Jamestown, ND – Mark your calendars for “Conservation, Sustaining Our Future,” a technical conference sponsored by the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) Northern Plains Chapters. Join natural resource enthusiasts from Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska and North and South Dakota to hear the latest on soil quality, water quality trading credits, energy and conservation. The conference is scheduled to be held Feb. 18-20, 2009, at the Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn, Rapid City, South Dakota.

The conference kicks off February 18 with presentations on a variety of energy and conservation topics. The day will conclude with “Dig It,” a new Smithsonian Display presentation, given by Dr. Gary Peterson of Colorado State University. February 19 will focus on soil and water quality and what that means to landowners as well as professionals. Concurrent sessions will be held on February 20 with topics such as: Animal Feeding Operation/Confined Animal Feeding Operation (AFO/CAFO) rule update, Pollinators, Carbon Credit Trading and Using Visual Simulations for Communicating Conservation, just to name a few.

A total of 17.5 Continuing Education Units are available for Certified Crop Advisors, and a total of 11 Continuing Education Units are available from the Society for Range Management.

Attendees are encouraged to bring items from their area to support the silent auction. Proceeds from the auction will assist Northern Plains SWCS Chapters fund educational activities within their own chapter.

Registration for SWCS members is $90 early/$100 late registration. Registration for non-SWCS members is $100 early/$110 late registration. Student Registration is $25. Registration is due Feb. 4, 2009.

A full agenda and registration form is available by logging on to the North Dakota SWCS website at http://www.ndswcs.org , or by contacting any SWCS member within the Northern Plains Region.

A block of rooms is available at the Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn by calling (605) 348-4000 and asking for the SWCS group. Room reservations must be made by Jan. 18, 2009, to ensure the special group rate.

The conference will also include a poster session. The deadline to submit posters is Jan. 15, 2009. A complete listing of poster topics is available on the North Dakota SWCS Chapter website at http://www.ndswcs.org , or by contacting Mike Collins at (701) 320-5459.

SWCS chapters across the United States foster the science and art of natural resource conservation. The work of chapters targets conservation of soil, water, and related natural resources on working land—the land used to produce food, fiber, and other services that improve the quality of life people experience in rural and urban communities. Chapters work to discover, develop, implement, and constantly improve ways to use land that sustains its productive capacity and enhances the environment at the same time.

For further information on the “Conservation – Sustaining our Future” conference logon to the North Dakota SWCS Chapter website at http://www.ndswcs.org or contact any SWCS chapter located within the Northern Plains.