OLIVER SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT

Oliver Soil Conservation District


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About OSCD

The Oliver Soil Conservation District (OSCD) is a political subdivision of state government and formed by a vote of the people in our county in 1946

We are governed by a Board of Supervisors (three elected, two appointed) who set policy which is carried out by our able District Manager JD Hanson.

The OSCD has a cooperative working agreement with USDA's Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS). We share office space and work together to assist the people in Oliver County in addressing their Natural Resource concerns. We also work closely with the NDSU Extension Service and local Extension Agent Rick Schmidt, who attends most of our meetings.

The Board of Supervisors meets monthly, generally on the first Friday of the month, to conduct business of the District.

Our Board and Staff

Board Chairman, Mike Bauer and his wife Beverly reside in Mandan ND, their farming operation is located in South Western Oliver County.  Bauer has served on the SCD board since 1993

Board Chairman, Allan Schwalbe and his wife Sheila are the third generation to operate the family farm in south eastern Oliver County that was homesteaded by Alan's grandparents in 1904, after leaving south Russia.  The Schwalbe's have two daughters, Errin, married to Travis, is a Grain Inspector-Supervisor for North Dakota Grain Inspection in Fargo, Megan is currently attending NDSU. The Schwalbe's currently no-till crop 2,200 acres growing spring wheat, corn, canola, and barley. They also have a cow calf operation, and background their calves, utilizing rotational grazing system.  Schwalbe                                        has served on the SCD board since 2013.
Board Vice-Chairman, David Porsborg and his wife Karen farm 7 miles south of Center.  They are currently operating 1800 acres which consists of a diverse rotation of wheat, corn, peas, flax, soybeans, and alfalfa. They started minimum tilling in 2000 and no-tilling in 2010. They have adopted many practices that help their soil health such as, low soil disturbance, diverse rotation, cover crops, no fungicides or insecticides, and keeping traffic to a minimum in fields.  Porsborg has served on the SCD board since 2017. 

Board Member, Lonnie Henke operates a diversified grain and livestock farm west of Hannover ND.  Henke raises spring wheat, sunflowers, corn, oats, barley, flax, canola, peas, alfalfa and grass hay in a no-till rotational system. Henke's livestock operation includes a cow/calf and back grounding program. Henke as served on the SCD board since 2006.

Board Member, Dale Berg and his wife Cindy operate a 1,700 acre no-till farm north of Hannover ND. Berg's rotation consists of wheat, corn, peas, and canola.  Berg has just recently added the challenge of farming  reclaimed mined land. Berg retired from his dairy operation in 2000,  and his cow/calf operation in 2013. Berg has served on the SCD board since 2008.
District Manager, JD Hanson and his wife Lacey reside in Center ND with their three children Lennon. Maddux. and Emersyn. JD has been with the District since 2006 when he was hired as the District Technician.   In 2012 he took over the role of District Manager.  He has served three terms on the ND Conservation District Employees Association Board, and also assists with the technical reviews of applications for the ND Statewide Conservation Tree Planting Initiative, funded by the Outdoor Heritage Fund 

  

Pictured here are the OSCD Board of Supervisors with District Manager JD Hanson, who received the ND Association of Soil Conservation Districts award for Outstanding District Employee.

Left to right are: Dale Berg, Alan Schwalbe, Mike Bauer, JD Hanson, LeAnn Harner and Lonnie Henke.

NRCS Staff

District Conservationist, Vacant
Soil Conservationist, Brandon Bott

I am originally from Turtle Lake, ND where I graduated high school and was active in varsity sports, FFA, and music.

I’m a recent graduate of North Dakota State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Soil Science and a minor degree in Crop and Weed Sciences. I was actively involved on NDSU’s Rodeo Team and College FFA chapter while attending school and kept myself busy working as a Soil Conservationist Trainee in the Cass County office and working as a night shift tow truck operator as well.

My previous employments have been as a Soil Biologist Assistant with the Northern Great Plains Research Lab in Mandan, CWMA Weed Management Intern with the Big Stone County SWCD in Ortonville, MN, and a Soil Conservationist Trainee with NRCS in Minot.

My hobbies and interests outside of work are hunting, fishing, and rodeo. I am excited to work with everyone in the county and hopefully you can learn as much from me as I learn from you while I am here. Please stop in and say hello or email me at: branden.bott@nd.usda.gov.

Farm Bill Specialist, Mike Biewer

I was hired as a Farm Bill Specialist for the NDASCD in August 2018. I am currently serving the three-county area of McLean, Sheridan, and Oliver counties, with my home office being in Garrison.               

I grew up on a horse ranch near Burlington, ND, which is also where I went to grade school and graduated high school in Des Lacs. Once I graduated high school, I attended Dakota College at Bottineau the following fall. I earned an Associates degree in Wildlife Management, and from there transferred to Valley City State University where I earned a Bachelors degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Management

The following three summers were spent holding seasonal positions with the North Dakota Game & Fish Department, first in the fisheries division out of Dickinson, then wildlife division out of Riverdale, and had a rare opportunity to be in the private lands division out of Jamestown.

The following spring I was hired to do post construction mortality monitoring at the Courtenay Wind Farm, conducting surveys to gather data on the impact of wind turbines on birds and bats. Almost a year and a half into the study, I was offered this career move and excitedly took it. I grew up hunting and fishing in this area with my dad, so moving back was a big deal to me. I’m looking forward to not only taking the next step in my career, but also doing so not too far from home.