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| Friday, November 17, 2000 Washington, DC. |
"In our way of lifewith every decision we make, we always keep in mind the Seventh Generation of children to comeWhen we walk upon Mother Earth, we always plant our feet carefully because we know that the faces of future generations are looking up at us from beneath the ground. We never forget them."
-- - from a 1993 Earth Day Pledge by Oren Lyons, Faith Keeper, Onondaga Nation
Buffer Initiative Makes Impressive Gains -
The total to date is 997,742 miles--nearly 3.6 million acres--of conservation buffers installed through technical assistance and conservation programs. This is 49.9 percent of the 2-million-mile national goal. For more information on the conservation buffer initiative, visit the website at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/buffers/. Your contact is Max Schnepf at 515-289-2331, ext. 15 or maxs@swcs.org
FOCUS ON THE FIELD
Cropflex Program Being Evaluated - The National Water Management Center and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff are continuing their partnership effort with an evaluation of CropFlex. CropFlex is a management system for irrigated crops that provides irrigation and fertility management advice to assist farmers in maintaining or increasing yields while minimizing the potential of nitrate leaching.
This year, CropFlex is being evaluated on corn and soybeans. The fertilizer scheduler module was used to determine required fertilizer rates. Climatic data from the adjacent Soil Climate Analysis Network site is being entered into CropFlex daily to determine irrigation timings. At the end of the season, CropFlex will provide a brief leaching analysis. Yield results from the CropFlex plots will be compared to the yield results of plots managed by an expert. A web page documenting the progress of the CropFlex evaluation can be viewed at http://wmc.ar.nrcs.usda.gov/cropflex.dir. You can download CropFlex at http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/water/quality/common/wqmod.html. Your contact is Peter Robinson, National Water Management Center, at 501-210-8909 or peter.robinson@ar.usda.gov.
NRCS Teams with California Youth in Hands-On Activities - The viability of FARMS (Farming, Agriculture, and Resource Management for Sustainability), is being experienced by youth in California from Butte County to Escondido.
FARMS is a program in which high school students and their teachers learn about the interrelationships among science, agriculture, and natural resource conservation through hands-on, real-life experiences. A large number of these students team up with NRCS to apply their knowledge in outreach activities within their communities. Your contact is Marsha Gery, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, at 530-792-5604.
Science of Soils Training Provided -
Soil scientists from NRCS, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, the University of Connecticut, along with private sector consultants, recently provided The Science of Soils training to 170 wetland commissioners and staff from 90 municipalities. The training covered soil genesis, morphology, and classification of soils, as well as field identification of soils in a toposequence. The course is the 3rd in a 3-part series of training sessions geared toward educating commissioners in the State's 169 municipalities on the use of soil information to make sound land use decisions. Connecticut wetland regulations established in 1972 define wetlands based solely on soil type and delegates the responsibility of wetland protection and permit enforcement to each municipality's Inland Wetland Agency. Your contact is Kip Kolesinskas, NRCS State Soil Scientist, at 860-871-4047.
Atrazine Application Plan Improves Drinking Water -
Monroe City, Missouri's, water supply was in trouble. The herbicide, atrazine, in the city's drinking water reservoir showed up at levels that hovered at or just below the water quality standard of 3 parts per billion several times during recent years. NRCS, in partnership with the Missouri Corn Growers Association, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and the University of Missouri Extension Service, developed an innovative, two-pass atrazine management program, that decreased the amount of the herbicide used and changed the application period after the heaviest spring rains. The program successfully reduced overall atrazine levels in the drinking water supply, with a 72 percent reduction in average atrazine concentrations for the period of April through July 1999, as compared to levels seen during the same months in 1995 to 1999, while maintaining cost-effective weed control. Area farmers like Tuley Elliot are pleased with the program. "It can be more expensive to go with a two-pass plan, but we were happy with the weed control, and it definitely reduced atrazine runoff into the water," said Elliot. "All in all, I'm proud of what we've done, and I'm glad it has drawn the interest that it has." Your contact is Troy Huntley, NRCS IPM Specialist, at 660-385-6359 or troy.huntley@mo.usda.gov.
Missouri Site of Nation's First Wetland "Bank" -
Dexter, Missouri, was the site this week for the dedication of the Nation's first Agricultural Wetland Mitigation Bank. The event was organized by Davis Miton, the landowner responsible for setting up the land bank on his property, and the American Farmland Trust. The purpose of the bank is to provide mitigation opportunities at an affordable price to agricultural producers. The bank will offset impacts associated with the conversion of wetlands for farming. The mitigation will result in restoration of a 73-acre wetland complex. Currently, 26 acres have been completed, with each wetland acre equal to one wetland credit. Typically, producers in the service area are interested in converting one to two acres of farmed wetlands by purchasing one to two wetland credits. Sixteen credits have been purchased so far. Your contact is Chris Hamilton, NRCS Biologist, at 573-876-9416.
NRCS Helps Restore Urban Park -
Several years ago, it became apparent to the 400,000-plus annual visitors to Slater Park in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, that the four-acre pond, widely used for fishing in the summer and ice skating in the winter, needed restoration. The 90-year-old pond was plagued by poor water quality from duckweed and algae and soil erosion along the pond banks. NRCS provided technical assistance for the pond-restoration by recommending wood timber and stone dust step pathways to fishing areas and the use of coconut-fiber logs to rebuild the eroded shoreline. NRCS conservationists also suggested planting low-bush blueberries, sweet pepperbush, viburnums, blueflag iris, and grass in the run-down, surrounding wooded areas. Upon completion of the project, NRCS State Conservationist Joseph DelVecchio joined the Mayor of Pawtucket, and other State and local leaders in a ribbon cutting ceremony and tour of the restoration project. Your contact is Jeanne Comerford, NRCS Program Support Specialist, at 401-828-1300
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Spearheads Wisconsin Wetland System -
NRCS Wisconsin conservationist Paul Johnson and tribal liaison Tom Cogger have been working on creating a public trout fishing pond, a wetland for filtering wastewater from a tribal fish hatchery, and an interpretive trail and park. It is all part of the Red Cliff Tribal Project that is a cooperative effort between the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, NRCS, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. EQIP funds of approximately $75,000 will be used to build the wetland filtration system, as well as erosion control and streambank stabilization and habitat improvement. This is the first time EQIP has been used to assist in building a fish hatchery. Aquaculture operations are often difficult to get started because of wastewater disposal problems. The wetland filtration system, which filters the wastewater before it enters Red Cliff Creek, will also be monitored to assess its effectiveness. Your contact is Renae Anderson, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, at 608-276-8732, ext. 227.
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
NRCS, Former Chief Recognized -
The American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA) recognized NRCS and its former Chief, Paul Johnson, last week at their Annual Convention and Trade Show in Nashville, Tennessee. John Stierna, NRCS Senior Economist, accepted a plaque from ASFMRA for their appreciation of continuous support, dedication, and service by the agency. ASFMRA presented Paul Johnson with their Distinguished Service in Agriculture Award. Paul Johnson served as Chief from 1993 to 1997. The American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers promotes rural appraisal and real property review appraisal, and informs farm management professionals through information exchange meetings, schools, administering an accrediting program for members, and maintaining a code of business and professional ethics. Your contact is John Stierna, NRCS Senior Economist, at 202-720-6924.
WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON
November is American Indian Heritage Month - During November, the Nation celebrates the important contributions that American Indians have made to this country. Throughout the history of the United States, American Indians have been an integral part of the American character and culture. Tribal traditions have brought values and ideas that have become ingrained in the American spirit: the knowledge that humans can thrive and prosper without destroying the natural environment; the understanding that people from different backgrounds, cultures, religions, and traditions can come together to build a great country; and the awareness that diversity can be a source of strength rather than division.
NRCS South Central Region has assembled a set of American Indian heritage facts from each State.
Louisiana
Oklahoma
Your contact is H. Harold Bryant, NRCS State Public Affairs Specialist, at 254-742-9800 or harold.bryant@tx.usda.gov.
Cultural Resources Nationwide Programmatic Agreement Extended -
The 1994 Nationwide Programmatic Memorandum of Agreement between NRCS, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers was recently extended. The 1-year extension was signed thanks largely to negotiations led by NRCS and the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers. The extension contains new stipulations that bring NRCS into compliance with the amended National Historic Preservation Act and regulations and will be addressed in new or updated State Level Agreements and American Indian Tribal consultation protocols and agreements. Your contact is Sarah Bridges, NRCS Cultural Resources specialist, at 202 720-491 or sarah.bridges@usda.gov.
Federal Times Features NRCS Performance and Results Measurement System (PRMS) - The November 20 issue of the Federal Times ran an article highlighting the PRMS. The article explained, through first-person testimonials by NRCS field staff, how the web-based PRMS database application provides agency field personnel, conservation partners, and the public fast and easy access to agency accomplishments, progress toward performance goals, and products including reports, maps, and data. Your contact is Dan Lawson, Director, NRCS Strategic and Performance Planning Division, at 202-690-0467.
North American Prairie Exhibit Opens at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History - Secretary Glickman was on hand to help open the "Listening to the Prairie: Farming in Nature's Image" exhibition this week at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. The exhibit depicts the evolution of the vast grasslands region and the progressive prairie farmers and ranchers who have diversified their crops and livestock to minimize crop pests and weather market fluctuations, reduced reliance on chemical pesticides, and begun to sell directly to consumers for premium prices that reflect their hard work. As part of their good farm management, the producers also safeguard drinking water, preserve streams and rivers, and offer havens for wildlife and native plants through such practices as rotating crops, planting buffer strips around streams, and using "cover crops" to lessen erosion. Three of the four producers have received grants from USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program.
"Listening to the Prairie" will run through March 2001 at the Smithsonian. Beginning in May, the exhibition will travel to 20 libraries throughout the U.S. as part of a tour sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA). For more information on the tour, call ALA at 800-545-2433, ext. 5054. Your contact is Valerie Berton, SARE Communications Specialist, at 301-504-5230.
CF Industries Annual Watershed Awards -
The Annual CFI Industries Annual Watershed Awards were presented this week at a special ceremony and luncheon in the USDA Whitten Building. One of this year's winners was the Careless Creek Watershed Project, in Roundup, Montana, which showcased impressive efforts in minimizing stream banks and channel erosion, applying best management practices on agricultural lands, and improving fisheries and habitats throughout the watershed. Another, the Chain of Lakes Clean Water Partnership in Minneapolis, Minnesota, exemplified how local watershed groups and city managers worked together to create wetlands, restore degraded shorelines, and improve stormwater management practices, which have resulted in the best watershed quality documented in 30 years. The Sugar Creek SALT Project in Bethany, Missouri, provided farmers and ranchers with the technical and financial tools needed to develop best management practices as a foundation for establishing filter strip and terrace systems, developing a wildlife plan and species survey, improving water quality, maintaining watershed habitat, and implementing a community outreach program. The Tampa Bay Estuary Program established strategies to improve water and sediment quality, restore critical habitat, and improve the health of the bay's fish and wildlife populations. Your contact is Rosemary O'Brien, CF Industries, at 202-371-9279.
New Sustainable Agriculture Network Presentation Available - Reap New Profits: Marketing Strategies for Farmers & Ranchers, a PowerPoint Presentation for Educators is the latest information product from USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN). The presentation is intended for professionals who want to help small and medium-sized farm operations prosper. Alternative marketing strategies have become an important way for farmers and ranchers to gain the power to turn a profit. Preview the presentation on the web at www.sare.org/market99/slideshow. To order a copy, contact aadeyemi@nal.usda.gov. For more information about SAN books and free bulletins -- a collection of farmer-ready resources that spell out ways to increase profits while improving the environment and communities -- go to www.sare.org/htdocs/pubs/. SAN is the national information arm of USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program, which advances farming systems that are profitable, environmentally sound and good for communities. Your contact is Valerie Berton, SARE Communications Specialist, at 301-504-5230.
TECH TIPS
New Version of PLANTS Available - PLANTS 3.1 has been updated with the addition of new capabilities. A new server is making response time faster. The National Plant Data Center and the plant materials discipline have cooperated to develop a Plant Fact Sheet and Plant Guide module that provides direct access to Word and PDF documents for all of the species covered.
An advanced search capability permits users to query the entire PLANTS data set of 33,000 species and plant characteristic data for 2,000 principal conservation species in PLANTS. For example, users can request a list of all native trees in Utah, or a list of conservation grasses grown in Kansas that tolerate saline soils. Users are encouraged to provide feedback to the center about how they used the site and how it might be improved. Check out PLANTS for what is new: www.plants.usda.gov.
Your contact is Scott Peterson, Director, NRCS National Plant Data Center 225 775-6280 ext. 11 or speterson@npdc.usda.gov.
November 17, 2000
As a service to NRCS personnel and the agency's partners, "NRCS This Week" offers the following by-subject list of conferences and training sessions. To add an event, please send an e-mail message to fred.jacobs@usda.gov
Please send correspondence and material for "NRCS This Week" to the editor by: e-mail to: fred.jacobs@usda.gov; or by fax to: Editor, "NRCS This Week," 202-720-1564; or by mail to: Editor, "NRCS This Week," NRCS, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, D.C. 20013
If you are not a NRCS employee, you can receive NRCSTW on an e-mail by contacting: listproc@nrcs.usda.gov (NHQ personnel should send their e-mail to: GW:"listproc@nrcs.usda.gov@i"). Do not use a subject line and put the following in the body of the message: subscribe NRCS-THIS-WEEK Firstname Lastname (example: subscribe NRCS-THIS-WEEK John Muir). To get help with other commands that are available at the "listproc@nrcs.usda.gov" address, send a message with no subject and the word HELP on a line by itself in the body of the message. "NRCS This Week" will continue to be posted on the NRCS Homepage.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Addresses and telephone numbers for NRCS' Civil Rights Staff are: NRCS Civil Rights Program Compliance Division, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Mail Stop 5471, Beltsville, MD 20705-5471; phone: (301) 504-2287. NRCS Civil Rights Employment Division, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Mail Stop 5472, Beltsville, MD 20705-5472; phone: (301) 504-2181.
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