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NRCS This Week

Friday, January 19, 2001 Washington, DC.

"You can't separate our natural resources, calling some "urban" and others "rural." From the mountain headwaters to the ports and city waterfronts below, it's all one and the same. Air pollution doesn't respect zoning boundaries. Contaminated water doesn't stop flowing when it reaches the county line. As John Muir, the founder of the Sierra Club, put it: 'When we try to pick anything out by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe."

-- Secretary Dan Glickman, The Ecological Cities 2000 Conference

Focus on the Field
Alabama: NRCS Participates in Wild Power Program
California: NRCS Helps American Indians Propagate Plants and Culture
Indiana: NRCS Secures Grant for Native American Tribal Leaders Listening Forum

Awards and Accolades
2000 Buffer Achievement Awards Presented
NRCS Receives Agricultural Recognition Award
What's Up in Washington
Secretary Glickman Releases "Harvest of Hope"
NRCS to Participate in Customer Satisfaction Survey
March 2001 - National Women's History Month
Arbor Day Foundation Hosts Vote for America's National Tree
Enhanced Performance and Results Measurement System
New Resource Conservation and Development Areas Announced
Tech Tips
USDA Announces CRP Contract Extensions

USDA/NRCS 'NetNewsLinks:
NRCS National Water and Climate Center Snow-Precipitation Update for the West
NRCS Legislative Summaries

Also on the 'Net:
AGRICOLA: USDA's AGRICultural Online Access
e-Notes from NACD: Weekly news briefs from the National Association of Conservation Districts: http://www.nacdnet.org/eNotes/.
 
Conference & Training Connection!
See the alphabetical-by-subject list of upcoming events.


FOCUS ON THE FIELD

NRCS Participates in Wild Power Program - NRCS Alabama State Conservationist, Bob Jones, recently received a letter from Danny Glover, Manager of Power Delivery-Contract Services at Alabama Power Company, expressing his appreciation for NRCS time and effort in making the pilot Wild Power Program a success. NRCS supported the program by helping landowners plant and maintain conservation vegetation to attract wildlife on land where Alabama Power holds right-of-way for power lines. Twenty-four applicants from Barbour, Bullock, Chambers, Dale, Elmore, Houston, Lee, and Macon counties entered more than 200 acres in the program. Your contact is Joan Love Smith, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, at 334-887-4530.

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NRCS Helps American Indians Propagate Plants and Culture - Dick McCleery, NRCS resource conservationist, encourages the use of indigenous plants in all facets of tribal life by the MiWok Tribe of Amador, California. Through an Environmental Quality Incentives Program grant, MiWok tribal elders teach native students in the Foothill Indian Alliance Program how to plant sedge, redbud, soaproot, elder, wormwood, bunch grass, willow, angelica, milkweed, and several types of ferns. By learning how to identify, cultivate, and harvest indigenous plants used by American Indians, students gain appreciation of their cultural heritage as it relates to native plants in medicines, foods, arts, crafts, and spiritual activities.

MiWok Hill, a permanent site at the Amador County Fairgrounds, was established as a demonstration site for indigenous plants and as a cultural center for the tribe's crafts, games, and basketry. Your contact is Sammy Moore Jr., NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, at 530-792-5608.

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NRCS Secures Grant for Native American Tribal Leaders Listening Forum - An outreach grant secured by Indiana NRCS recently helped sponsor a listening forum for the Great Lakes Native American Tribal Leaders. The forum, which brought together representatives from 49 tribes to discuss how NRCS could work more effectively with American Indians, was held in conjunction with the Annual Woodland Conference in Ohio. The forum grew out of an ongoing outreach effort by Kitty Perkinson, Indiana NRCS Outreach Coordinator, and the Prophetstown Council for Preservation of Great Lakes Native American Culture in Lafayette, Indiana. At the event, Kitty and State Conservationist Jane Hardisty spoke to the group about conservation programs and technical and financial assistance available through NRCS. Your contact is Pam Davidson, Public Affairs Specialist, at (317) 290-3200, ext. 322.

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AWARDS & ACCOLADES

2000 Buffer Achievement Awards Presented - The 2000 Buffer Achievement Awards, sponsored by the National Conservation Buffer Council, were presented last week at the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts' Annual Conference. Out of 20 Districts that competed, the State's Grand Champion award went to Starke County. Other winners included Madison County for central Indiana and Jackson County for southern Indiana. Starke County reported almost 1,700 acres of buffers that farmers installed between January 1 and December 1, 2000. Filter strips and field borders made up 90 percent of the buffers installed. Phil Brown, a farmer in Starke County, who installed buffers on his farm in the 1980's before current incentives were available, was honored for his dedication to the Buffer Initiative and for his conservation efforts. He planted filter strips along every drainage-way on his farm, is a no-till farmer, and uses his farm as a showcase to demonstrate buffers to other farmers. Brown's influence with farmers in Starke County has made a difference in soil, water, and air quality in Indiana. Your contact is Pam Davidson, Public Affairs Specialist, on (317) 290-3200, ext. 322.

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NRCS Receives Agricultural Recognition Award - NRCS employees and the Idaho Soil Conservation Commission (SCC) in Payette, Idaho, were honored this week by the Payette Chamber of Commerce with its Special Agricultural Recognition Award for outstanding work assisting area farmers and ranchers with conservation work. NRCS' Mike Raymond, district conservationist; Bonnie Long, administrative assistant; Martin Pena, soil conservation technician; and Lee Ruiz, civil engineering technician, were on hand to accept the award along with Ron Brooks, SCC water quality resource conservationist. Your contact is Sharon Norris, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, at 208-378-5725 ext. 2.

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WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON

Secretary Glickman Releases "Harvest of Hope" - In his final press conference this week as Agriculture Secretary, Dan Glickman reviewed his 6-year record of accomplishments at the Department. The Secretaryreleased a report to President Clinton, "Harvest of Hope," that highlights recent major achievements at the Department. The report can be seen at http://www.usda.gov/events/special/harvest.pdf.

NRCS to Participate in Customer Satisfaction Survey - NRCS will participate in the government-wide American Customer Satisfaction Index survey conducted by University of Michigan, under contract to the General Services Administration. The 7-minute, 17-question telephone survey, which will assess customer satisfaction among 250 recipients of conservation technical assistance, is scheduled to begin this month, with results available this spring.

NRCS customers may soon hear a caller say, "I am calling on behalf of the University of Michigan and the Natural Resources Conservation Service." Participation in the survey will provide valuable information to help NRCS plan for the future and more effectively respond to customer issues and concerns. Your contact is Denise Decker, NRCS Management Analyst, at 202-690-0648.

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March 2001 - National Women's History Month - The theme for this year's National Women's History Month is "Celebrating Women of Courage and Vision." As part of our Women's History Month observance, the NRCS Federal Women's Program will be soliciting nominations for Natural Resource Conservation Service women employees who best represent the values of our agency and their special emphasis group. Three women will be selected from each of these groups: American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian American/Pacific Islander, Black, Disabled, Hispanic, and White, and from grade 8 and below, grade 9 through 12, and grade 13 and above.

Please complete the NRCS Women of Courage and Vision Nomination form (recently furnished to all employees via e-mail) by February 1, 2001, and attach a 1-page biography for each woman you wish to nominate. Instructions on where to mail or fax the nominations are on the form. Your contact is Mary Baumann, acting NRCS National Federal Women's Program Manager, at 701-288-3406.

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Arbor Day Foundation Hosts Vote for America's National Tree - For the first time, the National Arbor Day Foundation is making it possible for people to vote for America's National Tree, either by visiting the Foundation's website at http://www.arborday.org or by mail. Online voting is underway and will continue through April 27, 2001. Those without Internet access can mail their name and address on a 3" x 5" card with the name of the tree of your choice to: America's National Tree, The National Arbor Day Foundation, Nebraska City, Nebraska 68410 by April 1, 2001.

The National Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit education organization dedicated to tree planting and environmental stewardship. More information on the Foundation and the Vote for America's National Tree is at their website. Your contact is Max Schnepf, Soil and Water Conservation Society, at 515-289-2331, ext. 15 or maxs@swcs.org.

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Enhanced Performance and Results Measurement System - NRCS is enhancing the agency Performance and Results Measurement System (PRMS) to meet additional data needs identified by States and partners. The PRMS local options feature will be delivered in two phases, with the first planned for release on April 2, 2001.

Implementing local options is voluntary. The first release will allow States to track additional performance measures of State or local significance and link performance to additional program choices.

In preparation for implementing local options, States were asked to review the design screens and provide comments by January 31, 2001, to help ensure that the feature meets their needs. Six design reviews have already been held and two more are scheduled for the week of January 22. To participate in a design review, go to the Local Options web site at http://grama.itc.nrcs.usda.gov/LocalOptions/index.asp. Click on "Local Options Session Signup" and follow the instructions. If you can't participate in a scheduled review, you can still provide comments on the designs on the web site. Your contact is Patty Durana, Strategic and Performance Planning Division, at 202-720-3490.

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New Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Areas Announced - Secretary Glickman recently designated 33 new areas in 25 States as part of the USDA's RC&D Program. The program will help people in rural areas increase conservation of natural resources, promote economic development, and solve local problems. RC&D areas are locally led by councils comprised of volunteers, civic leaders, and locally elected officials. RC&D projects provide practical solutions for community development, land conservation, environmental enhancement, and water management. NRCS will provide a local coordinator to each area to help access USDA programs and services. Other USDA agencies will also provide assistance. The 33 areas are listed below.

 State
 RC&D Designated Area
 Counties
 Alaska  Bering Strait Region  Bering Strait Region
   Lower Kuskokwim  Bethel Area
 California  Central Sacramento Valley  Colusa, Glenn, Tehama
   Mojave Desert-Mountain  Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, San Bernardino, Tulare
   Yosemite/Sequoia  Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Tulare
 Colorado  Painted Sky  Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel, Saguache
 Florida  Florida West Coast  Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas, Sarasota
 Hawaii  O'ahu  Honolulu
 Illinois  Wabash Valley  Clark, Crawford, Edwards, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, Wayne
 Indiana  Northwest Territory  Lake, Porter, St. Joseph
 Iowa  Cedar Valley  Bremer, Butler, Chickasaw, Floyd, Mitchell
   Prairie Rivers  Boone, Hamilton, Hardin, Marshall, Story, Webster
 Kansas  Central Prairie  Barton, Edwards, McPherson, Pawnee, Reno, Rice, Stafford
   Santa Fe Trail  Finney, Grant, Greeley, Hamilton, Kearny, Morton, Stanton, Wichita
 Kentucky  Eagle  Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Henry, Owen, Trimble
 Minnesota  Three Rivers  Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Lesueur, Martin, Nicollet, Sibley, Waseca, Watonwan
 Mississippi  Mississippi Coastal Plains  George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, Stone
 Nebraska  Nebraska Loess Hills  Burt, Cuming, Dakota, Dodge, Thurston, Washington
   Trailblazer  Clay, Fillmore, Franklin, Harlan, Nuckolls, Thayer, Webster
 Nevada  Da Ka Doiyabe  Elko, Eureka, Lander, Nye, White Pine
 New York  Lower Hudson-Long Island  Bronx, Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, New York, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Ulster, Westchester
 North Carolina  Unifour  Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Iredell
 Ohio  Western Reserve  Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, Summit, Wayne
 Oklahoma High Plains  Beaver, Cimarron, Dewey, Ellis, Harper, Texas, Woods, Woodward
 South Carolina  Foothills  Anderson, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg,
 South Dakota  Tatanka  Corson, Dewey, Harding, Perkins, Zeibach
 Tennessee  Cumberland Mountain  Anderson, Campbell, Morgan, Roane, Scott
 Texas  Chihuahuan Desert  Brewster, Culberson, El Paso, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis,Presido
   High Plains  Armstrong, Carson, Castro, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Hansford, Hartley, Hutchinson, Moore, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Sherman, Swisher
 Washington  Blue Mountains  Asotin, Columbia, Garfield, Walla Walla
   Olympic Peninsula  Clallam, Jefferson
 Wisconsin  Glacierland  Brown, Calumet, Door, Fond du Lac, Kewaunee,Manitowoc, Outagamie, Sheboygan, Winnebago
 Wyoming  Historic Trails  Carbon, Natrona

Your contact is Terry D'Addio, NRCS National RC&D Coordinator, at 202-720-0557.

 

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TECH TIPS

USDA Announces CRP Contract Extensions - Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) participants whose contracts expire on September 30, 2001, will have an opportunity to extend their contracts for one year. The one-year contract extension option applies to CRP participants with contracts of original duration of less than 15 years, scheduled to expire on September 30, 2001. Under the 1985 Food Security Act, a CRP contact may not exceed 15 years.

The extension will not change participants' rental rates. All or a portion of acreage under contract may be included in an extension, but no new acreage may be added. Obligations existing under an original contract will continue to apply to contracts that are modified and extended. The purpose of the one-year extension is to continue the lasting environmental benefits of the land under CRP.

Local USDA Service Centers are notifying participants eligible for this contract modification and extension. No general sign-up opportunity is scheduled for fiscal year 2001. However, interested producers may continue to enroll highly desirable acreage such as filter strips and riparian buffers at any time at their local USDA office. Your contact is Michele Gidcumb, NRCS Resource Conservationist, at 202-720-5742.

 

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CONFERENCE & TRAINING CONNECTION

January 19, 2001

As a service to NRCS personnel and the agency's partners, "NRCS This Week" offers the following by-subject list of conferences and training sessions. To add an event, please send an e-mail message to fred.jacobs@usda.gov

AFO/CAFO
Agricultural Economics
Agricultural Engineering
Agricultural Outlook/Policy
Agroforestry/Forestry
Air Quality
Coastal Zone Management
Farmland Protection
Forestry
Geographic Information Systems
Global Climate Change
Grazing Land & Grassland
Invasive Plant Species
Irrigation Management
Locally Led Conservation
Nutrient Management
Partnerships
Range Management
Rural History
Soil Science/Erosion Control
Water Quality
Watersheds
Wetlands
 

AFO/CAFO
 
Dairy Manure Systems: Equipment and Technology Selection
March 20-22
Rochester, New York
an educational
Dairy Manure Systems: Equipment and Technology Selection is a conference intended for farm managers and their advisors, soil and water conservation district staff, nutrient management consultants, cooperative extension educators, equipment distributors, university specialists, farm system designers and builders, and environmental professionals. It will examine technology and equipment selection for manure handling, treatment, land application, and odor control.. The conference will focus on a systems approach to planning. For more infomration call 607-255-7654 or visit the conference website at http://www.nraes.org/conferences/manure.html.

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Agricultural Economics
 
American Agricultural Economics Associtaion Annual (AAEA) Meeting
August 5-8
Chicago, Illinois
AAEA seeks submission for posters, papers, organized symposia and free sessions for the 2001 annual meeting in Chicago. For more information, contact Nancy Herselius at 515-233-3202, or nancy@aaea.org or visit the meeting website at http://www.aaea.org/meetings/.
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Agricultural Engineering
 
American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE) 2001 Annual Meeting
July 29-August 1
Sacramento Convention Center, Sacramento, California
The ASAE annual meeting will provide and opportunity for attendees to interact with engineering professionals worldwide, share ideas, techniques, and research with peers, and promote the profession of agricultural, food and biological engineering. For more information visit the conference website at http://www.asae.org/meetings/am2001/cfp-2001.pdf or contact William Hughey, NRCS National Agricultural Engineer, at 202-720-5023.
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Agricultural Outlook/Policy
 
Agricultural Outlook Forum 2001
February 22-23
Arlington, Virginia, Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will hold its Agricultural Outlook Forum 2001 to provide timely forecasts of farm prospects and insight on developments affecting the farm economy. Speakers will include top government officials, industry analysts, farmers, business leaders and academic experts. USDA plans to release a new set of long-term commodity projections at the forum. For more information visit the conference website at http://www.usda.gov/oce/waob/agforum.htm.
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Agroforestry/Forestry
 
Forest Utilization Conference
May 1-3
Wagoner OK
The Ouachita Mountains Resource Conservation and Development, Inc. will sponsor its 6th annual Forest Utilization Conference and Equipment Exposition at the Western Hills Guest Resort in Sequoyah State Park on the shores of Lake Fort Gibson. For information, contact Gary Garman, Coordinator for Ouachita Mountains RC&D Council, at (918)-423-2479, fax 918-423-0793, email omrcandd@icok.net or visit the web site http://www.icok.net/~omrcandd
 
Southern Forest Science Conference: Contributions of Forest Research to Sustainable Forestry Preliminary Conference Announcement and Call for Papers
November 26 - 28
Renaissance Waverly Hotel, Atlanta, Georgia
The Southern Forest Science Conference will highlight the history and future of research in sustainable forestry. The conference is for anyone interested in the science of southern forests and is open to researchers, research managers and research users as well as policymakers, landowners and other interested stakeholders. Call for Papers: Topics, deadlines and other information can be found at the conference website at http://www.southernforestscience.net/ For more information contact www.southernforestscience.net or the USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station at (828)-257-4302.
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Air Quality
 
Future Directions in Air Quality Research
February 12-15
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Conference topics will focus on ecological, atmospheric, regulatory/policy and educational issues. The conference is sponsored by the Air Resources Research Consortium. For more information contact Sherrie Knott at (919) 515-2261 or visit the conference website at http://www2.ncsu.edu/cpe/airqualconf.html
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Coastal Zone Management
 
Coastal Zone 01
July 15-19
Cleveland, Ohio
Coastal Zone 01 will feature important lessons learned by coastal managers around the world and models of successful partnerships, such as that established in the Great Lakes, where two sovereign nations jointly manage water and living resources of this great "inland sea." Cleveland offers an outstanding opportunity to examine how local and regional issues are connected to worldwide influences of culture and commerce, climate and biology. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.csc.noaa.gov/cz2001/conference.html.
 
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Farmland Protection
 
The Capital District Regional Farmland Protection Conference
January 24
Albany, New York - Italian American Center
The conference will be of special interest to county and municipal officials, farmers, land owners, conservationists and economic development promoters within the Hudson Mohawk RC&D region. For more information, contact Mark Grennan, Hudson-Mohawk RC&D Council, 518-828-4385 ext. 105.
 
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Forestry
 
Forest Stewardship: Now That the Fires are Out... Lessons from the 2000 Fire Season"
March 26-27
Moscow, Idaho, University Inn - Best Western
The Clearwater Resource Conservation & Development Council will sponsor its eleventh annual two-day conference aimed at the non-industrial private forest (NIPF) landowner. Four main sessions will include Passing the Torch: What Will Be your Legacy? Fire Season 2000: Nature's Legacy, After the Fire: Management Implications, Forest Certification: Why Should I Certify? A number of vendors and organizations will display. For more information, contact Dan Pierce, RC&D Coordinator, at 208-882-4960 ext. 110 or Harry Lee, at 208-885-6900 or crcdc@moscow.com.
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Geographic Information Systems
 
2001 Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA) Annual Conference XXIV
March 4 - 7
San Diego Convention Center
San Diego, California
GITA's Annual Conference and Exhibition is the premier educational event for professionals involved in geospatial information technologies, including automated mapping/facilities management (AM/FM), geographic information systems (GIS), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), and related technologies. Conference XXIV will provide attendees with better ways to plan, design, manage, and maintain information technology systems and operations. . For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.gita.org/events/01xxiv_open2.html.
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2001 American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Annual Conference
April 23-27
America's Center / Adams Mark Hotel
St. Louis, MO
The 2001 ASPRS Conference and Technology Exhibition will highlight capabilities and technologies needed for you to succeed as we enter an era where decisions are increasingly based on geographic data. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.asprs.org/stl01/.
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The Fifth International Airborne Remote Sensing Conference and Exhibition
17-20 September
San Francisco, California - San Francisco Marriott Hotel
This international conference will provide a unique forum for the exchange of ideas and information on the latest developments in airborne remote sensing systems and applications for addressing critical issues now facing the scientific, governmental, and commercial communities. Sessions will include disaster assessment and management data handling and processing, sensor systems for early fire detection, small aircraft and UAV operations, environmental planning and risk management, airborne science operations, land mines and unexploded ordinance, integration of airborne and satellite imaging, water resources and waste disposal monitoring, augmenting satellite remote sensing data, and advanced airborne sensors. The program will offer over 300 presentations by experts from around the world. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.erim-int.com/CONF/5th_airborne/5thairborne.html.
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Global Climate Change
 
The GW XII Global Warming International Conference and Expo
April 8-11
Cambridge, United Kingdom
The GW XII Global Warming International Conference and Expo will provide an international review of progress towards Kyoto Protocol Targets by all nations in all relevant sectors, and to present the most current science and policy activities on global warming, sustainable environment and health on five continents. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www2.msstate.edu/~krreddy/glowar/gw12c.html.
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Grazing Land & Grassland
 
Grassland Ecosystems: An Outlook into the 21st. Century
February 10-21
São Pedro State of Sao Paulo Brazil
The International Grassland Congress will be focusing on grassland ecosystems, and the program has been designed to bring an updated broad view on current knowledge and available technology to improve different animal production systems under pasture conditions. For more information, write to the XIX International Grassland Congress; ESALQ; Av.; Padua Dias; 11; 13418-900 Piracicaba, SP Brasil or e-mail igc2001@esalq.usp.br or visit the conference website at http://www.igc2001-brazil.org.br/segunda2.htm.
 
Great Lakes International Grazing Conference
February 12-13
Shipshewana, Indiana - Shipshewana Antique Auction Barn
This conferencewill have concurrentsessions for dairy, beef, sheep and a session on animal behavior. Other sessions will be conducted on soil health, riparian grazing, carbon sequestration, grass silage and phosphorus supplementation and the environment. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.msue.msu.edu/jackson/GLGC.htm or call 219-463-3471.
 
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Invasive Plant Species
 
Plants out of Place: Invasive Plant Conference for the Upper Midwest
March 1-2
Eau Claire, Wisconsin - Ramada Inn -
Plants out of Place: Invasive Plant Conference is the first confernce of its kind for the Upper Midwest. The conference will provide an opprtunity to share current information and methods for dealing with invasive plants in forests, grasslands, and wetlands in the Upper Midwest, as well as participate in the organizational meeting for the Wisconsin Invasive Plant Council. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.plantsoutofplace.org or call 715-834-9672 or 608)-67-5066.
 
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Irrigation Management
 
Central Plains Irrigation Short Course & Equipment Exposition
February 5-6
Kearney, Nebraska, Holiday Inn.
Topics for technical sessions include sprinkler irrigation uniformity, limited water & conservation, water quality, subsurface drip irrigation, precision agrculture, wter mnagement to cnserve energy, surface irrigation, and irrigation with degreaded water. The General Session will include presentations on cooperative agreement update, republican river update, and water marketing in Nebraska. For more information, visit the confernce website at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/sdi/REvents/cpia.html.
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Locally Led Conservation
 
National Conference on Locally Led Conservation Efforts
June 3-5
Nebraska City, Nebraska, Lied Conference Center on the Arbor Day Farm
NRCS, the National Arbor Day Foundation, and the National Association of Conservation Districts will sponsor a national forum for individuals and groups to share lessons learned about locally led or locally driven conservation efforts and to stimulate the advances of this "bottom up" approach to natural resource management.
 
Program focus: Locally led or locally driven conservation is an effort to empower citizens a community to work effectively to assess the health of their land and to address collectively their conservation priorities using the programmatic tools and resources available from Federal, State, and local governments, as well as private sources. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.arborday.org/programs/conferences.html
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Nutrient Management
 
The Second International Nitrogen Conference (N2001), "Optimizing Nitrogen Management in Food and Energy Production and Environmental Protection"
October 14-18
Bolger Conference Center, in Potomac, Maryland, near Washington, DC
N2001 will bring together a diverse array of scientists, policy makers, and nitrogen producers and users to discuss current understanding of nitrogen science and policy; ways to meet humanity's increasing demand for food, feed and fiber production, energy, and transportation, while minimizing environmental problems brought about by increased circulation of biologically active N compounds. Complete instructions and updates on submission of papers, oral and poster presentations, abstracts and general information concerning the conference can be found at http://esa.sdsc.edu/n2001. For further information, contact Rhonda Kranz at 202-833-8773 ext 212.
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Partnerships
 
2001 National Association of Conservation Districts' Annual Meeting
February 4-8
Fort Worth, Texas
For more information about the meeting, contact Robert Raschke on 303-988-1810 or visit the conference website at http://www.nacdnet.org/meetings/01annual/program.html.
 
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Range Management
 
2001 Cattle Industry Annual Convention and Trade Show
Jan 31- Feb. 4, 2001
San Antonio, Texas
A Joint Meeting of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Cattlemen's Beef Promotion & Research Board, American National CattleWomen, Inc., Cattle-Fax, and National Cattlemen's Foundation. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.beef.org/groups/meetings/convention.htm.

The Society for Range Management 54th Annual Meeting - 2001: A Range Odyssey
February 17-23
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Land managers, scientists, educators, students, producers and conservationists are invited to particpate in a professional program of posters, trade show, technical presentations, and six symposia. Symposia topics which have been accepted include: the role of fire in ecological restoration; ecosystem simplification (or why a patchwork quilt is more valuable than a burlap sack); noxious weeds - a global rangeland crisis; land restoration sucess and sustainability; the ecology and management of sage grouse populations; and many more. For more infomration, visit the conference website at http://www.casrm.org/Hawaii.shtml.
 
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Rural History
 
Water and Rural History Symposium
May 31 - June 2
Reno, Nevada, University of Nevada at Reno (UNR) College of Agriculture
The Agricultural History Society, NRCS, University of Nevada at Reno (UNR) College of Agriculture, and UNR Department of History will hold a Water and Rural History Symposium,. Housing is available at the University Inn on the UNR campus. In addition to the presentations, the symposium will include a one-day field tour focusing on history and water issues in Nevada. For registration information, please contact Professor William D. Rowley, History Department (308), University of Nevada, Reno NV 89557 (Telephone 775-784-6852) or by e-mail at rowley@scs.unr.edu.
 
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Soil Science/Erosion Control
 
No-Till On The Plains 2001
January 22-23
Salina, Kansas, Bicentennial Center
This popular well-attended conference gives those interested in no-tilling plenty of opportunity to visit farmer-to-farmer as well as hear presentations by nationally known speakers, farmers, and industry representatives. Exhibitors will be on hand in the exhibit space. Featured speakers will be Dwayne Beck, Dakota Lakes Research Farm, Pierre, South Dakota and Dean A. Martens, Ag Research Service, Tucson, Arizona. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.residue.org/ or call 1-800-484-2995.
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International Erosion Control Association's (IECA) 32nd Annual Conference and Expo
February 5-9
Las Vegas, Nevada, Rio Suite Hotel and Convention Center
IECA's Annual Conference and Expo is open to all erosion and sediment control professionals and suppliers. This event features five days of learning, including day-long training courses, half-day workshops, field tours and technical paper presentations. Topics of interest will appeal to contractors, landscape architects, civil engineers, public works and regulatory professionals, consultants, developers, mining and ski industry representatives. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.ieca.org/index_conference.html.
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The 24th Annual Southern Conservation Tillage Conference
July 9-11
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The conference will provide federal and non-federal scientists, educators, consultants, and farmers from the Southern Region the opportunity to present and discuss recent, research accomplishments in conservation tillage. Deadline for title/summaries is Jan. 15, 2001. For more information visit the website at http://www.agr.okstate.edu/SCTC or contact Jim Stiegler at 405-744-6421 or jhs@mail.pss.okstate.edu.
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Water Quality
 
7th Federal Interagency Sedimentation Conference
March 25-29
Reno, Nevada
Will provide Federal and non-Federal scientists and managers from various disciplines the opportunity to discuss recent accomplishments and progress in research and on technical developments in the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of sedimentation. Scheduled are tours, exhibitions, and presentations of papers. For more information about the conference, visit the website at http://water.usgs.gov/wicp/SED7FISC_crf.html
Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) 2001 Annual Conference
August 4-8
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Kingston Plantation
For more information visit the confernce website at http://www.swcs.org/f_what_calendar.htm
The deadline for Call for Papers is December 1, 2000. For more information visit the conference website or contact Charlie Persinger, Director of Member Services, SWCS, at 515-289-2331, ext 12 or charliep@swcs.org.
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Watersheds
 
Seventh National Watershed Conference
May 20-23
Richmond, Virginia
The theme: "Small Watershed Programs: Past, Present, and Future." This conference will examine our Nation's rich history with upstream small watershed programs and will explore innovative ways of accomplishing watershed project objectives as traditional sources of assistance become harder to get. . For more information contact John W. Peterson, (703) 455-6886, fax (703) 455-6888;e-mail, jwpeterson@erols.com
 
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5th International Conference Diffuse/Nonpoint Pollution and Watershed Management
June 10-15
Milwaukee, WI
The conference will point out the problems of the past and develop solutions for the new century. The resolution of the problem requires innovative technologies, economic and regulative tools, basin wide planning, and citizens' initiatives. Problems and solutions of diffuse pollution may differ between the developed and developing countries. Different goals and approaches are also apparent; however, the need for resolution is unifying. Therefore, this conference will provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and networking among the delegates and national delegations. Papers and posters will be presented on the following general themes: A. Source Identification and Measurement; B. Water Quality Impact; C. Solutions to Diffuse Pollution; D. Socioeconomic and Policy Considerations; and E. Modeling, Information Management and Transfer. More than 200 speakers and presenters from 36 countries and all five inhabited continents will be featured during the four-day program. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.mu.edu/environment/iwa-page.htm.
 
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Wetlands
 
Izaak Walton League of America National Conference
May 16-18
Orlando, Florida
Topics include: wetland education, restoration, conservation, and international issues. To get on the mailing list for the conference, contact: awm@iwla.org or call (800) BUG-IWLA (284-4952)
 
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