A Thank You From the Chief - I want to personally thank you -- the dedicated workforce of our agency -- once again for meeting a challenge head-on. I'm talking about your hard work in implementing the recent CRP signup.

Secretary Glickman asked you to work with your counterparts in our sister agencies to ensure that every farmer who wished to participate in CRP had that opportunity, meaning that all necessary technical determinations be made timely and accurately. You were asked to share resources and empowered to create the best USDA field delivery team possible. Many of you helped out in counties -- or states -- other than your own. Your team spirit never faltered.

The new, environmentally-focused CRP goes a long way towards reducing erosion, improving water quality, and enhancing wildlife habitat. You know this -- and because of your outstanding efforts America's farmers and ranchers also understand this. You should be proud of the amount of acres offered during the 15th signup.

With your help, we will continue to offer common sense conservation programs to the private landowners in this country. Thank you for caring about America's natural resources.

Secretary Encourages Community Service by USDA Employees - In an April 24 memorandum to all employees, Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman encouraged USDA supervisors and employees to take advantage of flexible work schedules to enable employees to participate in voluntary community service without using annual leave. This is in keeping with the call to community service issued from the Presidents' Summit on America's Future. The Secretary said that the use of flexible work schedules will allow employees to take part in activities such as those aimed at gleaning and recovering excess food, tutoring and mentoring youth, protecting the environment, boosting urban and rural links, promoting youth development and after-school activities, connecting schools to the Internet, and fighting hunger.

According to the recently issued Family Friendly Workplace Policy and USDA Guide for Implementing a Family Friendly Workplace, employees, with supervisory approval, may rearrange their work schedules so that they work longer days, come in earlier, or stay later. Agencies may also recognize employees who contribute their time and effort to strengthen their communities. USDA's employee recognition program provides guidance on ways to acknowledge employees' valuable contributions.

American Wetlands Conference Sets Agenda - Staff from the Watershed and Wetlands Division will participate in the first American Wetlands Conference "Communities Working for Wetlands," May 7-9, in Alexandria, VA. Conference objectives are to discuss ways to heighten public awareness of the value of wetlands to communities and to foster the creation of voluntary, cooperative partnerships among communities, corporations, government, landowners, and private citizens for wetlands conservation and management.

NRCS to Participate in Public Service Recognition Week - In Washington, DC, USDA and 100 other government agencies will come together on the National Mall to celebrate Public Service Recognition Week, May 5-12. NRCS National Headquarters will coordinate and staff an exhibit that focuses on interpretive maps derived from global soil and soil climatic geographic data. Soil maps, educational posters, and agency program publications will be distributed. Nearly 25,000 people are expected to attend. Vice President Gore, is scheduled to keynote the "Breakfast of Champions," honoring Public Service Excellence Award Winners on May 5.

More than 1,200 cities across the country are expected to take part in this annual activity, which is cosponsored by the President's Council on Management Improvement and the Public Employees Roundtable.

Strategic Plan Available on the NRCS Home Page - The latest draft of the NRCS Government Performance Results Act (GPRA) Strategic Plan, dated April 21, 1997, is available on the Internet on the NRCS home page. This is the draft that will be forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget and Congress. Consultation with Congress will begin early this summer. The final plan is due to Congress on Sept 30, 1997.

National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB) - On April 28, at USDA, a group of farm broadcasters interviewed Chief Paul Johnson and Parks Shackelford, Assistant Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs with the Farm Service Agency, on CRP and conservation buffers. On April 29, Chief Johnson participated in a news conference on buffers for NAFB members attending the Association's annual Washington Watch event. The news conference was sponsored by the National Conservation Buffer Partnership Committee and the Fertilizer Institute. The Partnership Committee consists of six national corporations -- Cargill, ConAgra, Farmland Industries, Monsanto, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, and Terra Industries -- that have pledged nearly $1 million over the next three years to join USDA in the National Conservation Buffer Initiative. The National Corn Growers Association and the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives are also represented on the Partnership Committee.

Environmental Alliance for Senior Involvement (EASI) - NRCS will participate in the Environmental Alliance for Senior Involvement (EASI) annual conference, May 14-16, in Alexandria, VA. EASI is a non-profit coalition of senior, environmental, and volunteer groups, whose mission is involvement of senior citizens in addressing environmental concerns at the local, State and Federal levels. As one of the founders and supporters of EASI, NRCS will be represented in the conference program, "Senior Action for Sustainable Neighborhoods," which will highlight model projects underway throughout the Nation and worldwide.

IN THE FIELD

EWP Update - As of April 30, in North Dakota, NRCS had already obligated $200,000 for Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) measures to remove debris from streams. High water is making further damage assessment virtually impossible. Flood level in Grand Forks was 2 feet higher than the flood of record. NRCS field staffs in North Dakota will continue damage assessment as flood levels recede.

South Dakota continued to have significant flooding along the Upper Big Sioux and the James River. Many local communities and farmsteads have been flooded. The disposal of dead livestock is a major concern. Full damage assessments are being hampered by high waters, but Damage Survey Reports are being prepared as conditions permit. EWP funds will be made available to South Dakota to begin to address the highest priority, life threatening work.

NRCS field staffs in Minnesota are conducting damage assessments in all 53 counties named in the Presidential disaster declaration. NRCS equipment and staff are being used in the Federal Emergency Management Agency's coordinated relief efforts and NRCS is working with the State of Minnesota Emergency Management team. Six NRCS offices were temporarily closed due to flooding or power outages.

New Twist to a Common Program - Minnesota's Wilkin Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has added a new twist to the common conservation district program of making no-till drills available to farmers at low cost. The Wilkin SWCD rents the drill for $5 an acre, but first-time users receive an incentive payment of $5 an acre for trying it. The incentive payments are funded by the Wilkin County Environmental Office, which also provides through the SWCD, a $200 per acre incentive payment for landowners to establish filter strips or riparian buffers along any ditch, river, or wetland. These payments are on top of any CRP payments. Priority is given to landowners who plant trees. The Wilkin SWCD's reminds landowners, "Remember...If you don't want dirt to move--don't move the dirt."

Almost 2,000 Trees Take Root from Shoshone/Paiute Tribes' Arbor Day Celebration - On April 25, the Shoshone/Paiute Tribes on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation in Idaho celebrated their first Arbor Day. During the celebration, arranged by Bill Moore, Southwest Idaho Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) area coordinator, 1,000 poplar trees were planted along the shore of the Sheep Creek Reservoir to enhance fisheries habitat and reduce shoreline erosion. Also, Tribal Elders and 5th and 6th grade students planted a special ceremonial tree. Tribal members purchased another 900 trees for planting at their homes and ranches. Volunteer Pat Kolbet received an award presented by Walden Townsend, RC&D Council Chairman and tribal member, for the hundreds of hours she donated in designing a landscape and improvement plan for the recreation area. Future improvements at the site include fencing livestock from wetlands, removing non-essential roads, and installing fish screens. Economic development opportunities are also planned.

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

Bills Introduced - The following bills were introduced of significance to NRCS and conservation:

H.R. 1290 by Jones (NC) -- The legislation would promote the restoration, conservation, and enhancement of wetlands through the establishment of a responsible wetlands mitigation banking program.

H.R. 1342 by Smith (OR) -- The legislation would provide for a 1-year enrollment in the Conservation Reserve of land covered by expiring Conservation Reserve Program contracts.

H.R. 1404 by Waxman (CA) -- The legislation would require votes on legislative provisions that reduce protection of the environment. It would require analysis of legislative impacts on the environment similar to current budgetary impact analysis.

S. 605 by Conrad and Dorgan (ND) -- The legislation would require the Secretary of Agriculture to provide emergency assistance to producers for cattle losses that are due to damaging weather or related conditions occuring during the 1996-97 winter season.

Air Quality Task Force Hearing - The Forestry, Resource Conservation, and Research Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee, held a hearing regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed air quality standards and their implications for the agricultural industry on April 23. Chief Paul Johnson provided the committee with information about how the Air Quality Task Force was formed, what they have done thus far, and what future activities they will undertake.

Chief Johnson stated that the last Chief to testify before a committee on air quality, was Hugh Hammond Bennett in 1935 which resulted in the formation of the Soil Conservation Service. Chief Johnson noted that air quality and future productivity of agriculture are inextricably linked. He stated hope that the Air Quality Task Force would provide the EPA Administrator with information on the issue in the future, just as it will for the Secretary of Agriculture. Furthermore, he reported that USDA would be working with EPA to build consensus on standards for final rule publication. He also stated that a voluntary rather than a regulatory approach to the issue is the direction that should be taken.

Representatives of academia, producers groups, and manufacturing also provided testimony on the implications of Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 on the agricultural industry. The representatives feel that there is not the necessary research to proceed with the proposed PM 2.5 standards. They said the proposal will have serious implications to the agricultural community. Three of the representatives that testified serve on the Air Quality Task Force.

Congressman Charles W. Stenholm (TX), said we need to keep working together at the local level on the air quality issue. He said EPA should be at the table discussing this with agriculture. Other members stressed the need for farmers to be represented. They also urged the Department of Agriculture to take a position on the PM 2.5 standards.

CONSTITUENCY AND PARTNERSHIP NEWS

Stewardship Observance - The annual stewardship observance of the National Association of Conservation Districts is one of its best-known and most successful outreach projects. It aims to awaken in all Americans their responsibility to be thoughtful stewards of America's precious soil and water resources.

The observance began with the first Soil Stewardship Sunday on May 15, 1955. Today, we have Soil and Water Stewardship Week, which begins the last Sunday in April and ends the first Sunday in May. However, NACD invites everyone to celebrate stewardship throughout the year. For more information about Soil and Water Stewardship Week, contact the NACD Office of Public Affairs at 800-825-5547 or e-mail: publicaffairs@nacdnet.org.

NACD Regional Meetings and National Leadership Conference - For more information on any of the following NACD meetings contact Robert Raschke at 303-988-1810.

June 14-17 Northern Plains Regional Meeting, Omaha, NE.

July 13-16 North Central Regional Meeting, Evansville, IN.

July 27-30 Southeastern and South Central Joint Regional Meeting, Tunica, MS.

Aug. 21-25 National Leadership Conference, Royal Waikaloan Hotel, Kona, HI.

Sept. 3-5 Southwestern Regional Meeting, Glenwood Springs, CO.

Sept. 13-17 Pacific Regional Meeting. Kauai, HI

Sept. 14-17 Northeastern Regional Meeting, Atlantic City, NJ.

Symposium to Highlight National Water Quality Watershed Projects - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and USDA will conduct a National Watershed Water Quality Project Symposium in Washington, DC, to highlight achievements in water quality through watershed projects.

Slated for September 22-26, 1997, the symposium will present accomplishments of local projects funded under EPA's Section 319 (Clean Water Act) National Monitoring Program and USDA's Demonstration, Hydrologic Unit Area Programs, and Management Systems Evaluation Areas. The symposium will also feature lessons learned in the Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst programs.

The symposium will be held at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. For a copy of the agenda, contact the Conservation Technology Information Center at (765) 494-9555 or e-mail ctic@ctic.purdue.edu. An agenda will also be available on the Internet at http://www.ctic.purdue.edu.

Calls for Abstracts - Abstracts for the November 2-5, 1997, National Urban and Community Conservation Conference to be held in Columbus, OH, are due by May 15, 1997. The Call for Papers can be accessed through the NACD home page at http://www.nacdnet.org/meetings/urbconf.htm. Contact Karl F. Otte at 703-440-8611.

Abstracts for the May 3-6, 1998, "Watershed Management: Moving from Theory to Implementation" conference in Denver, CO, are due by June 16, 1997. Call the Water Environment Federation at 800-666-0206 for more information, or e-mail confinfo@wef.org.

UPCOMING EVENTS

April 27 - May 7 - "Backyard Stewardship," 1997 Soil & Water Stewardship Week

May - American Wetlands Month

May 4-10 - Drinking Water Week

May 7-9 - An American Wetlands Month Celebration -- "Communities Working for Wetlands," Radisson Plaza Hotel, Alexandria, VA. Call: 800/726-4853 or FAX: 703-548-6299 or e-mail: terrene@gnn.com.

May 8-10 - Public Service Recognition Week, National Mall Event, Washington, D.C.

May 10-17 - National River Cleanup Week. Call 423-558-3595 or 202-547-9240 for information on organizing a cleanup, or visit http://www.americaoutdoors.org on the World Wide Web.

May 18-21 - Fifth National Watershed Conference, "Living in Your Watershed." Sponsored by the National Watershed Coalition, Reno, NV. Contact: Jim Fisher, 303-988-1810.

May 18-20 - The Wildlife Habitat Council (in cooperation with the Wildlife Society and sponsored by NRCS and other Federal, State, and private organizations) 1997 Wildlands Conference, "Exceeding Expectations," Swissotel, Atlanta, GA. Call: 201-588-8994.

May 30-June 1 - The Ducks Unlimited GREAT OUTDOORS FESTIVAL 1997. Agricenter International, Memphis, TN. For more information call Ducks Unlimited at 901-758-3825 or visit their World Wide Web site at: <http://www.ducks.org/frames_hotnews.html>

June 3-5 - International Symposium commemorating the 50th Anniversary of USDA's Wind Erosion Research at Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS. Contact: The Wind Erosion Research Unit (WERU) by phone: 913-532-6495; FAX: 913-532-6526; e-mail: sym@weru.ksu.edu; or on the World Wide Web: http://www.weru.ksu.edu.

June 15-18 - National Association of RC&D Councils Conference, St. Paul, MN. Contact: Becky Lane, 202-546-8800 or write to: National Association of RC&D Councils, 509 Capital Court, NE, Suite 100, Washington, D.C. 20002.

June 24-26 - National Agricultural Resource Management Planning Conference, Omni Royal Orleans, New Orleans, LA. Call Lyn Kirschner at 765-494-1827 or send e-mail to: kirschner@ctic.purdue.edu.

July 17-19, 1997 - Land Improvement Contractors of America Summer Meeting, Providence, RI. Contact Wayne F. Maresch at 301-248-9313 or e-mail to: Wayne F86@aol.com.

July 22-25 - The 52nd Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Conference; Interactions, Managing Ecosystems on a Watershed Basis; Toronto, Canada. Contact: Jennifer Pemble, 800-843-7645. Conference information can also be found at: http://www.swcs.org/AnnCon.htm.

QUOTE

"Volunteer service strengthens our communities. We at the Department of Agriculture can make a great contribution in the area of volunteer service. There are many opportunities to link USDA missions, goals, and objectives to the needs of our communities. USDA employees possess the skills and abilities to help those in need. I am challenging all of you to think of ways in which you can contribute your time and skills. I hope that every employee will be able to give some time to make his or her community a better place."

--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman

NRCS This Week is issued weekly by the Conservation Communications Staff, NRCS headquarters, Washington, D.C., and posted on the NRCS Home Page at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov. Please send correspondence and material via e-mail to: nancy.garlitz@usda.gov or mail to Editor, "NRCS This Week," NRCS, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013 or FAX to Editor, "NRCS This Week," 202-690-1221.

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