Backyard Conservation Update - Several new communications products on the Backyard Conservation Campaign, announced on Earth Day, April 22, will be released soon. A 30-second animated television public service announcement (PSA) will be sent to more than 1,000 stations by the end of May. Several, 30-second radio PSAs will be distributed directly to stations nationwide by mid-June. Both the television and radio spots are in English and Spanish. Backyard Conservation exhibits will be available from the NRCS National Production Services in Fort Worth, TX, this summer. State public affairs specialists will receive information on the exhibits next month.

Conference on Geospatial Information in Agriculture and Forestry - From May 31-June 3, the First International Conference on Geospatial Information in Agriculture and Forestry will be held in Orlando, FL. NRCS is a primary sponsor. Approximately 600 professionals from various countries will present technical papers on the use and value of geospatial information in forest resource management, soil and water management, natural resource and habitat management, crop modeling, natural disaster recovery, crop production, and pest and disease control. NRCS and USDA are strongly represented on the program. NRCS will also sponsor a field site workshop to demonstrate resource conservation planning using state-of-the-art Geographic Information System (GIS) and global positioning system equipment and mobile laptop computers.

IN THE FIELD

Information Technology Center (ITC) Developed Products Demonstrated at Fort Worth Conference - Two new systems were demonstrated at a recent training conference in Fort Worth, TX, by the NRCS Grazing Lands Technology Institute.

Ecological Site Information System (ESIS): ESIS provides soils and plant interpretations for forest and grazing lands and is integrated with the soils, plants, and climate databases. The integration occurs with the use of site numbers for each ecological site description (range site, forest land site, forage suitability group). ESIS is a World Wide Web application that allows NRCS employees to enter, edit, review, and print reports on ecological sites. After testing, the software will become available over the internet.

The Vegetative Practice Design Application: This application, more commonly known as VegSpec, is an online World Wide Web application designed to allow the user to develop a custom vegetative solution based on the specific climate, soil conditions, and desired land use of their site. VegSpec was developed in cooperation with several agencies including NRCS, the United States Geological Survey (USGS), and the United States Army Corps of Engineers. It is presently available on the Internet.

Water Conservation Laboratory Releases New Version of SRFR Surface Irrigation Model - USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Water Conservation Laboratory in Phoenix, AZ has just released a new version of SRFR, developed through cooperative efforts with NRCS's National Water and Climate Center and the University of Arizona. This scientific hydraulic surface irrigation program allows for the numeric or graphical evaluation and simulation of various irrigation scenarios. The program does not limit the user to any particular infiltration process or specific units of input. Various input levels allow for use and process defaults for a beginning or standard user while the advanced user has a wide range of variables that can be modified and evaluated. The SRFR_331 model is presently available for FTP downloading at: ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/water_mgt/srfr/install.ex. The irrigation web site is: http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/water/quality/frame/irrigate.html. NRCS questions on the model should be addressed to: Tom Spofford, e-mail: tspofford@wcc.nrcs.usda.gov. Comments from others on the model should be forwarded to Dr. Fedja Strelkoff, e-mail: fstrelkoff@uswcl.ars.ag.gov or Dr. Bert Clemmens, e-mail: bclemmens@uswcl.ars.ag.gov.

Leader In You Series - On June 18, the NRCS Social Sciences Institute will present a satellite broadcast of "Resolving Conflicts With Ease." The presentation will feature techniques for problem resolution and dealing with difficult co-workers. It is available to all NRCS, district, and State employees and Earth Team volunteers at no cost to the downlink sites. Local offices can find out more details about downlinks by contacting their local NRCS training coordinator or Barbara Wallace at 616-942-0586 or e-mail: ssintern@po.nrcs.usda.gov.

CONSTITUENCY AND PARTNERSHIP NEWS

"Partners" Magazine to Showcase Features on Conservation Buffer Initiative - Over the next year, each issue of "Partners" magazine will include a two-page spread on conservation buffers and innovative activities being pursued by NRCS and its partners in the public and private sectors. These activities will help landowners use conservation buffers to address a variety of conservation problems on private land. The first story was about the installation and research on riparian buffers being conducted by Iowa State University researchers in the Bear Creek watershed in central Iowa. The next issue in the series, will focus on the rural/urban partnerships being established to protect drinking water supplies in the Syracuse, NY, area. "Partners" is published bimonthly by the Conservation Technology Information Center.

Association of Retired SCS Employees (ARSCSE) Information Available - About 1,600 retirees are members of the Association of Retired SCS Employees (ARSCSE), according to membership chair Neil Bogner (former director of the conservation engineering division and associate deputy chief for technology and development). In addition, ARSCSE maintains a register of retirees and puts out a membership directory each spring. This is used for reunions, such as the soil scientists' reunion in 1999 - the centennial year for the soil survey - and the engineers' reunion in the year 2000. The retirees have their annual meeting in connection with the Soil and Water Conservation Society's annual meeting which will be held this year in San Diego, CA, in July.

The retirees publish a bi-monthly newsletter, which includes information from ARSCSE State representatives and legislative initiatives of concern to retirees. Most States have are active in the association. For further information, contact Neil Bogner, 6903 Gillings Rd., Springfield, VA 22152, 703-451-5247; e-mail bognernf@erols.com, or Linc Gallagher, 9 Crab Cay Court, Berlin, MD 21811, 410-641-0350; e-mail eslinc@juno.com. A membership application is usually included in an employee's retirement packet. "And you don't have to be a retiree to join," Bogner adds.

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

Aquatic Toxins - Chairman Olympia Snowe of the Oceans and Fisheries Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held a hearing on algal blooms, including blooms of Pfiesteria piscicida and other aquatic toxins that can cause substantial environmental and economic damage. Discussion focused on S. 1480 - a bill to authorize appropriations for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to conduct research, monitoring, education, and management activities for the eradication and control of harmful algal blooms.

Memorial Day Recess - Both the House and Senate will be out of session for the week of May 25th in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. Congress is scheduled to reconvene on June 1st.

Budget/Appropriations Markups - With approximately four months left in fiscal year 1998, Congress will likely move on several budget related measures in the coming weeks. Foremost is the Budget Resolution for fiscal year 1999. At this stage, leaders in each chamber have discussed budget drafts but have not moved legislation to the floor for consideration. Regardless of action on the budget, appropriators are expected to mark-up appropriation bills beginning the first week of June. The Senate has already provided each appropriations subcommittee with an allocation. The amount for agriculture is consistent with that requested by the President.

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UPCOMING

May 1-31 - Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

June 1-3 - The First International Conference on Geospatial Information in Agriculture and Forestry, Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, Lake Buena Vista, FL. The conference will focus on trends in the development and use of geospatial information technology by the agricultural and forestry communities. For more information, call 313-994-1200, ext. 3234; fax: 1-313-994-5123; e-mail: wallman@erim-int.com; or visit the conference website at: http://www.erim-int.com/CONF/ICGIAF/Aghome.html.

June 14-16 - National Association of Conservation Districts, Northern Plains Regional Meeting, Badlands Motel, Medora, ND. For more information, contact Robert Raschke at 303-988-1810; fax: 303-988-1896.

June 21-23 - National Association of Conservation Districts, Water Resources Committee Meeting, Statehouse Inn, Boise, ID. For more information, contact Bill Horvath at 715-341-1022; fax: 715-341-1023.

June 28-July 2 - The President's Interagency Council on Women will host the "Second International Conference on Women in Agriculture" in Washington, DC. The conference is chaired by USDA Under Secretary Jill Long Thompson and will focus on the business of agriculture, the agricultural economy, and the agricultural community. SF-182 training forms are being accepted for the $250 conference registration fee. For more information, contact Robin Bailey at 301-585-1030 or visit the conference web site at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/icwa/.

July 3 - 50th Anniversary Ceremony, Cordell, OK. The ceremony will mark the 50th anniversary of the construction of Cloud Creek Site 1, the first small watershed dam built in the United States.

July 5-9 - Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) Annual Conference, "Balancing Resource Issues," San Diego, CA. For more information, contact Pat Mulligan at 515-289-2331, extension 17, or visit the SWCS website at: http://www.swcs.org/AnnConf98/ACWelcome.htm.

July 11- 16 - American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE) Annual International Meeting, "The Imaginative World of Engineering," Orlando, FL. For more infomration call the ASAE Meeting and Conference Department at 616-429-0300.

July 12-14 - National Association of Conservation Districts, North Central Regional Meeting, Holiday Inn, Worthington, OH. For more information, contact Brad Ross, 614-265-6614; fax: 614-262-2064.

July 19-22 - The Iowa State University College of Agriculture and University Extension will host a conference on "Animal Production Systems and the Environment: An International Conference on Odor, Water Quality, Nutrient Management, and Socioeconomic Issues" to be held at the Convention Center in Des Moines, IA. For more information, contact Deb Schmidt, 515-294-5961; e-mail: x1schmid@exnet.iastate.edu.

July 27-August 1 - 11th National Envirothon, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI. For more information, contact Brenda Weiser at 800-825-5547, ext. 27 or e-mail: envirothon@nacdnet.org.

August 9-14 - Ninth North American Forest Soils Conference, "Forest Soils and Ecosystem Sustainability." Granlibakken Conference Center, Tahoe City, CA. Information and Registration form available at http://weber.u.washington.edu/~robh/S-7/NAFSC, or e-mail: request to jdjoslin@tva.gov; or fax: 423-632-1493.

October 11-14 - The Association of Dam Safety Officials will host "Dam Safety '98," Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas, NV. For more information, call 606-257-5140; fax: 606-323-1958; or e-mail: damsafety@aol.com.

November 10-13 - ETC/Environmental Technology China will present "The 4th International Exhibition on Environmental Protection, Pollution Control and Green Production Technology," China International Exhibition Centre, Beijing, P.R., China. For more information, contact Rebecca Fung at 852-25163346; fax: 852-25165024; or e-mail: aes@adsaleexh.com.

January 24-27, 1999 - Colorado State University will host "Tailings and Mine Waste '99," Ft. Collins, CO. The conference will provide a forum for presenting state-of-the-art information on mill tailings, mine waste, and current and future issues facing the mining and environmental communities. Contact Linda L. Hinshaw at 970-491-6081; fax: 970-491-3584; or e-mail: lhinshaw@engr.colostate.edu.

May 23-28, 1999 - The International Soil Conservation Organization will host the 10th International Soil Conservation Conference, "Sustaining the Global Farm," Purdue University, West LaFayette, IN. For more information, call 765-494-8683; fax: 765-494-5948 c/o ISCO99; e-mail: isco99@ecn.purdue.edu, or visit the conference website at: http://soils.ecn.purdue.edu/~isco99.

QUOTE

"Tell me, I'll forget; show me, I may remember; involve me and I'll understand."

-- Chinese proverb.

NRCS This Week is issued weekly by the Conservation Communications Staff, NRCS headquarters, Washington, D.C., and posted in the SCS:SCS shared folder on FTS2000Mail. Please send correspondence and material via FTS2000Mail to !A16SCSOPA and type "This Week" on the subject line or e-mail: fred.jacobs2@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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