NRCS This Week - 12/01/00

The American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE) offers members access to all new ASAE publications, journals, standards, technical papers, and books. For details visit the ASAE home page at http://asae.org.

NRCS National Water and Climate Center Snow-Precipitation Update for the West

NRCS Legislative Summaries

Ag Day, syndicated nationally to 200 television stations. Check out the site at www.agday.com.

Also on the 'Net:

Crop Residue Survey application - CropRes - allows users to upload survey transect data, enter county profile data (county crop acres), and adjust tillage percentages. CropRes is now available at http://calais.itc.nrcs.usda.gov/ctic/ (A PMRS user ID and logon are required to enter this site).

Computer Tools Now Available to Field Offices! Field office personnel now have access to better tools to reduce paperwork, improve efficiency, and allow more time to work in the field with customers. Computer tools are available at http://www.info.usda.gov/NRCS/FOWR/

AGRICOLA: USDA's AGRICultural Online Access

e-Notes from NACD: Weekly news briefs from the National Association of Conservation Districts

Conference & Training Connection!

See the alphabetical-by-subject list of upcoming events. See NEW! listing under Animal Residuals Management and Global Climate Change.

NATIONWIDE

National Publication Distribution Unit Reports Another Busy Year - The NRCS National Publication Distribution Unit in Ankeny, Iowa, had another busy year. During FY 2000, the staff assisted over 15,000 customers who placed nearly 25,000 orders for over a million NRCS publications. About 115 orders per day were received and processed within 10 working days. Your contact is Michele Eginoire, NRCS National Volunteer Coordinator, at 515-289-0325 ext. 29.

FOCUS ON THE FIELD

Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program Assistance to Storm-Ravaged Hawaii - After 37 inches of rain fell during a 24-hour period, bringing severe flooding from the City of Hilo to the town of Naalehu, the Island of Hawaii was declared a Federal disaster area. Rainfall amounts were in excess of a 100-year event and over 300 homes and businesses were flooded with total damages estimated at over $20 million. NRCS in Hawaii has completed damage survey work. EWP funds will be used for work such as clearing debris from clogged waterways, restoring vegetation, and stabilizing flood-damaged riverbanks. Your contact is Lynn Howell, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, at 808-541-2600 ext. 118.

Soil Data Accessibility in New Hampshire - Much of the information on New Hampshire soils is now available on the web. Soil data for several of the counties in the State are posted as MS-Excel files or MS-Access databases, which are user-friendly, widely available formats. One critical need being met is GIS-ready soil data. Data in these tables include highly erodible land classification, drainage class, hydric classification, permeability, and many other soil attributes. More counties will be posted as their data become available. To check out our website and soil data availability, visit www.nh.nrcs.usda.gov. Your contact is Katherine Swain, NRCS Soil Specialist, at 603- 223-6025.

Ramer Elementary School "Goes Natural" - Ramer Elementary School in southern McNairy County, Tennessee, will soon treat its wastewater through natural means. Thanks to a broad partnership developed by the Chickasaw-Shiloh Resource Conservation & Development Council, a constructed wetland will be used to filter wastewater before it's discharged into the existing absorption field. Constructed wetlands are being used from Louisiana to Alaska to treat wastewater, but in Tennessee this system of treatment is listed as experimental and only can be used where other systems have failed. This project will provide documentation of the advantages of this type of wastewater treatment. Your contact is Chris Moyers, NRCS RC&D Coordinator, Chickasaw-Shiloh RC&D, at 901-668-7770 ext 100.

Expanding Engineering Assistance to Partners - The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation has signed a reimbursement agreement with NRCS to increase engineering support to the Conservation Partnership. The agreement calls for expanded training for Federal, State, and local conservation employees in the State. Specific training will be provided in basic engineering, conservation planning, remote sensing, and soils. Your contact is Greg Secrist, NRCS State Engineer, at 804-287-1653

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

Former NRCS Chief Receives Award - Norman Berg, former NRCS Chief, recently received the University of Minnesota's highest honor for distinguished public service, the Honorary Doctor of Laws degree. Although a native of Iowa, Berg received his bachelor's degree in agricultural education from the University of Minnesota and a master of public administration degree from Harvard University. He served as head of the agency from 1979 until he retired from Federal service in 1982.

WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON

NRCS 2000-2005 Strategic Plan - NRCS This Week has been highlighting one of the four goals of the NRCS 2000-2005 Strategic Plan. This week features Strategic Goal 2: Reduce unintended adverse effects of natural resource development and use to ensure a high quality environment.

Development and sprawl, non-point sources of pollution, special concerns over animal feeding operations, continued loss of wetlands, and declines of important wildlife populations all challenge the quality of our environment. Conservation helps to protect the environment and improve these rural and urban landscapes. Despite past accomplishments, challenges continue to multiply.

Strategic Goal 2 describes five objectives that address these challenges to a high quality environment. NRCS will work to:

Protect farmland from conversion to non-agricultural uses;
Promote sound urban and rural community development;
Protect water and air resources from agricultural nonpoint sources of impairment;
Enhance animal feeding operations to protect the environment; and
Maintain, restore, or enhance wetland ecosystems and fish and wildlife habitat.
Under each of these objectives is a description of the strategies as well as the aggressive performance targets that we, working with our Partners, will use to ensure a high quality environment.

The full version of the NRCS 2000-2005 Strategic Plan can be accessed from the Internet at: www.nhq.nrcs.usda.gov/SPA.

Your contact is Dan Lawson, Director, NRCS Strategic and Performance Planning Division, at 202-690-0467.

TECH TIPS

Embankment Slope Stability - Stephen Reinsch, Director of the Soil Mechanics Center, has written an article on the new Technical Release, Earth Dams and Reservoirs (TR-60) changes and the proper approach in performing a proper embankment slope stability analysis. The following is an excerpt; for the entire article, contact Stephen Reinsch (see contact information below).

Analyze the stability of embankment slopes using generally accepted methods based on sound engineering principles. Document all analyses including assumptions regarding shear strength parameters for each zone of the embankment and each soil type or horizon in the foundation. Documentation should include methods used for analyses and a summary of results. Design features necessary to provide required safety factors should be noted.

Use the appropriate degree of conservatism in the analysis that is consistent with the adequacy of the site investigation and the soil-testing program. Consider the complexity of the site and consequences of failure in determining the level of detail in the analyses.

Evaluate the effect of seismicity on each site. Determine whether the site is in a seismically active area, its proximity to active faults, and the predicted ground motion intensity at the site.

Analyze embankment stability for each of the following conditions in the design life of the structure that are appropriate to the site. If a condition is not analyzed, clearly document the reasons. Document any correlated shear strength parameters, including correlations to field performance used to justify a lack of detailed analyses of a particular condition.

Editor's Note: Conditions cited in the article are end of construction, rapid drawdown, steady seepage without seismic forces, and steady seepage with seismic forces.

Your contact is Stephen Reinsch, Director, NRCS Soil Mechanics Center, at 402-437-5337 or sreinsch@nsmc.nrcs.usda.gov.

CONFERENCE & TRAINING CONNECTION

December 1, 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

NEW! AFO/CAFO

Agricultural Economics

NEW! Agricultural Outlook/Policy

Agroforestry/Forestry

Air Quality

Animal Residuals Management

Coastal Zone Management

Farmland Preservation

Geographic Information Systems

NEW! Global Climate Change
Grazing Land & Grassland

Locally Led Conservation

Mining & the Environment

Partnerships

Range Management

Soil Science/Erosion Control

Water Quality

Watersheds

Wetlands

AFO/CAFO

The Innovative Technology for Planning Animal Feeding Operations

December 4-6

Denver, Colorado, Renaissance Denver Hotel

Attendees will be producers, government agencies, businesses, and consultants writing comprehensive nutrient management plans. Topics include land application technologies, alternative manure uses, air quality control strategies, mitigation of impacted sites, filter strips, etc. Exhibitors: $400.00 with two free registrations. Posters: Individuals presenting posters should be registered for the conference. Contact Ron Schierer, at 970-330-0380 or ron.schierer@co.usda.gov or Mike Collins at 307-682-8843, ext. 113, or mike.collins@wy.usda.gov

NEW! Dairy Manure Systems: Equipment and Technology Selection

March 20-22, 2001

Rochester, New York

an educational

Dairy Manure Systems: Equipment and Technology Selection is a conference intended for farm managers and their advisors, soil and water conservation district staff, nutrient management consultants, cooperative extension educators, equipment distributors, university specialists, farm system designers and builders, and environmental professionals. It will examine technology and equipment selection for manure handling, treatment, land application, and odor control.. The conference will focus on a systems approach to planning. For more infomration call 607-255-7654 or visit the conference website at http://www.nraes.org/conferences/manure.html.

Agricultural Economics

American Agricultural Economics Associtaion Annual (AAEA) Meeting

August 5-8, 2001

Chicago, Illinois

AAEA seeks submission for posters, papers, organized symposia and free sessions for the 2001 annual meeting in Chicago. For more information, contact Nancy Herselius at 515-233-3202, or nancy@aaea.org or visit the meeting website at http://www.aaea.org/meetings/.