can be used for plant supports or other garden projects.

Take Habitat Home Seed Packets - $2.50. See seed packet photos for mix. Details here:https://www.pfhabitatstore.com/files/15222/THHOnePager.pdf

Logging Road Mix - $17.50 - plants 1/2 acre. Only one available.https://www.pfhabitatstore.com/files/11413/Logging%20Road%20Mix%202022.pdf

We also Plantskydd Wildlife Repellant, root gel, and fertilizer tablets available at our office anytime.

Two more days to sign up for these amazing camps that will immerse your kids in the outdoors and be the highlight of their summer! The middle school camp is for kids entering grades 6-8 next fall and the high school camp is for grades 9-12.

Still time to register, late fee is waived. These camps are amazing for those outdoor kiddos!

Check out the link below for more information and to register.

https://wisconsinlandwater.org/our-work/youth-education/conservation-camp

Today we visited Stetsonville Elementary School and discussed plants and the plant life cycle with the third graders. They asked some really great questions! Each student planted wildflower seeds that they can take home and grow over summer.

Any day we spend outside with kids is a good day! Today we took the Medford fifth graders to the city park to remove invasive buckthorn - our department has been working with the Medford Middle School for about 15 years now on this project. Yesterday, Brent and Klayton visited their classrooms to show them how to ID the shrub. While we like seeing the buckthorn removed, the knowledge and experience the kids carry with them is the best part of Buckthorn Bash. Thank you to the local DNR staff and zoning department for helping us today.

We'd love to have more Taylor County kids join us at the Middle School Conservation Camp on June 14-17. This is for kids going into grades 6-8 next fall and all meals, lodging and activities are included. Today is the last day for the early registration rate so check it out and sign up!

Middle School Camp Registration Middle School Camp June 14-17, 2023 Upham Woods For students entering grades 6-8 in the 2023-2024 school year. Pay for Middle School Conservation Camp Middle School Camp Conservation MS Camp $200.00 USD Conservation MS Camp - Registration late charge $250.00 USD Cost - $200 per student Cost is $200....

Get ready! Tickets go on sale this Saturday, May 5th!!

Oops, we ordered too much Bigtooth Aspen. If you’d like to purchase a bundle of 10 trees for $5 or 25 trees for $10, please send us a message or call Karyn at 715-748-1469. Trees can be picked up at our office (open 8:30 am to 4:30 pm) starting this afternoon until gone.

You can ready more about this tree species here:
https://wisflora.herbarium.wisc.edu/taxa/index.php?taxon=4609
https://youngforest.org/wisconsin/habitats/aspen-forest