November 15, 2002

"In our way of life…with every decision we make, we always keep in mind the Seventh Generation of children to come…When we walk upon Mother Earth, we always plant our feet carefully because we know that the faces of future generations are looking up at us from beneath the ground. We never forget them."

from a 1993 Earth Day Pledge by Oren Lyons, Faith Keeper, Onondaga Nation.

Focus on the Field

Children Practice Nutrition
With a grant from Heifer Project International, the CAWACO (Cahaba-Warrior-Coosa) RC&D Council, Inc., of Birmingham, Alabama, hired a registered dietician to go into Birmingham City Schools to teach food and nutrition. The nutrition program was the natural outgrowth of a Birmingham Urban Garden Society (BUGS) community gardening project which progressed to school gardens and ultimately to school nutrition. Beginning with one garden in 1996, the BUGS program has grown to 15 community gardens, 23 school gardens, 18 vermiculture (worm) gardens, one pepper bottling operation, and three harvest festivals. The children in the nutrition program have become aware of food groups and are now practicing nutrition on their own. The program’s nutrition activities were featured on a local televised news feature, "What's Right with Our Schools."
Your contact is Paul Kennedy, NRCS RC&D coordinator, at 205-251-7739, or paul.kennedy@al.usda.gov.


Farmland Protection Program (FPP) Saves Historic Arizona Farm
NRCS recently awarded $1.75 million for the purchase of a conservation easement under the 2002 FPP to help save Young's Farm, which began in 1946 when Elmer Young started farming 80 acres near Dewey, Arizona. Fifty years later, Elmer and three generations of the Young family are still farming those 80-plus acres, as well as providing enjoyable family experiences and festivals all year long. Sweet corn, pumpkins, beardless barley, clover hay, and a variety of vegetables are the main crops, and chickens, turkeys, cattle, and hogs are raised. Young's Farm has the reputation for producing the best fresh chickens and the only fresh turkeys in Arizona as well. During the 1990's, over 16 million acres of nearby farmland were converted to development, and it threatened to consume Young’s Farm. Fortunately, NRCS and others stepped in to preserve this unique historic farm. The FPP is a voluntary program administered by NRCS that helps farmers and ranchers keep their land in agriculture. The program provides matching funds to State, tribal, or local governments, and to non-governmental organizations with existing farmland protection programs.
Your contact is Ron Joy, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 602-280-8778, or ron.joy@az.usda.gov.


NRCS Exhibits at FFA
NRCS staff from Kentucky and national headquarters provided career information and publications on natural resource conservation to many of the 45,000 students and advisors at the 75th FFA National Agricultural Career Show held last week in Louisville. The NRCS exhibit featured an agriculture and conservation theme. 2002 Farm Bill information sheets; Backyard Conservation booklets, soil sheets and bookmarks; and NRCS partnership publications were distributed. FFA is an integral part of the Agriculture/Agribusiness classroom in more than 7,200 schools across America. Nearly 456,000 young people are involved in FFA annually. FFA members make a long-term commitment to studying agriculture and agribusiness, usually for four or more years. NRCS has participated in the annual FFA Career Show for many years.
Your contact is Lois Jackson NRCS public affairs specialist, at 859-224-7372, or ljackson@ky.usda.gov.


Celebrating a History of Farmland Protection
Farmers, agricultural leaders, State government representatives, NRCS representatives, and local citizens recently gathered in front of the Historic Deerfield Inn to mark the 25th Anniversary of farmland protection in Massachusetts. The Deerfield celebration was a local tribute to the Commonwealth's Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program, which was the second farmland preservation program developed in the United States. NRCS was represented by Doug Lawrence, NRCS Farmland Protection and Community Planning Staff Leader. Doug joined local farmers and leaders of State government in speaking about the benefits of saving farms and permanently preserving prime farmland for agricultural use. To date, the Massachusetts program has saved 560 farms and protected more than 50,000 acres of productive land. The matching funds provided by NRCS through the Farmland Protection Program (FPP) enabled contracts on 58 of those farms, thanks to $5.3 million in FPP funding since 1996. The afternoon program on farmland protection was part of an all-day Apple Festival, which drew a substantial crowd.
Your contact is Wendi Kroll, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 413-253-4371, or wendi.kroll@ma.usda.gov.

Chief Speaks at NACD’s National Conference on Farm Bill Opportunities
NRCS Chief Bruce Knight gave the opening keynote address at the National Association of Conservation Districts’ (NACD) National Conference on Farm Bill Opportunities in St. Louis, Missouri, on November 13. The Chief discussed a strategic approach to implementing the 2002 Farm Bill. Mark Rey, Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, gave closing keynote remarks.
Your contact is Fred Jacobs, NRCS public affairs specialist at 202-720-6794, or fred.jacobs@usda.gov.


NRCS Participates at National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB)
NRCS Conservation Communications staff exhibited and participated at the NAFB convention in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 13-17. Participants were given a sneak preview of the 5 new NRCS 2002 Farm Bill public service announcements, Old MacDonald, New Day, Taking Care, Conservation Sounds, and Priceless Resources. Secretary of Agriculture, Ann Veneman spoke by remote link at the event covering the Department’s stand on trade issues and bio-security.
Your contact is Fred Jacobs, NRCS public affairs specialist at 202-720-6794, or fred.jacobs@usda.gov.


Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Councils Promote Tourism
The Northeast Nebraska, South Central Nebraska, and Trailblazer RC&D Councils recently partnered with the Highway 14 Association to promote tourism in their council areas. The project was initiated by Genuine Rural Partners (GRP), a local rural development/networking group. GRP felt local attractions like the newly established Pierson Wildlife Museum Learning Center in Neligh and the Olson Nature Preserve near Loretto, Nebraska, could draw tourists to the area. The key was finding a way to let people from outside the area know about tourist attractions along Highway 14. During summer 2001, GRP contacted the Prairie Land and Northeast Nebraska RC&Ds to request assistance with developing a strategy for promoting Highway 14 tourism activity in Boone and Antelope counties. The project quickly expanded from a two-county effort into an eight-county project involving 4 RC&Ds and the Highway 14 Association. Preliminary plans call for the project to fall under the umbrella of the Highway 14 Association, with the RC&Ds providing technical/informational assistance and help with identifying and involving more partners.
Your contact is Pat McGrane, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 402-437-5328 or pat.mcgrane@ne.usda.gov.
 

Word from Washington

USDA Announces Rule for Conservation of Private Grazing Land Program
The 2002 Farm Bill authorized USDA to provide technical assistance from NRCS to owners and managers of private grazing land through the Conservation of Private Grazing Land Program (CPGL). The final rule for the program was published in the Federal Register on November 12. “This is a voluntary program that addresses natural resource concerns on private grazing land while enhancing the economic and social stability of grazing land enterprises and the rural communities that depend on them,” said NRCS Chief Bruce I. Knight. “This rule builds our capacity to provide technical assistance to those who own and operate private grazing land.”

Through CPGL, NRCS conservationists will help individuals understand the basic ecological principles associated with managing their land and implement a conservation plan that meets their management objectives and the needs of the resources—soil, water, air, plants and animals.

NRCS technical assistance can help landowners maintain and improve private grazing land and its management, implement grazing land management technologies, protect and improve the quality and quantity of water, maintain and improve wildlife and fish habitat, enhance recreational opportunities, maintain and improve the aesthetic character of private grazing land, identify opportunities and encourage diversification, and encourage the use of sustainable grazing systems. Although financial assistance is not available from CPGL, other Federal, State and local programs may apply to grazing lands and provide financial assistance.

Detailed information on CPGL and other conservation programs authorized in the 2002 Farm Bill is available on the NRCS website at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill/2002/products.html.
Your contact is Mary Cressel, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 690-0547-4024, or mary.cressel@usda.gov


First Annual Thomas Levermann Award Presented
The Environmental Alliance for Senior Involvement (EASI) recently presented the First Annual Thomas Levermann Award to Christopher Allen, at EASI’s International Conference and Senior Watershed Summit. About 300 individuals from India, Australia, Mexico, Canada, England, and 40 U.S. States witnessed the presentation at the Sandy Cover Conference Center, North East, Maryland, to Allen for his role in the creating of the Pennsylvania Senior Environmental Corps or PaSEC, which helps monitor the quality of the State’s streams and rivers. Tom Levermann joined NRCS in 1976 and became a member of the NRCS Conservation Communication Staff in 1977, until his passing last April. Tom and others in 1991 laid the foundation upon which EASI was founded. Tom played a key role in fostering NRCS-EASI cooperation in the writing of the Streambank Corridor Restoration Handbook and a number of other publications, and served as EASI Steering Committee liaison to the organization’s Board of Directors. EASI’s mission is to “build, promote, and utilize the environmental ethic, expertise, and commitment of older persons to expand citizen involvement in protecting and caring for our environment for present and future generations.” It is in this spirit that EASI presents the Annual Thomas Levermann Award.
Your contact is Fred Jacobs, NRCS public affairs specialist at 202-720-6794, or fred.jacobs@usda.gov.


November is American Indian Heritage Month!
In 1986, President Reagan designated November 23-30 as "American Indian Week." Four years later, President Bush proclaimed the first National American Indian Heritage Month. Each year since, U.S. Presidents have proclaimed November as "American Indian Heritage Month."

Listed below are some websites that deal with American Indian history, knowledge, lifestyles, current events and tradition. http://www.aianea.com/ American Indian/Alaskan Native Employees Association for the NRCS.
http://www.aihec.org. American Indian Higher Education Consortium. This educational organization represents 32 colleges in the U.S.A. and Canada.
http://www.aises.org.  American Indian Science and Engineering Society. This professional organization nurtures building of community by bridging science and technology with traditional Native values.
http://www.americanindian.net. Look up dates in North American Indian history. Links to numerous other web sites dealing with Tribal Peoples.
http://www.americanindiantribe.com. Gives you a head start in research on the historical background of many American Indian Tribes.
http://www.ammsa.com/windspeaker/. Canada's national aboriginal news source.
http://www.cherokee.org. Official website for the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.
http://www.indiancountry.com. Website of "Indian Country" magazine. Current news articles about tribes, laws and lifeways.
http://www.indianz.com. Headline news of current events affecting American Indians and mainstream USA.
http://www.iaiancad.org. Institute of American Indian Arts. Established by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1962. In 1975 it became a 2-year college in Santa Fe, NM.
http://www.nativepeoples.com. The forum is packed with interesting topics.
http://www.nativeweb.org. Resources for indigenous cultures around the world. 3,505 web listings available.
http://www.tribalfires.com. Promotes the publishing of Native American creative writers.
 

Tech Tip

New SCAN Station Installed at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest
A new Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN) station was installed recently at the U. S. Forest Service Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. The station was paid for by the Forest Service to help meet its growing need for soil-climate information. This new station is equipped with all of the standard atmospheric, soil moisture, and soil temperature measuring devices that are normally associated with a SCAN site, with an important addition – a snow pillow to measure snow water content and snow depth. The Forest Service is glad to get snowpack information to enhance its wetland and hydrology studies. The Hubbard Brook Forest, which is a long-term ecological research unit, continues to provide a leading edge research site in forest ecology, wetland studies, and hydrologic investigations. This station brings the SCAN network up to 71 stations in 39 States. All of the data can be viewed on the Web at: http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov.
Your contact is Garry L. Schaefer NRCS hydrologist, at 503-414-3068, or gschaefer@wcc.nrcs.usda.gov.

 

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The NRCS Mission: The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment.

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