"…He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over and seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we as a people will get to the promised land. And I'm happy tonight: I'm not worried about anything: I am not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."

–- -from his last speech, "I've Been to the Mountaintop" by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968), American civil rights leader

Focus on the Field
Kansas: Direct Seeding Takes Root
Michigan: Native American Burial Grounds Protected
West Virginia: RC&D Project Turns Community "Love Fest"

Word From Washington

A New Role For Conservation to be Discussed at Outlook Forum
20 New RC&D Areas Announced

The National Organization of Professional Hispanic NRCS

Tech Tip
Plant Locally Adapted Seed for Best Stand Establishment

Sites to See

American Customer Satisfaction Index

Actor Morgan Freeman Narrates Public Service Announcements for NRCS
NRCS Legislative Summaries
AGRICOLA: USDA's AGRICultural Online Access
National Association of Conservation Districts e-Note

Web-agri, the Smart Farming Search Engine

Direct Seeding Takes Root - NRCS, the Douglas County Conservation District, the Kansas Forest Service, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service recently partnered to host a direct seeding workshop in east Kansas. John Olds, forestry consultant from One-Stop Forestry in Iowa, conducted the direct seeding workshop where over 75 natural resource professionals, farmers, and landowners learned about the process of establishing a stand of trees by planting tree seed instead of conventional tree seedlings. Information on seed requirements, collection, and storage; site preparation; planting; weed and grass control; costs; and maintenance classroom sessions were combined with exercises where the participants direct seeded 4- and 5-acre Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) riparian buffer sites where the progress of the seedlings will be monitored for several years.

Direct seeding has two big advantages over conventional tree planting. First, hand seeding simulates what it takes nature thousands of years to accomplish by producing a more natural appearance. Second, more trees per acre results in more rapid tree growth, minimizing the amount of mowing and herbicide needed for maintenance. What are the lessons learned? Direct seeding - it’s hard to argue with success. Submitted by Clyde Mermis, NRCS district conservationist, at 785-843-4288.

American Indian Burial Grounds Protected - NRCS engineers and the Timberland Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Area Council Inc. recently provided technical support and direction for a streambank stabilization project to protect the Ottawa Indians' Battle Point burial ground. Created in the early 1800's, the burial ground lies adjacent to Michigan's Grand River. Over the years, during high water periods the river has cut into the sandy banks, eroding up to 50 feet through the burial ground. Archeologists estimate that, as a result of this erosion, as many as 50 human remains have been washed away from this burial site. With NRCS technical assistance and support from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Michigan Historical Center, Grand Valley State University, and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, this streambank stabilization project was undertaken to prevent further erosion and also to re-inter any remains exposed by the river. Protecting and restoring the burial site provided an opportunity to protect a historical site and to demonstrate support and respect for the traditions of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. Your contact is Glenn Lamberg, NRCS American Indian liaison, at 231-924-2060 or glenn.lamberg@mi.usda.gov.

RC&D Project Turns "Beckley Love Fest" - When a group of citizens approached the Mountain RC&D Area with a plan to give their city of Beckley, West Virginia, a facelift, council members and staff were enthusiastic. Beckley, once a center for mining activities in the region, now depends on tourism for its livelihood, so just about everyone immediately realized the value of putting the city's best foot forward. With funding from the RC&D and technical assistance from NRCS, nearly one hundred volunteers pitched in and began cleaning up refuse and clearing, mulching, and planting garden areas. The volunteers’ enthusiasm was so contagious that passers-by even stopped to help. A restaurant in the area provided food, a local nursery donated plants, and a local television station covered the event. Thanks to the enthusiasm of the volunteers and the citizens of Beckley, what started as a beautification project turned out to be a celebration of a city’s love for its community, or what council members later termed a "Beckley Love Fest."
Your contact is Peg Reese, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 304-284-7547.

A New Role for Conservation to be Discussed at Outlook Forum - USDA's Agricultural Outlook Forum 2002 will take place February 21-22, 2002, in Arlington, Virginia. The Agriculture Department has held yearly outlook meetings since 1923 to help farmers and others plan for the year ahead. At Outlook Forum 2002, Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman and other speakers will discuss topical issues and provide an in-depth look at farm and commodity outlook prospects. A session titled "A New Role For Conservation in U.S. Farm Policy" is scheduled for Thursday afternoon. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Jim Moseley will serve as moderator. Mack Gray, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, is scheduled to speak on "Conservation Operations: USDA's Challenge to Make It Work". Other speakers will address this session as well. Read the full program at http://www.usda.gov/oce/waob/oc2002/program.htm.
Your contact is Ted Kupelian, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 202-720-5776.

20 New RC&D Areas Announced - The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 20 areas in 17 States to receive technical assistance for conservation and environmental enhancement as part of its RC&D Program. "The areas were selected through a competitive process based on local needs and proposed actions. These areas will benefit from increased conservation of natural resources, economic development, and enhanced standards of living," said Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman. RC&D areas are locally led by grassroots councils comprised of volunteers, civic leaders and locally elected officials. RC&D projects provide practical solutions for community development, land and resource conservation, environmental enhancement, and water management. NRCS provides technical assistance in the form of a coordinator who serves as a point of access to USDA programs and services that help the RC&D councils reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, enhance wildlife habitat, create jobs and businesses, protect heritage sites, and improve sewage treatment.

With the addition of the following areas, there will be 368 RC&Ds throughout the Nation.

State	RC&D Area	Counties
Alaska	Copper Valley	Valdez-Cordova
(AS)	American Samoa	Ta’u, Luanuu, Vaifanua, Saole, Sua (Numbers 1 and 2), Ma’oputasi (Numbers 1-5), Itu’au, Fofo, Lealataua, Ma’opu, Tualatai, Leasina
California	Southern Low Desert	Imperial, eastern part of Riverside, eastern part of San Diego
Florida	Treasure Coast	Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, St. Lucie
Illinois	Lincoln Heritage	Champaign, Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Vermilion
Indiana	White River	Jackson, Lawrence, Orange, Washington
Iowa	Prairie Partners	Calhoun, Humboldt, Kossuth, Pocahontas
Iowa	Prairie Winds	Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Hancock, Winnebago, Worth, Wright
Kentucky	Thoroughbred	Clark, Fayette, Franklin, Jessamine, Madison, Scott, Woodford
Louisiana	Bayou Land	Jefferson, LaFourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Barnard, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, Terrebonne
Massachusetts	Patriot	Essex, Middlesex, Norfork, Suffolk
Montana	Northern Rocky Mountain	Gallatin, Meagher, Park
Nebraska	Nebraska Great Plains	Butler, Cass, Douglas, Lancaster, Polk, Sarpy, Saunders, Seward, York
Nebraska	Prairieland	Boone, Colfax, Madison, Nance Platte, Stanton
Ohio	Heart of Ohio	Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Knox, Licking, Madison, Marion, Morrow, Pickaway
Pennsylvania	Capital	Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, York
Tennessee	Central Basin	Davidson, Rutherford, Sumner, Trousdale, Williamson, Wilson
Texas	Hill Country	Blanco, Burnet, Gillespie, Kimble, Lampasas, Llano, Mason, San Saba
Texas	Rio Grande-Nueces	Dimmit, Edwards, Kinney, LaSalle, Maverick, Real, Uvalde, Zavala, Val Verde
Virginia	South Centre’ Corridors	Prince George, Dinwiddie, Sussex, Greensville, Southampton

Your contact is Joan Comanor, Director, NRCS Resource Conservation and Community Development Division, at 202-720-2847.

TO TOP

The National Organization of Professional Hispanic NRCS - The National Organization of Professional Hispanic NRCS Employees (NOPHNRCSE) will hold its annual training conference June 24-28, 2002, in Fort Worth, Texas. The conference is intended to provide community leaders and NRCS employees with training to help land managers and communities take a comprehensive approach in planning the use and protection of soil, water, and related natural resources on private lands. The organization extends an invitation to interested employees to attend the training and look at the 10-year history of NOPHNRCSE. Information regarding the training conference can be found at the following website: www.nhq.nrcs.usda.gov/HISPANIC.
Your contact is Xavier Montoya, NRCS Hispanic Emphasis Program Manager, at 301-504-2187.

Plant Locally Adapted Seed for Best Stand Establishment - With spring planting just around the corner, it's time to think about what species and/or cultivars should be used. Factors like soils, precipitation, planned use, and the type of management used will affect the choice of species. Regardless of the choice, seed from adapted cultivars or locally adapted sources offer the best chance for stand establishment. This means that a local seed source will almost always outperform one from hundreds of miles away. However, as local seed is more expensive, the cost for even several pounds can quickly add up.

Generally, one-third to one-half of all seedlings fail. Although there may be many explanations, the fact that the seed is not well adapted to the location where it is planted is often the cause for failure. With thousands of dollars at stake, how can producers reduce the risk of failure? NRCS plant materials specialists and centers can be the answer. They are equipped to provide field offices with up-to-date recommendations on what to plant and where to obtain adapted seed. Often a source-identified release (i.e., a plant with specific local adaptations) that can offer a better chance of success is available. Other times, a locally adapted cultivar might be a better choice. In either case, producers should take advantage of technical assistance available from NRCS Plant Materials Centers. Detailed information on individual plants is available in NRCS technical guides or fact sheets available on the Plant Materials Internet homepage at http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/. Plant materials specialist and center contact information is available at http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/. Your contact is Rick White, NRCS Plant Materials Program Leader, at 202-720-0536.

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.

You can receive NRCSTW via e-mail by sending an e-mail to: 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 Rachel Carson). 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" is 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, or 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.

< NRCS This Week Archives