Restoring Roots to Save the Salamanders

By: Kris Vance, Indiana NRCS State Public Affairs Specialist

On a stretch of farmland in southern Indiana, deep ruts once cut through fields so severely that, as landowner Ben Shireman recalls, "we had ditches in the field that you could park pickup trucks in."

Years of continuous row cropping by a previous owner had taken a toll on the land, leaving behind eroded hillsides, depleted soils and a system that was no longer sustainable both economically and environmentally. What followed for the Shireman family was not a quick fix. It was a transformation rooted in conservation, partnership and a willingness to rethink how their land could work for them and the environment around them.

Today, that same farm is a small but vital part of a growing effort to improve water quality and restore habitat for one of Indiana's most unique aquatic species called the Eastern Hellbender. Through the Farmers Helping Hellbenders Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), the Shiremans are demonstrating how targeted conservation programs can help farmers address long-standing resource concerns while contributing to broader ecological goals.

When Ben first took over the farm, he noted that the challenges were immediate and overwhelming. Heavy rains washed soil from one sinkhole basin to another across nearly 800 acres of watershed and with every storm, erosion on their ground intensified. At the same time, low crop yields and high input costs left little room for profit.

"We were running a 100-bushel corn average and not really making anything," Ben said. "We knew we had to do something."

That "something" became a shift toward integrating livestock into their operation and adopting conservation practices that would rebuild the land from the ground up. The decision to try something new led him to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), where he began working with local conservationists to chart a new path forward.

For 17-year-old Lily Shireman, who grew up on the farm and has seen the issues firsthand, the new path required a different mindset. "We needed to rip off the Band-Aid and start treating the actual wound, not just keep it covered," she said.

Instead of continuing to invest in fertilizers that couldn't compensate for lost topsoil, the family began focusing on rebuilding soil health through practices like rotational grazing, cover crops and innovative bale grazing systems.

While some of these approaches were self-developed, many of the foundational improvements came through NRCS-supported practices implemented under an initial Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) contact and later through the Farmers Helping Hellbenders RCPP funding. What sets the RCPP program apart from other financial assistance is that it is designed to bring together federal, state and local partners to address resource concerns within targeted areas, in this case, watersheds that influence hellbender habitat. By focusing funding within a specific geography, RCPP projects like this one can increase the likelihood that farmers will receive financial assistance compared to broader statewide programs.

That targeted approach made a critical difference for the Shiremans. After initially applying for and receiving funding through EQIP, the Shiremans wanted to expand their conservation efforts and applied for a second EQIP contract that was eventually funded through the RCPP program.

"Thank gosh this project came around," Ben said. "We don't know what we would have done."

Through RCPP, the Shiremans implemented a suite of conservation practices, including cover crops and pasture plantings to improve soil health, filter strips to trap sediment and nutrients, and a nutrient management plan that optimized nutrient inputs with crop demands. Additionally, fencing allowed for more effective rotational grazing, improving pasture health while preventing overuse of any single area.

These practices do more than improve the farm. They play a direct role in protecting water quality. Even though the farm lacks visible streams, it sits atop karst topography, where groundwater moves quickly through sinkholes and underground channels before emerging in nearby waterways like the Blue River. For hellbenders, which rely on clean, oxygen-rich water and stable streambeds, those impacts are critical. Excess sediment can smother the rocky habitats they depend on, while nutrient runoff can degrade water quality. By reducing erosion and managing nutrients more effectively, conservation efforts implemented on the farm help protect these aquatic ecosystems.

"It may not look like it's directly tied to water quality because we don't see the surface waters," explained Farmers Helping Hellbenders coordinator Eliza Hudson, "but it ends up being this suite of practices that do a lot for water quality. Each component contributes to a larger system that supports both agriculture and wildlife."

The results on the farm have been noticeable. Erosion has significantly decreased, pastures are more resilient and the need for commercial fertilizer has dropped as organic matter builds in the soil. "We're seeing a lot of regrowth," Lily said. "And we don't have to spend all that extra money because so much organic matter is being produced."

Wildlife has also responded as well. "We're starting to see quail come back," Lily noted. "You start with ecosystems like bugs and roots and organic matter and you're going to see other things come back as well." These improvements contribute to healthier landscapes that support biodiversity on multiple levels.

Equally important in this journey has been the role of technical and financial assistance in making these changes possible. "We definitely would not be able to do this on our own," Lily said. "From planning and design to financial support, NRCS staff and Eliza have provided the tools needed to get us started and sustain progress. Without their support, we wouldn't have this fence, we wouldn't have the waterers, we wouldn't have the waterways and we definitely wouldn't have healthier soils."

For Ben, programs like RCPP represent more than just funding, they are an investment in the future of small farms and rural communities. "It gives the farmers a chance to correct some issues and to pass something on to the next generation," he said. "By focusing on local priorities and working collaboratively with farmers, these programs create opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach."

As the Shiremans continue refining their system, they are also looking outward, encouraging neighboring farmers to explore similar opportunities. "I don't want to be the one that takes all the funding," Ben said. "I want somebody else to utilize it, to learn and then we can all grow together."

Ben and Lily's message to others is simple: start the conversation. "It doesn't hurt anything to ask about the programs," Ben said. "At the very least, you're going to learn something."

On a farm once defined by erosion and uncertainty, that willingness to ask and to change has led to a new kind of success. One where productive agriculture and conservation go hand in hand. One where the benefits extend far beyond the farm itself, reaching into the streams and habitats that depend on clean water. One where the elusive hellbender can safely call home.