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NRCS This Week

Friday, December 8, 2000 Washington, DC.

"I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape - the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show."

-- -Andrew Wyeth, American painter

Nationwide
NRCS Reports FY 2000 a Banner Year for Voluntary Conservation
 
Regional
Watershed Rehabilitation Tour Held in Nebraska and Iowa

Focus on the Field
New Mexico: A Celebration of Water Education
South Carolina: Grazing Management Clinic Highlights Timely Issues
Tennessee: USDA Outreach Customer Service Fair
Virginia: Emergency Watershed Protection Program Site Inspires Artist
Wisconsin: High School Students Produce Video

USDA/NRCS 'NetNewsLinks:
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 Rural History.


NATIONWIDE

NRCS Reports FY 2000 a Banner Year for Voluntary Conservation - In fiscal year 2000, conservation achievements surpassed projections for almost every Natural Resources Conservation Service performance goal:

  • NRCS and its partners assisted nearly 3 million customers with planning and applying conservation systems and practices, and with understanding and finding solutions to natural resource problems.
  • Landowners voluntarily applied resource management systems to 10.2 million acres of cropland and 10.7 million acres of grazing land.
  • Excessive erosion was brought under control on 4.1 million acres of cropland to protect soil, water, and air quality.
  • An additional 1 million acres of conservation buffers were installed to protect water quality and support the Secretary's Buffer Initiative.
  • Nutrient management was applied on 4.3 million acres.
  • 11,000 waste management systems were planned or installed to help manage livestock waste and protect the environment.
  • Wetlands were created, restored, or enhanced on 290,000 acres; another 12.3 million acres were managed to improve wildlife habitat.

Information about these and other accomplishments are available on NRCS' Web-based Performance and Results Measurement System at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/prms. PRMS was praised in the November 20 edition of "Federal Times" as "state of the art" and "a real tool for all agencies." (For full story, please see November 17, 2000 edition of NRCS This Week.)

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

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REGIONAL

Watershed Rehabilitation Tour Held in Nebraska and Iowa - A tour to discuss the needs of aging watershed structures was held recently in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. The tour, organized by NRCS Chief Pearlie Reed, was to help conservation partners and congressional staffers learn more about the needs for rehabilitation of aging PL-566 structures. The group toured three watershed sites and a wetland in Iowa, and two watershed structures in Nebraska. Nebraska State Conservationist Steve Chick said that, by 2010, the State will have 172 structures that will exceed their intended lifespan. "These dams, much like our Federal highways, need repair years after they are built," Chick said. Your contact is Pat McGrane, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, at 402-437-5328.

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FOCUS ON THE FIELD

A Celebration of Water Education - Several hundred fourth grade students from schools in the Albuquerque, New Mexico, area recently attended the second Children's Water Festival in Albuquerque, where they engaged in hands-on learning activities about water science, history, geography, drama and our water future. The Albuquerque-based Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District used their Rolling River to show how all the components of a watershed - soil, water, plants, animals, people and our infrastructure - are connected and how changes in one part affects others. Students created a mini-river, purified water from the Rio Grande, and built aquifers from edible ingredients. They used a computer model to make projections of water use into the future and a groundwater model to see how water moves underground. Students analyzed water samples and played the role of algae, fish, and raptors to understand how toxins can travel through the food chain. They created wetlands, simulated flood and drought situations, changed the infrastructure, and then observed the effects of all their manipulations. Your contact is Susan Rich, NRCS District Conservationist, at 505-346-2684 ext. 3.

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Grazing Management Clinic Highlights Timely Issues - Livestock producers from across the State recently gathered at Simpson Agricultural Experiment Station near Pendleton, South Carolina, for the first South Carolina Grazing Management Clinic sponsored by the SC Grassland Conservation Coalition. The two-day event was designed to educate grassland managers and livestock producers on new techniques and to improve existing methods. Researchers and leaders in the field of grazing management discussed topics ranging from grazing management to meeting livestock nutritional needs. Participants enjoyed discussion, an exchange of ideas in a classroom setting, and hands-on learning in the field. The featured presenter was Jim Gerrish, principal agronomic researcher at the University of Missouri Forage Systems Research Center whose discussion included matching forage and livestock resources, extending the grazing season, and developing a grazing system layout and design. Your contact is Perdita Belk, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, at 803-765-5402.

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USDA Outreach Customer Service Fair - A USDA Customer Service Fair, sponsored by the Farm Service Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Rural Development, was recently held in Somerville, Tennessee. The event was planned to give small farmers and landowners an opportunity to obtain information regarding agricultural programs and products. It was held in cooperation with the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service and Tennessee State University Cooperative Extension and Small Farmer Assistance Programs, Fayette County Soil Conservation District and soil conservation districts in surrounding counties. Local banks, lending institutions, and local vendors also exhibited. Your contact is Lavonne Winters, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, at 615-277-2535.

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Emergency Watershed Protection Program Site Inspires Artist - When NRCS engineer Alica Ketchem and photographer Cephas Hobbs visited the Rose River in Madison County, Virginia, recently, they were surprised to find Edward Cooper, an artist from northern Virginia, painting the river and the lush vegetation of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It wasn't always so picturesque, however. Four years ago, Hurricane Fran ripped through this area, flooding the valley and gouging streambanks and eroding the area. Under the Emergency Watershed Protection Program, streambanks were stabilized, severely eroded areas were planted to grass, and rock weirs were installed in the stream to enhance fish habitat. The restoration work done by NRCS on the Rose River has healed the scars so well that once again the site is a haven for fish, recreationists, and landscape painters. Your contact is Alica Ketchem, NRCS Environmental Engineer, at 804 287-1654

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High School Students Produce Video - Students from three high schools in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, are putting together a series of video segments on natural resources as related to farming practices, land conservation, water quality, and food production. The Kenosha County Land and Water Resource Management Plan provides the basis for the video to be featured on cable TV this month. Jerry Hebard, NRCS district conservationist in Union Grove, is providing assistance on the project, as well as Kenosha County, University of Wisconsin Extension, and the Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. The project, called "Land and Water Links," is a great way for kids to learn about the issues; it also showcases good farmers, and is publicized in the local media. Your contact is Renae Anderson, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, at 608-276-8732 ext. 227.

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CONFERENCE & TRAINING CONNECTION

December 8, 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

AFO/CAFO
Agricultural Economics
Agricultural Outlook/Policy
Agroforestry/Forestry
Air Quality
Coastal Zone Management
Farmland Preservation
Geographic Information Systems
Global Climate Change
Grazing Land & Grassland
Locally Led Conservation
Mining & the Environment
Partnerships
Range Management
Rural History
Soil Science/Erosion Control
Water Quality
Watersheds
Wetlands
 

AFO/CAFO
 
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.
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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/.
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Agricultural Outlook/Policy
 
Agricultural Outlook Forum 2001
February 22-23, 2001
Arlington, Virginia, Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will hold its Agricultural Outlook Forum 2001 to provide timely forecasts of farm prospects and insight on developments affecting the farm economy. Speakers will include top government officials, industry analysts, farmers, business leaders and academic experts. USDA plans to release a new set of long-term commodity projections at the forum. For more information visit the conference website at http://www.usda.gov/oce/waob/agforum.htm.
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Agroforestry/Forestry
 
Forest Utilization Conference
May 1-3, 2001
Wagoner OK
The Ouachita Mountains Resource Conservation and Development, Inc. will sponsor its 6th annual Forest Utilization Conference and Equipment Exposition at the Western Hills Guest Resort in Sequoyah State Park on the shores of Lake Fort Gibson. For information, contact Gary Garman, Coordinator for Ouachita Mountains RC&D Council, at (918)-423-2479, fax 918-423-0793, email omrcandd@icok.net or visit the web site http://www.icok.net/~omrcandd
 
Southern Forest Science Conference: Contributions of Forest Research to Sustainable Forestry Preliminary Conference Announcement and Call for Papers
November 26 - 28, 2001
Renaissance Waverly Hotel, Atlanta, Georgia
The Southern Forest Science Conference will highlight the history and future of research in sustainable forestry. The conference is for anyone interested in the science of southern forests and is open to researchers, research managers and research users as well as policymakers, landowners and other interested stakeholders. Call for Papers: Topics, deadlines and other information can be found at the conference website at http://www.southernforestscience.net/ For more information contact www.southernforestscience.net or the USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station at (828)-257-4302.
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Air Quality
 
Future Directions in Air Quality Research
February 12-15, 2001
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Conference topics will focus on ecological, atmospheric, regulatory/policy and educational issues. The conference is sponsored by the Air Resources Research Consortium. For more information contact Sherrie Knott at (919) 515-2261 or visit the conference website at http://www2.ncsu.edu/cpe/airqualconf.html
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Coastal Zone Management
 
Coastal Zone 01
July 15-19, 2001
Cleveland, Ohio
Coastal Zone 01 will feature important lessons learned by coastal managers around the world and models of successful partnerships, such as that established in the Great Lakes, where two sovereign nations jointly manage water and living resources of this great "inland sea." Cleveland offers an outstanding opportunity to examine how local and regional issues are connected to worldwide influences of culture and commerce, climate and biology. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.csc.noaa.gov/cz2001/conference.html.
 
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Farmland Preservation
 
Winning Through Wise Land Use Conference
March, 2001
Tennessee, Federal and private partners will conduct a seminar for developers, conservationists, and others interested in lessening the impact of development on the State's natural resources. For more information contact Larry Blick, NRCS Assistant State Conservationist for Field Support, at 615-736-5490 or lblick@tn.nrcs.usda.gov
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Geographic Information Systems
 
2001 Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA) Annual Conference XXIV
March 4 - 7, 2001
San Diego Convention Center
San Diego, California
GITA's Annual Conference and Exhibition is the premier educational event for professionals involved in geospatial information technologies, including automated mapping/facilities management (AM/FM), geographic information systems (GIS), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), and related technologies. Conference XXIV will provide attendees with better ways to plan, design, manage, and maintain information technology systems and operations. . For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.gita.org/events/01xxiv_open2.html.
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Global Climate Change
 
The GW XII Global Warming International Conference and Expo
April 8-11, 2001
Cambridge, United Kingdom
The GW XII Global Warming International Conference and Expo will provide an international review of progress towards Kyoto Protocol Targets by all nations in all relevant sectors, and to present the most current science and policy activities on global warming, sustainable environment and health on five continents. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www2.msstate.edu/~krreddy/glowar/gw12c.html.
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Grazing Land & Grassland
 
Grassland Ecosystems: An Outlook into the 21st. Century
February 10-21, 2001
São Pedro State of Sao Paulo Brazil
The International Grassland Congress will be focusing on grassland ecosystems, and the program has been designed to bring an updated broad view on current knowledge and available technology to improve different animal production systems under pasture conditions. For more information, write to the XIX International Grassland Congress; ESALQ; Av.; Padua Dias; 11; 13418-900 Piracicaba, SP Brasil or e-mail igc2001@esalq.usp.br or visit the conference website at http://www.igc2001-brazil.org.br/segunda2.htm.
 
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Locally Led Conservation
 
National Conference on Locally Led Conservation Efforts
June 3-5, 2001
Nebraska City, Nebraska, Lied Conference Center on the Arbor Day Farm
NRCS, the National Arbor Day Foundation, and the National Association of Conservation Districts will sponsor a national forum for individuals and groups to share lessons learned about locally led or locally driven conservation efforts and to stimulate the advances of this "bottom up" approach to natural resource management.
 
Program focus: Locally led or locally driven conservation is an effort to empower citizens a community to work effectively to assess the health of their land and to address collectively their conservation priorities using the programmatic tools and resources available from Federal, State, and local governments, as well as private sources. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.arborday.org/programs/conferences.html
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Mining & the Environment
 
Conference on Tailings and Mine Waste
January 15-18, 2001
Fort Collins, Colorado
A forum for members of the mining community, engineers, and scientists concerned with environmental issues related to tailings and mine waste management. Abstracts due by June 2. To submit an abstract or for more information, contact Linda Hinshaw, Department of Civil Engineering, Colorado State Univeristy, (970) 491-6081, or at lhinshaw@engr.colostate.edu
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Partnerships
 
Farmer Cooperatives Convention 2001
January 14-17, 2001
San Diego, California – San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina
The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives annual convention will include meetings and workshops designed to update and inform attendees on developments affecting their businesses. For more information, contact Tom Van Arsdall at 202-879-0821.
2001 National Association of Conservation Districts' Annual Meeting
February 4-8
Fort Worth, Texas
Contact Robert Raschke on (303) 988-1810.
 
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Range Management
 
The Society for Range Management 54th Annual Meeting - 2001: A Range Odyssey
February 17-23, 2001
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Land managers, scientists, educators, students, producers and conservationists are invited to particpate in a professional program of posters, trade show, technical presentations, and six symposia. Symposia topics which have been accepted include: the role of fire in ecological restoration; ecosystem simplification (or why a patchwork quilt is more valuable than a burlap sack); noxious weeds - a global rangeland crisis; land restoration sucess and sustainability; the ecology and management of sage grouse populations; and many more. For more infomration, visit the conference website at http://www.casrm.org/Hawaii.shtml.
 
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Rural History
 
Water and Rural History Symposium
May 31 - June 2, 2001
Reno, Nevada, University of Nevada at Reno (UNR) College of Agriculture
The Agricultural History Society, NRCS, University of Nevada at Reno (UNR) College of Agriculture, and UNR Department of History will hold a Water and Rural History Symposium,. Housing is available at the University Inn on the UNR campus. In addition to the presentations, the symposium will include a one-day field tour focusing on history and water issues in Nevada. For registration information, please contact Professor William D. Rowley, History Department (308), University of Nevada, Reno NV 89557 (Telephone 775-784-6852) or by e-mail at rowley@scs.unr.edu.
 
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Soil Science/Erosion Control
 
Soil Erosion Research for the 21st Century - An International Symposium
January 3-5, 2001
Honolulu, Hawaii, Ala Moana Hotel
World-renowned soil erosion scientists will participate as keynote speakers, as well as moderators of discussion panels, to provide their viewpoints on the current status of soil erosion research and directions needed in the future. Additionally, discussion groups composed of all participants at the conference will also address these same issues. The symposium will prepare and publish a document summarizing recommendations from these discussions, and provide it to all of the co-sponsoring organizations. For more information, contact Dr. Dennis Flanagan, Symposium Chair, at 765-494-7748 or flanagan@purdue.edu or visit the symposium website at http://horizon.nserl.purdue.edu/~flanagan/erosymp/.
International Erosion Control Association's (IECA) 32nd Annual Conference and Expo
February 5-9, 2001
Las Vegas, Nevada, Rio Suite Hotel and Convention Center
IECA's Annual Conference and Expo is open to all erosion and sediment control professionals and suppliers. This event features five days of learning, including day-long training courses, half-day workshops, field tours and technical paper presentations. Topics of interest will appeal to contractors, landscape architects, civil engineers, public works and regulatory professionals, consultants, developers, mining and ski industry representatives. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.ieca.org/index_conference.html.
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Water Quality
 
7th Federal Interagency Sedimentation Conference
March 25-29, 2001
Reno, Nevada
Will provide Federal and non-Federal scientists and managers from various disciplines the opportunity to discuss recent accomplishments and progress in research and on technical developments in the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of sedimentation. Scheduled are tours, exhibitions, and presentations of papers. For more information about the conference, visit the website at http://water.usgs.gov/wicp/SED7FISC_crf.html
Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) 2001 Annual Conference
August 4-8, 2001
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Kingston Plantation
For more information visit the confernce website at http://www.swcs.org/f_what_calendar.htm
The deadline for Call for Papers is December 1, 2000. For more information visit the conference website or contact Charlie Persinger, Director of Member Services, SWCS, at 515-289-2331, ext 12 or charliep@swcs.org.
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Watersheds
 
Seventh National Watershed Conference
May 20-23, 2001
Richmond, Virginia
The theme: "Small Watershed Programs: Past, Present, and Future." This conference will examine our Nation's rich history with upstream small watershed programs and will explore innovative ways of accomplishing watershed project objectives as traditional sources of assistance become harder to get. . For more information contact John W. Peterson, (703) 455-6886, fax (703) 455-6888;e-mail, jwpeterson@erols.com
 
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Wetlands
 
Izaak Walton League of America National Conference
May 16-18, 2001
Orlando, Florida
Topics include: wetland education, restoration, conservation, and international issues. To get on the mailing list for the conference, contact: awm@iwla.org or call (800) BUG-IWLA (284-4952)
 
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