NRCS Wetland Technical Rule Signed and Published in Federal Register - On November 6, former NRCS Chief Paul Johnson signed the final rule for revision of the NRCS wetland technical assistance policy. The revision removes 7 CFR Part 650.26, and provides NRCS technical assistance in accordance with current statute and Executive Order. This final rule was published in the Federal Register on Monday, November 17, 1997, and is available on the NRCS home page. It is also available on the NHQ server hqtech.nrcs.hqnet.usda.gov, directory Owen_Lee with the file name tapolicy.doc. An NRCS General Manual revision will be sent out in the near future. For additional information, contact Gary Wooten, Watersheds and Wetlands Division at 202-690-1588, by e-mail to gwooten@usda.gov, or by voice mail at 9001-690-1588.

Special National Resources Inventory Study - Data collection for the 1997 Special National Resources Inventory (NRI) Study is coming to a close. Employees in 39 States have been collecting data for this study on over 6,000 Primary Sampling Units since August. On November 11, a preliminary snapshot of the data was taken, with 74 percent of the data returned. This snapshot will give an initial view of the database. The final day for data collection is December 5; after that date the data will be "frozen" and any outstanding data cannot be submitted for inclusion in the study. After the data are frozen, personnel from the Resources Inventory Division and Iowa State University Statistical Laboratory will begin to edit, evaluate, and process the data. Results of the 1997 Special NRI Study will be available for Congressional hearings early in 1998.

NRCS and Corn Growers Team Up at FFA Career Show - NRCS and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) hosted a joint exhibit at the 1997 FFA Career Show, November 12-14, in Kansas City, MO. The exhibit is part of the conservation buffer initiative and cooperative buffer activities between NRCS and the NCGA. The exhibit demonstrated conservation buffer technology with live plants, running water, and corn residue and stalks. The Manhattan Plant Materials Center contributed plant materials for the exhibit. NRCS employees from the Kansas City area helped to staff the exhibit. In addition to the buffer exhibit, NCGA had two ethanol-powered vehicles in the display area. This is the second year in a row that NRCS has had a major buffer exhibition at FFA.

Air Quality Task Force - The Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and NRCS has undergone Departmental clearance. It is scheduled to be signed in mid-December. The next meeting of the Task Force is tentatively scheduled for the first week of April 1998.

USDA's Challenge Against Hunger - USDA agencies in Louisiana collected 40,817 pounds of non-perishable food items in September as part of the Department's first national "Challenge Against Hunger."

Florida Dairy and Poultry Farmers Voluntarily Manage Animal Wastes to Protect Water Quality - In North Central Florida, growing concerns over increased nitrate concentrations in area wells led to the initiation in 1991 of the Middle Suwannee River Watershed Area Project under Public Law 83-566. The purpose of the project is to prevent degradation of water quality from improper dairy and poultry waste disposal. The Suwannee River and the Lafayette soil and water conservation districts are sponsoring the project. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection held off instituting stricter regulations on livestock operations in 1990 to give the PL-566 project a chance to work. NRCS State Conservationist Niles Glasgow points out, "Local farmers took action before regulations got involved."

In 1995, the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD), concerned that farmers facing falling milk prices could not afford to participate in the pollution prevention effort, lobbied the State legislature, which in turn allocated $1.2 million to reimburse half of the dairy farmers' expenses up to $50,000. So far, 44 of the 45 dairies in the two counties are involved in the project. Of the 129 poultry farms, it is expected that 102 will participate in the project. In addition to providing technical assistance through PL-566, NRCS is also providing 65 percent cost share on construction costs. So far, the project has prevented more than 500 tons of nitrates from dairy and poultry waste from entering surface and ground water.

Volunteers Work With Wisconsin Farmers on Nutrient Management Practices - In Wisconsin this past summer, seven Earth Team volunteers put in 1,624 hours working one-on-one with dairy farmers in the Embarrass, Pensaukee, Trout Creek watershed and in county projects in Kewaunee and Winnebago Counties. The volunteers, a mix of college students from the University of Wisconsin (UW)-Green Bay, UW-River Falls, and high school students in vocational agriculture programs, met with farmers, calibrated manure spreaders, took manure samples, tested soil for nitrogen to prove the existence of manure and legume credits, and surveyed farmers on their nutrient management practices.

The program was a win-win situation according to Marinette County NRCS District Conservationist Howard Lorenz. "The students gained valuable field experience that will help them in their careers, and we worked with 30 more farmers than we could have otherwise." The students also received college credit for their efforts.

This is a cooperative effort, organized jointly by UW Extension with NRCS District Conservationists in Marinette, Shawano, Brown, Oconto, and Kewaunee Counties. Four of the student volunteers will be presenting poster papers at the Soil and Water Conservation Society's Regional Manure Management Conference in Ames, IA, in February.

Wisconsin NRCS is looking at continuing the program with more than 20 interns in field offices in 1998.

Conservation Buffer Training for Ag Business - A day-long training session on the design and installation of conservation buffers for field representatives of Farmland Industries was held November 12 in Kansas City, KS. The participants are employees of the firm who daily work with agricultural producers and the retailers who sell input products to producers throughout the Corn Belt and Great Plains. NRCS employees from Nebraska and Kansas conducted the training, along with staff members from the National Agroforestry Center and the Missouri Department of Conservation. A similar training session for field representatives from Cargill is planned for early next year.

Conclusion of the 105th Congress -- First Session - Both the House and Senate have adjourned until the fourth week in January, 1998. The second session of the 105th Congress will begin on January 27, 1998. The President has been invited to present to Congress the State of the Union Address on that day.

Agriculture Census - On Monday, November 10, the Senate passed H.R. 2366 by a voice vote. The measure, introduced by Rep. Charlie Stenholm (TX), proposes to transfer responsibility for conducting the census of agriculture from the Department of Commerce to the Secretary of Agriculture. The bill was passed by the House on October 21 and is now sent to the White House for endorsement.

Drought Preparedness - On Monday, November 10, the Senate passed the National Drought Policy Act of 1997. The legislation, introduced by Sen. Pete Domenici (NM), calls for the formation of a Presidential Commission that will examine the role of Federal agencies in response to drought situations, and also assess the state of Federal preparedness for drought. The Secretary of Agriculture would serve as the chair of the Commission. Companion legislation has not been sponsored in the House.

Legislation of Note- The following bills of significance to NRCS and conservation were recently introduced:

Bill - H.R. 2762

Member - Gilchrest (MD)

Purpose - The legislation would make comprehensive changes to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act with respect to Federal wetlands policies including delineation, permitting, and mitigation. Specifically, the bill adds "wetlands" to the definition of "navigable waters" and clarifies the meaning of "prior converted cropland."

 

Bill - H.R. 2911

Member - Pombo/Herger (CA)

Purpose - The legislation would waive provisions of the Endangered Species Act to allow Federal agencies to maintain or repair levees in response to catastrophic events, or where threats to public safety are eminent.

November - Native American Heritage Month

December 3-6 - 17th International Symposium of the North American Lake Management Society, Houston, TX. Contact Dr. Robert Doyle at 972-436-2215, or send e-mail to loyler@EX1.wes.army.mil, or contact Dr. Alan Groeger at 512-245-2284, or send e-mail to AG11@swt.edu.

December 6-10 - The 59th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Milwaukee, WI. For information visit this Internet site: http://www.dnr.state.wi.us (see "Fish" or "Wildlife"), or call Alan Crossley at 608-275-3242.

December 8-12 - Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Workshop, Westin Crown Center Hotel, Kansas City, MO. For more information contact Larry Babich at 202-720-8770 or Judy Foland at 202-720-9482.

December 10-13 - National Organization of Professional Black Natural Resources Conservation Service Employees Sixth Annual Training Conference, "Bridging the Gap to the New Millennium: A Field of Dreams." Renaissance Atlanta Hotel-Concourse, One Hartsfield Centre Parkway, Atlanta, GA. Hotel reservations are due by November 25. Call 404-209-9999.

January 26-28, 1997 - National Conservation Buffer Initiative Science and Technology Conference and Workshops, San Antonio, TX. Contact the Conservation Technology Information Center at 765-494-9555, or visit the CTIC Web site at http://www.ctic.purdue.edu. The Web address for conference information is http://www.ctic.purdue.edu/Releases/BufferConf.html.

February 10-12, 1998 - "Managing Manure in Harmony with the Environment and Society," Soil and Water Conservation Society West North Central Manure Management Conference, Iowa State Center, Scheman Building, Ames, IA. Contact: Bob Ball, NRCS, Parkade Center, Suite 250, 601 Business Loop 70 West, Columbia, MO 65203. Phone: 573-876-0900.

May 23-28, 1999 - "Sustaining the Global Farm," 10th International Soil Conservation Organization (ISCO) Conference Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. For information contact ISCO conference organizers by telephone at 765-494-8683, by fax at 765-494-5948 c/o ISCO99, or by e-mail at isco99@ecn.purdue.edu. Send correspondence to ISCO99, Purdue University, 1196 SOIL Building, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1196. Check the ISCO Web site at http://soils.ecn.purdue.edu/~isco99 or http://128.46.135.45/~isco99.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

--Margaret Mead

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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