Secretary Announces President's FY 1999 Budget - The following are highlights from the President's FY 1999 Budget for Agriculture.

Environmental Fund for America: The budget recommends $83 million - $60 million in Forest Service and $23 million in NRCS - to boost clean water efforts. This funding will further USDA's progress under the Clean Water Act by addressing streambank protection on private lands, toxic chemicals from abandoned mines, runoff pollution, watershed monitoring, healthy forests, and rangeland improvement. Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP): 164,000 additional acres of wetlands will be protected through WRP. By the end of the year 2000, 975,000 acres of land will be preserved through WRP.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): This program, created by the 1996 Farm Bill, provides technical and financial assistance to landowners seeking to address natural resource challenges that impact soil, water, and related resources. The FY 1999 budget will increase EQIP funding by $100 million to a total of $300 million.

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP): The FY 1999 budget estimates funding of $20 million for WHIP, which aids landowners in developing habitats for the protection of threatened and endangered wildlife. USDA expects to enroll 130,000 acres in FY 1999.

The Administration is seeking $579 million for NRCS to help carry out its long-standing commitment to work cooperatively with conservation districts to conserve and protect soil, water, and wildlife habitats.

Other highlights of the President's FY 1999 budget include:

$163 million for private forest owners to improve stewardship of their lands, support urban forest conservation, and fight forest pests.

Recreation Increases: The Forest Service budget includes $225 million for recreation and wilderness management, an increase of $21 million, to meet the rising public demand for recreational use of our national forests.

$25 million for the Conservation Farm Option, which will provide ten-year contracts to protect our nation's farmland.

Funding of $10 million for USDA's contribution to an interagency Climate Change Technology Initiative. Through cleaner-burning fuels and the use of plants to remove carbon from our air, agriculture and forestry can be a significant part of the solution to global warming.

Administrative Convergence Update - The Deputy Secretary and Under Secretaries for the Service Center partner agencies continue to refine the administrative convergence proposal. The Under Secretaries are working with the Department's Labor-Management officials to ensure that the unions representing administrative employees in the service center agencies are appropriately involved in pre-decision discussions and in the implementation of the convergence plan. At their request, several Congressional committees were provided more detailed data on the fiscal year 1993 and 1997 staffing numbers included in the proposal. Work has also begun to consolidate the comments on the proposed administrative convergence plan received from all interested parties and to respond back to the agency employees, unions, and partner groups in a Q&A format memorandum. A final decision by the Secretary is expected soon and the target date for administrative convergence remains October 1, 1998. This message is also available to hearing-impaired employees on TDD. The telephone number is 202-720-7882.

NRCS Paperwork Reduction Initiatives Announced - NRCS Acting Chief Tom Weber recently announced three initiatives that will result in reduced field and State office workloads. First, field office plans of operation will no longer be required. This action should save more than 50 staff years nationwide. Second, the number of status and quality reviews required for fiscal year 1998 will be reduced substantially. The amount of data collected and entered into the Field Office Computing System for these reviews will be reduced as well. Time savings in the field are estimated to be about 135 staff years. NRCS is designing a more efficient and effective process regarding compliance. Third, an automated tracking system has recently been implemented at the national level to track requests made from National Headquarters to the field. Analysis of the data collected in this tracking system will result in new policies to better coordinate requests and deadlines to the field.

"Ponds - Planning, Design Construction" Available - NRCS has released a revised and updated version of Agricultural Handbook Number 590, "Ponds- Planning, Design, Construction." It has been and will continue to be one of the most popular NRCS publications. This handbook describes the requirements for building a pond. It is useful to the landowner for general information and serves as a reference for the engineer, technician, and contractor. NRCS printed 150,000 copies this time, as compared with 75,000 in the initial printing.

IN THE FIELD

Riparian Buffer Strips/Field Files - Nancy Mathews, conservation writer for NRCS, is collecting stories on the good work that's being done in the field with riparian buffer strips. Each week, NRCS This Week will feature one or two of these interesting profiles from around the Nation.

Kentucky In Scott County, a riparian buffer strip on an easement along the north fork of Elkhorn Creek doubles as a 1-mile environmental trail between an elementary school and a county park. With some water quality money from the county, exclusionary fence and alternative water systems were installed for the cattle. NRCS has helped with technical design and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has provided wood duck boxes. The school children have made bluebird boxes, the Division of Conservation is providing funds for signs and other educational material along the creek and trail, and the Conservation District is helping to restore a spring to its original look.

Colorado "When you understand what the river wants to do and begin to understand the entire system, you see a different angle," says Cal Campbell, whose place is on the north fork of Colorado's Gunnison River. Noting its great force, he adds, "Vulnerable areas will be eroded." In 1995, Campbell enlisted the help of Carl Zimmerman, of the Colorado Soil Conservation Board, and the local conservation district to get landowners together for a cooperative approach. Now, 85 landowners along a 15-mile stretch of the river are members of the North Fork Improvement Association, along with fishermen, recreationists, irrigation companies, and nine local, State and Federal government agencies. Campbell has put in a buffer area with an average width of 60 to 100 feet along nearly 1 mile on both sides of the north fork, protected by temporary electric fence (permanent fences have been lost to spring floods).

CONSTITUENCY AND PARTNERSHIP NEWS

North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) Seeks Conference Volunteers - The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) will hold its annual conference in Atlanta, GA, September 4-8, 1998. The conference, which is one of the largest environmental education conferences of its kind in the world, is looking for volunteers. In return for their work, volunteers will have their registration fee waived.

Conference organizers are looking for 30 volunteers to assist during approximately half the conference (during the remaining half, volunteers will be able to enjoy the conference as regular participants). Volunteers are needed to serve as room monitors, to introduce speakers, and to help with registration.

This year's conference will focus on urban environmental education. Conference events include presentations, workshops, symposia, and interactive sessions all aimed at continuing environmental education.

If you are interested in volunteering for the 1998 NAAEE Conference, or would like more information about the conference, please contact Bill Boyer at bill.boyer@usda.gov or at 202-720-0307.

NCGA Filter Strip Videos: The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) will debut three video news releases (VNR's), a two-minute promotional piece, and a 30-second public service announcement (PSA) at the Commodity Classic, February 21-24 in Long Beach, CA. The VNR's show the first year results of a cooperative program between Novartis Crop Protection and the Nebraska Corn Growers Association to place filter strips along streams. During interviews, several producers provide their thoughts about the benefits of the filters.

The two-minute promotion piece features Ryland Utlaut, NCGA President, and talks about the role and importance of conservation buffers or filter strips to NCGA and the Nation. The 30-second PSA describes a producer's reasons for installing buffers...family, the future, the environment, and the "right thing to do." The videos were developed in cooperation with NRCS offices in Nebraska.

New RC&D Training Course - The new RC&D Concepts Course is scheduled to be offered two times in 1998. The 36-hour course will be presented in Nashville, TN, March 30-April 3, and in Denver, CO, May 4-8.

The Concepts Course material is designed for RC&D Coordinators with up to one year of experience and for other members of the local and USDA RC&D team. The objective of the course is to provide a strong foundation of information that will expedite development of a successful program effort. Subject matter includes the basics of RC&D operation, defining roles of team members, non-profit management, planning, funding, sustainability, authorities and history.

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Briefing - On January 29, USDA officials provided briefings to House members and their staffs and Senate staff on the results of the 16th CRP sign-up. The NRCS Director for Conservation Operations and the Farm Service Agency Assistant Deputy Administrator outlined the process and effectiveness of the latest sign-up of 5.9 million acres into the CRP.

Endangered Species Reauthorization - On February 11, The House Resources Committee (Chairman Young, AK) will hold a hearing on the reauthorization of the Endangered Species Act.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Hearing - The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Forestry, Resource Conservation, and Research (Chairman Larry Combest, TX) has tentatively scheduled an oversight hearing on the Environmental Quality Incentives Program for March 5.

UPCOMING

February 16-20 - International Erosion Control Association 29th Annual Conference and Trade Exposition, Reno, NV. For information e-mail: ecinfo@ieca.org and enter "Reno" in the subject field or call 1-800-455-4322 or 970-879-3010. Register online at http://www.ieca.org.

February 18-21 - Land Improvement Contractors of America annual convention, Opryland Hotel, Nashville, TN. Call Wayne Maresch at 301-248-5749 or e-mail: WayneF86@aol.com).

February 21-24 - Winter Meeting of the National Governors' Association, Washington, D.C.

February 22-25 - Southwestern States RC&D Association Meeting, Lafayette Hilton & Towers, Lafayette, LA. For information write to the Imperial Calcasieu RC&D Council, 317 S. State St., Suite 1, Jennings, LA 70546.

February 23-24 - Agricultural Outlook Forum 98, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C. For registration details, call 202-720-3050; e-mail: agforum@oce.usda.gov; or write to Outlook Forum 98, 5143 South Building, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-3812.

March 21 - Fifth Annual Providing Education Through Agriculture for Students (PEAS) Conference, Memorial School, Natick, MA. For more information, contact Stacia Caplanson 413-245-7402.

March 16-17 - Idaho Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Association Annual Meeting, Boise, Idaho. For more information, contact Harry Lee at 208-885-6900.

March 19-21 - The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Spatial Planning and Environment Conference, "Water and Sustainable Development" International Conference. Contact the International Office for Water, 21, rue de Madrid, 75008 Paris, France; fax: 33 (0) 1-40-08-01-45; e-mail: ciedd@oieau.fr. Visit the web site at http://www.eaudd.com/.

March 22-24 - North Central RC&D Association Annual Conference, Park Place Hotel, 300 East State St., Traverse City, MI. For information, call 616-946-6817; fax: 616-947-5441.

March 23-24 - Clearwater RC&D Area workshop for the private forest landowner, "Forest Stewardship Management: New and Unique Opportunities." Best Western University Inn, 1516 Pullman Rd., Moscow, Idaho. Contact Dan Pierce at 208-882-2411.

March 26-28 - 3rd Annual Timber Utilization Conference and Equipment Exposition, Fountainhead Resort, Eufaula, OK. Sponsored by Ouachita Mountains RC&D, Inc. For information, call 918-423-2479 or 580-873-9277; e-mail: omrcandd@icok.net. Visit the web site at http://www.icok.net/~omrcandd/.

April 6-7 - First National Mitigation Banking Conference, J.W. Marriott Hotel, 1331 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. Conference registration is being handled by the Terrene Institute, 4 Herbert St., Alexandria, VA 22305; or call 703-548-5473; fax: 703-548-6299. For more information, contact Gary Wooten, Watersheds and Wetlands Division, National Headquarters, at 202-690-1588; e-mail: gary.wooten@usda.gov.

April 6-7 - An American Wetlands Month Celebration, "Team Wetlands: 101 Ways to Win for Wetlands," Hyatt Crystal City, 2799 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington, VA. For information call 703-548-5473; fax: 703-548-6299; or write to Terrene Institute, 4 Herbert St., Alexandria, VA 22305.

May 4-10 - Public Service Recognition Week, National Mall Event. For more information, contact Gretchen Hakola at 202-410-4352; fax: 202-401-4433; e-mail permail@patriot.net.

September 28-30 - Wisconsin Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Association Annual Meeting, Manitowoc, WI. Contact Greg Hines at 920-683-5196.

May 23-28, 1999 - 10th International Soil Conservation Organization (ISCO) Conference "Sustaining the Global Farm," Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. For information, call 765-494-8683; fax: 765-494-5948 c/o ISCO99; e-mail: isco99@ecn.purdue.edu. Write to ISCO99, Purdue University, 1196 SOIL Building, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1196.

QUOTE

"I have learned that success is measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which one has overcome while trying to succeed."

Booker T. Washington (1856-1915)

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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