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| Friday, February 8, 2002 Washington, DC. |
"There are no secrets to success: Don't waste time looking for them. Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty to those for whom you work, and persistence."
FOCUS ON THE FIELD
Olympics Snow Conditions Info -
Do you follow the Winter Olympic Games? Do you actively engage in outdoor winter sports? If you live in the West, you probably know that useful snow survey data is readily available from the National Water and Climate Center. However, did you know that NRCS snow surveyors in Utah developed a web site of SNOTEL information near 2002 Olympic venues? At http://www.ut.nrcs.usda.gov/snow you can find information on snow depth and current air temperature, normally updated every 6 hours. Also to support this year’s Winter Olympic Games, NRCS produced an updated color, 4-page publication called "Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting." It is available electronically in PDF format at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/highlights/SnoServ.html. Watch this web site for useful links and updated information. Contact: Randy Julander, NRCS-UT snow data collection officer, phone 801-524-5213, randy.julander@ut.usda.gov.
Missouri Soil Survey Reaches Major Milestone -
Missouri's effort to document the extent and location of the state's more than 5,000 soil types on its 44.6 million acres reached a major milestone in December 2001 when soil mapping was completed in the last of Missouri's 114 counties. There will be a last-acre ceremony April 19 on the lawn of the State Capitol to celebrate the achievement. Missouri's soil survey program is led by NRCS, with the University of Missouri, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and local soil and water conservation districts providing funding, personnel, soil analysis and research. Missouri was one of the first states to begin a soil survey when USDA began the process in 1899. The state's geographic diversity made it difficult to survey. Missouri is a meeting ground of all of the important soil regions of the Mississippi Valley. It has glacial soils in the north; the prairies in the southwest are the eastern edge of the Great Plains; there are limestone soils in the Ozarks, and alluvial soils in the Bootheel. Work will continue, using modern technology, to refine Missouri's soil surveys. Future work will follow Major Land Resource Areas, instead of county lines, to create a more seamless survey. Contact: Dennis Potter, NRCS Missouri State Soil Scientist, on 573-876-0907.
Native Landscape Guide for Great Plains, Rocky Mountains Released -
Creating Native Landscapes in the Northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountains, a guide for developing environmentally friendly native landscapes, was released by NRCS Montana and the agency's Bridger Plant Materials Center, the Montana Association of Conservation Districts and the Lower Musselshell Conservation District. The publication provides an overview of native plant landscaping principles and practices that reduce water, energy, and chemical use, and enhance wildlife habitat and manage invasive weeds. It is available at http://www.mt.nrcs.usda.gov/pas/xeriscp/intro.html.
South Dakota Partners Plant 11 Miles of Living Snow Fences -
The living snow fence program is alive and well in Perkins County, South Dakota. Bob Drown, NRCS, and Allan Bonnema, County Highway Superintendent, spearheaded the effort to provide protection along two county roads that typically became impassable due to drifting snow. Bob and Allan worked with eight landowners to design living snow fences along nearly 11 miles of road at no cost to the participants. The tree costs, planting and necessary fencing, was paid for by the county with grant money and county snow removal funds. Landowners committed their time to caring for the trees and putting up protective fencing, when it was needed. It was determined that the living snow fences would pay for themselves by the tenth year. The trees also provide food and cover for wildlife. Contact: David Keith, State PAS, on 605-352-1228 or david.keith@sd.usda.gov.
NRCS Connecticut Honors Dr. King by Reaching Out to Urban Customers -
NRCS Connecticut community planner Carol Donzella and Jewel McKenzie, a member of the Shelton Conservation Commission, reached out to underserved urban customers at "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, Legacy of Environmental and Social Justice 2002" held at the Yale Peabody Museum in New Haven. Carol and Jewel set up an exhibit and taught participants about the human side of conservation. A "Growth of Diversity Tree" trivia box contained ordinary household items made from forest products. At the "Growing Together" activity, participants attached construction paper cutouts of their hands together to form a chain that filled a flowerpot. "Seeds of Hope" had participants fill tiny plastic bags with seeds and attach the bags to a sign commemorating diversity. Learn more about the event at http://www.peabody.yale.edu/events/mlk/
Contact: Carol Donzella, NRCS community planner, at 203-922-9350.
Secretary Veneman Names R. Mack Gray Deputy Under Secretary for NRE -
On February 7, Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced the selection of R. Mack Gray as deputy under secretary for natural resources and environment. He has been acting in that position since January 2001, and has been responsible for policy relating to the programs of NRCS. "Mack Gray is a seasoned veteran of federal service who brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our natural resources and conservation efforts here at USDA," said Veneman. "Mack’s leadership and experience will be critical as we begin to implement new farm programs this year."
Gray came to this position out of retirement from 35 years with USDA's Soil Conservation Service (SCS), the predecessor agency to NRCS. He served as a district conservationist in Brownsfield, Texas, early in his career with the agency. At the agency's headquarters office in Washington, he held a number of positions, including director of economics from 1975 to 1985, director of congressional and public liaison from 1985 to 1987 and assistant to the chief for strategic planning and budget analysis from 1987 to 1990. After a brief stint as acting chief of SCS, he served as associate chief from December 1990 until his retirement in June 1991.
Born and reared on a dairy farm in Holland, Texas, Gray earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education, a master’s degree in agricultural economics and a Ph.D. in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.
Click here for the official USDA news release.
Soil Carbon Technical Note Available -
As interest grows in sequestering carbon in soil, conservationists increasingly need technical information on the benefits of increased organic matter and how to enhance soil organic matter. One source of information is the new agronomy technical note from the Soil Quality Institute, Long-Term Agricultural Management Effects on Soil Carbon. The note reviews data from long-term experiments and concludes that, in most cases, both reduced tillage and increased biomass-from cover crops or high-residue crop rotations-are necessary to increase soil organic matter levels. In cool, humid climates, however, the reduced tillage may be less critical because the lower temperatures reduce decomposition of organic matter. The technical note is available from the Soil Quality Institute Web site at http://www.statlab.iastate.edu/survey/SQI/agronomy.shtml. Contact: Michael Hubbs, Soil Quality Institute, 334-844-4741, x177 or at mhubbs@eng.auburn.edu
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.
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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.
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