NRCS This Week - 02/16/01

The Unspoken Message of Conservation - The South Coast Resource Conservation & Development Program's Conservation on Wheels (COW), a 34-foot motor home used as a teaching tool and mobile forum to discuss agriculture and other natural resource issues, recently made a stop in downtown Riverside, California, at the weekly Farmer's Market, where it teamed up with Riverside's Model Deaf Community Committee for an event to celebrate Deaf Awareness Week. The COW, which displayed its usual array of natural resource multimedia, was outfitted with technologies that assist deaf and hearing impaired with their day-to-day challenges. Organized by RC&D Director Ed Umbach and California State Park Ranger, Randy Solis, the event was aimed at raising public awareness of the deaf and hearing impaired and natural resources conservation. The COW attracted more than 2,000 people who attended the farmer's market. Your contact is Paul C. Laustsen, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, at 909-684-1552.

No-Till Incentive Program - Producers in northeast Nebraska now have more options available when it comes to saving soil. The No-till Incentive Program, sponsored by the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (NRD), provides an incentive payment to eligible participants. The incentive payment can help producers invest in needed equipment, make economical weed control decisions, and provide for an economic analysis of the no-till system. The distribution period for the incentive is five years -- long enough for the producer to see the long-term benefits of no-till. The No-till Incentive Program is designed not only to get producers to try no-till farming, but to give them the support they need to succeed. Lower Elkhorn NRD and NRCS employees provide on-site assistance to help producers make informed management decisions. Ninety-three cooperators have enrolled over 12,000 acres during the first two years of the program. Your contact is Dan Gillespie, NRCS Soil Conservation Technician, at 402-675-2745 ext. 3.

Organizations Pool Talents for the Environment - To better protect South Carolina's environment, the Agriculture and Natural Resources Communicators for the Environment (ANRCE), is developing a program for South Carolina Educational Television titled, "Pass It On Down: Protecting South Carolina's Special Places." The hour-long program is as part of a public awareness campaign to kick-off during Earth Day observances beginning April 20. Some of ANRCE's members include NRCS; Rural Development; National Agricultural Statistics Service; Clemson University; the South Carolina Departments of Agriculture, Natural Resources, Health and Environmental Control; and the South Carolina Forestry Commission and Farm Bureau. ANRCE will also highlight environmental issues on public radio's "Your Day" program in April to coincide with the South Carolina Department of Agriculture placement of newspaper inserts during Farm Appreciation Week. Your contact is Don Munson, ANRCE, at 864-656-4741.

Give-A-Hoot for Kids - Oscar and Barbara Scott, NRCS Earth Team Volunteers, invite inner city and urban children to their farm in Ooltewah, Tennessee, annually to learn about the environment, agriculture, conservation of natural resources, and a real working farm. During May 7-11, NRCS, the Southeast Tennessee RC&D Council, Hamilton County Soil Conservation District, and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture will partner with the Scotts to conduct the event with support from a number of local businesses and volunteers. Your contact is Lavonne Winters, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, at 615-277-2535.

NATIONAL

NRCS Animal Waste Management (AWM) Software Released - The new NRCS Animal Waste Management (AWM) computer program has been approved for installation on common computing environment machines. AWM is a planning tool used to estimate the production of waste materials within an animal feeding operation and determine the size of storage/treatment facilities. The process and calculations used in AWM are based on the USDA-NRCS Agricultural Waste Management Field Handbook. AWM will be useful to NRCS staff and others certified to design the waste storage and treatment components of a comprehensive nutrient management plan (CNMP). It may be downloaded and installed immediately. Further development of AWM will continue and feedback from users will be solicited later this spring to help set priorities for program enhancements. To download and install AWM go to http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/water/quality/common/wastemgmt/awm.html. Your contact is Don Stettler, NRCS National Water and Climate Center, at 503-414-3076.

AgrAbility Project Helps Farmers with Disabilities - Agriculture is one of the nation's most hazardous occupations. Each year many agricultural workers are injured, limiting their ability to work. The AgrAbility Project was created to assist people with disabilities employed in agriculture by linking the Cooperative, State, Research, Education and Extension Service with nonprofit disability service organizations to provide practical education and assistance. The national project is carried out cooperatively by University of Wisconsin-Extension, Cooperative Extension (UW) and Easter Seals. Although the bulk of national program resources are devoted to supporting state AgrAbility projects, information is available to all individuals and organizations through the UW, at 866-259-6280 or 800-947-3529 (TTY Relay Service) or 202-347-7385 (TTY). An AgrAbility videotape is available in standard, 1/2" VHS format in two versions, one with open and one with closed captions. A non-captioned version is available in Spanish. Your contact is Carol Maus, Easter Seals, at 202-347-3066 or 800-914-4424.

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

Buffer Artwork Wins Award - New buffer artwork appeared on the first page of the business section the Des Moines Register this week. The illustration, created to promote riparian buffers in rural areas, won an Addy Award for Best of Class for Visual and Audio Elements. Addy Awards, which present a snapshot of American advertising and culture, are sponsored by the American Advertising Federation. The artwork -- called a paper sculpture -- was developed by Pat Muchmore, CMF&Z Marketing Communications of Des Moines, and has been used for the NRCS buffer poster and cover of the revised buffer brochure. Your contact is Max Schnepf, Soil and Water Conservation Society, at 515-289-2331, ext. 15 or maxs@swcs.org.

First State RC&D Council Recognized - The First State RC&D Council has been awarded the Delaware Association of Nonprofit Agencies (DANA) Council's 2001 Achieving Nonprofit Excellence award in recognition of the council's outstanding volunteer management program. The award will be presented February 27 at a special awards luncheon during the DANA's annual conference Wilmington, Delaware. Your contact is Smith Covey, NRCS National Association of RC&D Councils Liaison, at 202-720-0658.

NRCS Video Wins Award - An NRCS video titled, "America's Working Land" has won the National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC) second place Gold Screen Ward in the public affairs category. NRCS staff who contributed to the video, which details NRCS's conservation challenges on America's private lands, were Lynn Betts, Iowa; Max Schnepf, NRCS Liaison to the Soil and Water Conservation Society; Ron Nichols (former employee), Utah; Jim Lewis and Patty Durana, National Headquarters; and Pat O'Leary, USDA. The award will be presented at the NAGC conference in Denver on March 8. Your contact is Mike Scherward, NAGC, at 202-298-8008.

WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON

Celebrate National Black History Month! - National Black History Month is celebrated during February to salute and honor the contributions that African-Americans have made in this country. This year's theme is "Creating and Defining the African-American Community: Family, Church, Politics, and Culture." In 1926, Harvard educated Dr. Carter G. Woodson began the observance to instill a sense of pride, heritage, and honor in African-Americans and to encourage other racial groups to learn more about the African-American culture. In 1976, the week-long event was expanded to the month of February to allow more time for observances. Woodson's choice of February honors two well-known civil rights leaders born during the month: Frederick Douglas (February 14) and Abraham Lincoln (February 12). Your contact is John Glover, NRCS Acting National Black Emphasis Program Manager, at 301-504-2181, or john.glover@il.usda.gov.

National Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils (NARC&DC) Announces New Officers - The NARC&DC Board of Directors elected new officers this week, announcing Joe Cantu as president to succeed Reggie Skains. Prior to his election, Joe served on the NARC&DC Executive Committee as legislative liaison. He also serves as president of both the Texas State Association of RC&D Councils and the Southwest Region of RC&D Councils and has been a member of the Alamo RC&D council since 1993. Sharon Ruggi of New York was re-elected treasurer and Keith Kessler was appointed by the board as first vice president to fill the unexpired term of Peggy Blackman. Joan Smith, first vice president of the Pac-Rim Association, was appointed co-legislative liaison of NARC&DC, serving with Donna Hunter. In other action, the board elected Sabra Kauka of Hawaii to serve as an at-large board member representing Asian, Pacific Islanders, and Alaska Natives. Mary Kapsener of Alaska will serve as alternate. Your contact is Bobbi Jeanquart, Executive Director, National Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils, at 202-434-4781

TECH TIPS

Animal Agriculture and Manure Report Released - A report on animal agriculture and manure production titled "Manure Nutrients Relative to the Capacity of Cropland and Pastureland to Assimilate Nutrients: Spatial and Temporal Trends for the U.S." was released this week by NRCS. Data from the Census of Agriculture were used to estimate livestock populations, quantities of manure produced, and land available for manure application for 1982, 1987, 1992, and 1997. The analysis examines the structure of animal agriculture over the last two decades, the shift from small and medium-sized livestock operations to large and very large operations, the increase in livestock kept in confinement, and problems associated with the use and disposal of animal wastes. The report was written by Robert Kellogg, Resource Assessment Division; Charles Lander, Ecological Sciences Division; David Moffitt National Water Management Center; and Noel Gollehon Economic Research Service. An electronic copy of the report is available at http://www.nhq.nrcs.usda.gov/land/index/publication.html. Your contact is Robert Kellogg, NRCS Natural Resources Policy Analyst, at 202-690-0341.

CONFERENCE & TRAINING CONNECTION

February 16, 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

Coastal Zone Management

Forestry
Geographic Information Systems

Global Climate Change
Grazing Land & Grassland

NEW! Invasive Plant Species

Locally Led Conservation

Nutrient Management
Partnerships

Range Management

Riparian and Floodplain Restoration

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.

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/.