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NRCS This Week

Friday, August 31, 2001 Washington, DC.

"In the end, we conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught."

–- Baba Dioum, Senegalese ecologist.

Focus on the Field
California: Sustainable Vineyards: Vintage EQIP
Nebraska: EQIP Equals Water Quality plus Improved Grazing

National
NRCS Employees Chosen for Leadership Program

Word from Washington
NRCS Professional Black Employees to Meet

Tech Tip
New Info on Land Capacity Versus Manure Volume

Accolades
Federal Women’s Program Honors NRCS Employees
Locally Led Leadership Award to Michigan Districts
Maryland: NRCS District Conservationist Honored
Sites to See
National Drought Mitigation Center State Reports
Actor Morgan Freeman Narrates Public Service Announcements for NRCS
NRCS Legislative Summaries
U.S. Drought Monitor
AGRICOLA: USDA's AGRICultural Online Access
National Association of Conservation Districts e-Notes
Web-agri, the Smart Farming Search Engine
 
Conference & Training Connection!
See the August 31 "Conference & Training Connection" for an updated, alphabetical-by-subject list and a chronological list of upcoming events.

FOCUS ON THE FIELD

Sustainable Vineyards: Vintage EQIP - U.S. Representatives Sam Farr and Lois Capps were able to see successful sustainable agriculture practices firsthand at the Chalk Knoll, Jekel, and Paraiso Springs vineyards at this year's second annual vineyard tour hosted by the Central Coast vineyard team. Through an NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program education grant, the team is educating growers to promote sustainable vineyard practices. This aim is achieved through a "positive points" method, consisting of tailgate meetings and forums, a newsletter, and a website. Through their "positive points" method, the team educates growers on the application of NRCS conservation practices and the locally led conservation process in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties. Your contact is Margy Lindquist, NRCS district conservationist, at 805-434-0396, ext. 3.

Back to Top

EQIP Equals Water Quality plus Improved Grazing - Pawnee County, Nebraska, cattle rancher Rod Christen wanted to improve the way he was grazing his cattle, but lack of sufficient water to graze his livestock was holding him back. Rod was determined, and soon learned that his ranch could qualify for the Turkey Creek Watershed Project - an EQIP priority area in Pawnee and Johnson Counties. Christen became interested in getting a dam built on his property, so NRCS Soil Conservation Technician Gregg Grummert in the Pawnee field office helped Rod design a structure not just for flood control, but also as a water source for his cattle. In order to protect water quality, the cattle are not allowed to drink directly from the ponds behind the dams but from tanks fed by pipelines and hydrants instead. Cost share for installing the hydrants, pipeline and dam was provided through EQIP. "EQIP is what's made my operation possible. We couldn't have afforded it otherwise. Now I can pass this ranch on to the next generation with all the resources we started with and more," Christen said. Your contact is Joanna Pope, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 402-443-3463.

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NATIONAL

NRCS Employees Chosen for Leadership Program - The NRCS Northern Plains Leadership Team selected seven employees for the 2002 class of the Northern Plains Regional Leadership Development Program. The program provides a competitive opportunity for GS-11 and GS-12 employees to increase their potential for leadership within the agency. With their State conservationists, class members will develop a 12-month training plan that will focus on leading people, leading change, team building, communications, problem solving, decision making and strategic planning. The Leadership Team includes the seven State conservationists and a regional conservationist. Your contact is Brad Anseth, NRCS quality management specialist, at 437-402-4088.

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WORD FRIM WASHINGTION

NRCS Professional Black Employees to Meet - The National Organization of Professional Black Natural Resources Conservation Service Employees (NOPBNRCSE) will hold its 9th Annual Training Conference, November 26-30, in Memphis, Tennessee. "Embracing Opportunities--Building a New Tomorrow" is the theme for this year's conference that will include keynote speakers and training workshops covering the Customer Service Toolkit, integrated accountability system, nutrient management, workforce planning, and disability awareness. There will also be a workshop dealing with how to connect with youth and the importance of teaching them the value of natural resource conservation. Your contacts are NOPBNRCSE planning committee co-chairs, Demitrice Boozer at 515-284-4525, or Hugh Jackson at 615-452-3838, ext. 3.

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TECH TIP

New Info on Land Capacity Versus Manure Volume - A report detailing the shift in livestock production during the last two decades has been released by NRCS. "Manure Nutrients Report Relative to the Capacity of Cropland and Pastureland to Assimilate Nutrients" takes information from the Agricultural Census of 1982 to 1997 and compares manure nutrients with the land available for application. The report indicates that the production of recoverable manure nutrients exceeds the assimilative capacity of all cropland and pastureland in some counties. The number of these counties significantly increased since 1982, indicating a need for innovative uses of manure or its off-site transport. A few copies of the report were sent to each state. The report can be accessed through the National Water Management Center homepage at http://wmc.ar.nrcs.usda.gov, or directly from the headquarters site at http://www.nhq.nrcs.usda.gov/land/pubs/manntr.html. The NHQ site has instructions for ordering additional copies.
Your contact is David C. Moffitt, NRCS water quality specialist, at 817-509-3315 or moffitt@ftw.nrcs.usda.gov.

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ACCOLADES

Federal Women’s Program Honors NRCS Employees - Pat Torres, NRCS Federal Women’s Program Manager (FWPM) for Florida and the Southeast Region and Charles Whitmore, Midwest Regional Conservationist, recently received Federal Women’s Program Awards for 2001. Two national awards are presented annually to NRCS employees who best exemplify the spirit of the Federal Women’s Program. Torres was named the outstanding FWPM 2001 Award winner and Whitmore was awarded the FWPM Unsung Hero Award 2001. Your contact is Andrew Johnson, Jr., Director, NRCS Civil Rights Division, at 301-504-2181.

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Locally Led Leadership Award to Michigan Districts - NRCS Social Sciences Institute (SSI) Director Frank Clearfield recently presented the national Locally Led Conservation award to the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts (MACD) at a train-the-trainer workshop in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Marilyn Shy, Executive Director of MACD, accepted the award on behalf of the districts who were recognized as the first National Association of Conservation Districts State-wide organization to complete and implement all nine training modules of the Institute’s "Developing Your Skills to INVOLVE COMMUNITIES in Implementing Locally Led Conservation." Since the SSI training and subsequent implementation of the locally led process, the Michigan legislature has doubled this year's allocation for the district. Your contact is Frank Clearfield, Director, NRCS Social Sciences Institute, at 336-334-7058.

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NRCS District Conservationist Honored - NRCS District Conservationist Bruce Nichols, of Worcester County, Maryland, received the Governor's Reward for Excellence in Environmental Nurturing (GREEN) Award in the Outstanding Individual category. Nichols was recognized by Maryland Governor Parris N. Glendening at the Maryland Association of Counties' annual meeting for his ability to forge partnerships between county, State, and Federal personnel. These partnerships have resulted in Worcester County cooperative projects that have restored thousands of wetland acres in the State's only oceanfront county. Maryland established the GREEN Awards to restore, create, or enhance the 60,000 wetland acres that were lost during growth and land development that began in the 1940s. Your contact is Carol Hollingsworth, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 410-757-0861, ext. 313.

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CONFERENCE & TRAINING CONNECTION

August 31, 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

 
By Subject:
 By Month:
 

Agroforestry/Forestry

Farm Management
Forestry
Geographic Information Systems
Grazing Management
Hydrology & Hydraulics
NEW! Landscape Architecture
Nutrient Management
NEW! Professional Meetings
Resource Conservation and Development
Soil Science
Water Quality
Watersheds
Wetlands
Wildlife and Natural Resource Conservation
September 2001
October 2001
NEW! November 2001
December 2001
 

Agroforestry/Forestry
 
Society of American Foresters 2001 National Convention
September 13-17, 2001
Adams Mark Hotel
Denver, Colorado
Theme: "Forestry at the Great Divide." This is the annual Society of American Foresters meeting with over 2,000 professional foresters with over 200 sessions on the issues and topics facing forestry today. Of note, there is a technical field workshop on "Trees on the Prairie - Great Plains Agroforestry" for Monday, September 17. Compare notes with leading forestry experts and incorporate latest strategies and tools into your work. More information and registration on line are available at http://www.safnet.org/calendar/natcon.htm.
TO TOP
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 http://www.southernforestscience.net/ or the USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station at (828)-257-4302.
TO TOP

Farm Management
 
American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers Annual Convention & Trade Show
November 29 - December 1
Albuquerque, New Mexico
ASFMRA is the national organization for professionals who provide management, consultation and valuation services on agricultural and rural assets. ASFMRA's Annual Meeting program focuses on current trends in the farm management, rural appraisal, and agricultural consulting industries. Many programs will include vendor sessions (presented by exhibiting company representatives) that focus on emerging technologies, new products and services, and impacts on the agricultural industry. Keynote speakers include Senator Peter Domenici and Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman. NRCS will host a double-size exhibit highlighting soil surveys and the economics of natural resources conservation. Materials on NRCS will be distributed. Additional information is available on the conference web site at http://207.174.153.155/fmeetings.htm.
TO TOP

Forestry
 
Society of American Foresters 2001 National Convention
September 13-17
Denver, Colorado - Adams Mark Hotel
The annual Society of American Foresters meeting, "Forestry at the Great Divide" will attract over 2,000 professional foresters with over 200 sessions on the issues and topics facing forestry today. Of note, there is a technical field workshop on "Trees on the Prairie - Great Plains Agroforestry" for Monday, September 17. Compare notes with leading forestry experts and incorporate latest strategies and tools into your work. For more information and registration on-line go to the conference website at www.safnet.org/calendar/natcon.htm
TO TOP
Geographic Information Systems
 
The Fifth International Airborne Remote Sensing Conference and Exhibition
September17-20
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.
The Third International Geospatial Information in Agriculture and Forestry Conference
November 5-6
Denver, Colorado
This popular event will explore technologies to improve today's decision making, while defining future research requirements and implementation strategies. Decision makers and technology users within the agricultural and forestry communities will examine how they can work together to increase the responsiveness of geospatial information technologies to specific agricultural and forestry information needs. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.erim-int.com/CONF/ag.html.
TO TOP

Grazing Management
 
Sustainable Livestock Production Workshop
October 15-17
Clarion Inn, Fayetteville, Arkansas
The workshop is for people who have attended a grazing workshop or have had experience with controlled grazing. The emphasis is on a systems approach to grazing management, and is designed to help producers fine-tune their farm management program. The workshop will include information on grazing various species of livestock and grazing. The registration fee of $95 covers most meals and transportation to the host farm. The fee is due Sept. 1. The Natural Resources Conservation Service and the National Center for Appropriate Technology co-sponsor. For more information, e-mail Ron Morrow at ronm@ncatark.uark.edu, or call 1-800-346-9140.

Hydrology & Hydraulics
 
Joint Workshop for NRCS-ARS-CREES Hydraulic Engineers
November 26-30, 2001
Tucson, Arizona
This workshop is primarily for NRCS State specialists and their peers in ARS, CREES, and Universities to determine current and emerging issues in the fields of hydrology and hydraulics that need to be addressed and to develop partnerships among the attendants to address these needs. For more information, contact Jon Werner, NRCS National Hydraulic Specialist, on 202-720-0772.
TO TOP

Landscape Architecture
 
NEW! The Working Landscape Conference
November 8-9
Delavan, Wisconsin - Lake Lawn Resort
The conference will examine and promote land-based economic activity that sustains families, communities and watershed integrity, while also providing multiple benefits to society and help define the "working landscape" concept, including the meaning of "sustainable agriculture," from perspectives such as "watershed-wide management," as foundations for evaluating land-use diversity, ecosystem impacts, stakeholder needs, and sustainability of landscapes. The conference is designed to address the concerned public regarding policies and practices affecting the economics and ecological integrity of the working landscape. It will bring all appropriate sectors together, especially those that traditionally do not have adequate interaction, in order to simultaneously engage social, economic, and environmental theories, practices and paradigmatic shifts, and multi-cultural experiences that will encourage innovative thinking.
For more information, contact David Carvey at 608-224-3009 or dcarvey@mw.nrcs.usda.gov or visit the conference web site: at www.workinglandscapes.org.

TO TOP

Nutrient Management
 
Sustainable Livestock Production Workshop
October 15-17
Fayetteville, North Carolina - Clarion Inn
NRCS and the National Center for Appropriate Technology are co-sponsoring a workshop for those who have attended a grazing workshop or have had experience with controlled grazing. The emphasis is on a systems approach to grazing management, and is designed to help producers fine-tune their farm management program. The workshop will include information on grazing various species of livestock and multispecies grazing. The registration fee, due September 1, covers most meals and transportation to the JB Salers farm, the host farm. For more information, contact Ron Morrow at 1-800-346-9140 or ronm@ncatark.uark.edul.

TO TOP
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.
TO TOP

Professional Meetings
 
NEW! National Organization of Professional Black Natural Resources Conservation Service Employees (NOPBNRCSE) 9th Annual Training Conference
November 26-30
Memphis, Tennessee
The theme for this year's NOPBNRCSE's annual training conference will be "Embracing Opportunities--Building a New Tomorrow" that will include keynote speakers and training workshops covering the Customer Service Toolkit, integrated accountability system, nutrient management, workforce planning, disability awareness, and a workshop dealing with how to connect with youth and the importance of teaching them the value of natural resource conservation. Your contacts are NOPBNRCSE planning committee co-chairs, Demitrice Boozer at 515-284-4525 or Hugh Jackson at 615-452-3838, ext. 3.
TO TOP

Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D)
 
RC&D Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting
September 20-22
Solomons, Maryland
By working together on local RC&D Councils; communities, all levels of government, and grassroots organizations work together to develop and implement solutions to widespread problems. For more information, contact Dave Wilson at 410-822-9300.
TO TOP

Soil Science
 
NEW! Carbon Storage in Oklahoma Soils
October 30-31
El Reno, Oklahoma - Redlands Community College
The All-Oklahoma Chapter of Soil and Water Conservation Society and the Oklahoma Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils are jointly sponsoring this conference to provide awareness and information to agriculture producers, industry, and legislatures. Several renowned authorities will be making presentations along with a tour of carbon sequestration research at the Grazinglands Research Laboratory at historic Fort Reno. For more information, contact Larry Wright, Great Plains RC&D, at 580-832-3661.
TO TOP
Water Quality
 
2001 Groundwater Foundation Annual Conference
November 14-16
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Pittsburgh Hilton and Towers
This year's theme is "Technologies Communities Can Use to Protect Their Drinking Water." The conference is a useful event for anyone involved with education about water resources, whatever your audience. The conference will provide and opportunity for attendees to learn about successful activities undertaken in communities across the country and share what they've learned in their own communities. For more information contact Sherene Hess, Project Director, Water Resource Education Network, at 724-465-4978 or sherenehess@yourinter.net or visit the conference website at http://pa.lwv.org/wren/.
TO TOP
 
World of Water Conference
Dec. 10-12
Las Vegas, Nevada
The conference will feature utility officials, engineers, consultants or other industry professionals interested in sharing their experiences in system optimization and energy management. For more information, contact Marvetta McNeel at 918-831-9500.
 TO TOP
 
Watersheds
 
Ninth National Nonpoint Source Monitoring Workshop
August 27-30
Indianapolis, Indiana - Hyatt Regency,
This workshop will bring together land managers and water quality specialists to share information on the effectiveness of best management practices in improving water quality, effective monitoring techniques, and statistical analysis of watershed data. The workshop will focus on the successes of Section 319 National Monitoring Program projects and other innovative projects from throughout the United States. The agenda will include three days of workshop sessions/presentations and a one-day field trip. Two half-day workshops will focus on monitoring program evaluation and GIS. Presentations will be 20 minutes, followed by 10 minutes for discussion. Poster presentations are also encouraged. Presenters will submit a paper due the date of the conference for publication by US EPA-ORD. If you have questions, contact Tammy Taylor at taylor@ctic.purdue.edu or visit www.ctic.purdue.edu/CTIC/NPSCall.html  
TO TOP
 
Wetlands
 
Training Workshop: Restoring Streams, Riparian Areas, and Floodplains in the Southwest
October 29-31
Albuquerque, New Mexico - Crown Plaza Hotel,
NRCS, the Association for State Wetland Managers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and the Little Colorado River MOM are co-sponsoring a training workshop to build State, tribal, local government, federal, and private stream, riparian, and floodplain capabilities to restore streams, riparian areas, and floodplains in the Southwest. The deadline for the call for papers is July 5, 2001. The first 20 NRCS employees to register will have their registration fees waived. To get on the registration fee waiver list, contact Floyd Wood, at 202-690-1588. For more information, visit the conference webiste at http://www.aswm.org/meeting/stream01.htm.
 TO TOP
 
Wildlife and Natural Resource Conservation
 
The Wildland-Urban Interface: Sustaining Forests in a Changing Landscape - Conference Announcement and Call for Presentations
November 5-8
University of Florida Hotel and Conference Center, Gainesville, Florida
This conference will provide current information and tools to enhance natural resource management, planning, and policy-making at the wildland-urban interface. Invited and contributed presentations will highlight four main areas related to the interface: Planning and Managing Growth, Human Dimensions, Conserving and Managing Forests for Ecological Services and Benefits, and Conserving and Managing Forests under Different Ownerships. For information on the conference program, registration, and abstract submission, check our website at conference.ifas.ufl.edu/urban/ or contact Susan Vince at (352) 846-0886 or svince@ufl.edu.
TO TOP
 
 
DATE ORDER LISTING
September 2001
 
Society of American Foresters 2001 National Convention
September 13-17, 2001
Adams Mark Hotel
Denver, Colorado
Theme: "Forestry at the Great Divide." This is the annual Society of American Foresters meeting with over 2,000 professional foresters with over 200 sessions on the issues and topics facing forestry today. Of note, there is a technical field workshop on "Trees on the Prairie - Great Plains Agroforestry" for Monday, September 17. Compare notes with leading forestry experts and incorporate latest strategies and tools into your work. More information and registration on line are available at http://www.safnet.org/calendar/natcon.htm.
The 5th International Airborne Remote Sensing Conference and Exhibition
September 17-20
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.
TO TOP

RC&D Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting
September 20-22
Solomons, Maryland
By working together on local RC&D Councils; communities, all levels of government, and grassroots organizations work together to develop and implement solutions to widespread problems. For more information, contact Dave Wilson at 410-822-9300.
TO TOP
October 2001
 
Regional Agroforestry Conference
October 2-4
Binghamton, New York - Best Western Inn
The Hudson Mohawk, Central New York, Mid State (Pennsylvania) RC&D councils; Cornell University Department of Natural Resources; and Penn State University are combining efforts to present a three day agroforestry/carbon sequestration conference this fall. The conference will feature more than 25 workshops offered concurrently on topics related to agroforestry and carbon sequestration, including Woodland Ginseng Production, Medicinal Plants, Woodland Mushrooms, Marketing Forest Products, Starting a Native Plant Nursery, Decorative Florals, Honey from Forests and Northeast Forestland carbon and many more. The conference will also offer a tour to Cornell University's Arnot Forest to view Agroforestry test plots containing ginseng, goldenseal, mushrooms and ornamentals. For more information, contact Mark Grennan at 518-828-4385 extension 105.

TO TOP

The 2nd International Nitrogen Conference (N2001), "Optimizing Nitrogen Management in Food and Energy Production and Environmental Protection"
October 14-18
Bolger Conference Center, in Potomac, Maryland
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.
TO TOP

Sustainable Livestock Production Workshop
October 15-17
Clarion Inn, Fayetteville, Arkansas
The workshop is for people who have attended a grazing workshop or have had experience with controlled grazing. The emphasis is on a systems approach to grazing management, and is designed to help producers fine-tune their farm management program. The workshop will include information on grazing various species of livestock and grazing. The registration fee of $95 covers most meals and transportation to the host farm. The fee is due Sept. 1. The Natural Resources Conservation Service and the National Center for Appropriate Technology co-sponsor. For more information, e-mail Ron Morrow at ronm@ncatark.uark.edu, or call 1-800-346-9140.
TO TOP

Training Workshop: Restoring Streams, Riparian Areas, and Floodplains in the Southwest
October 29-31
Albuquerque, New Mexico - Crown Plaza Hotel,
NRCS, the Association for State Wetland Managers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and the Little Colorado River MOM are co-sponsoring a training workshop to build State, tribal, local government, federal, and private stream, riparian, and floodplain capabilities to restore streams, riparian areas, and floodplains in the Southwest. To get on the registration fee waiver list, contact Floyd Wood, at 202-690-1588. For more information, visit the conference webiste at http://www.aswm.org/meeting/stream01.htm.

TO TOP
Carbon Storage in Oklahoma Soils
October 30-31
El Reno, Oklahoma - Redlands Community College
The All-Oklahoma Chapter of Soil and Water Conservation Society and the Oklahoma Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils are jointly sponsoring this conference to provide awareness and information to agriculture producers, industry, and legislatures. Several renowned authorities will be making presentations along with a tour of carbon sequestration research at the Grazinglands Research Laboratory at historic Fort Reno. For more information, contact Larry Wright, Great Plains RC&D, at 580-832-3661.

TO TOP
November 2001
 
The Wildland-Urban Interface: Sustaining Forests in a Changing Landscape
November 5-8
University of Florida Hotel and Conference Center, Gainesville, Florida
This conference will provide current information and tools to enhance natural resource management, planning, and policy-making at the wildland-urban interface. Invited and contributed presentations will highlight four main areas related to the interface: planning and managing growth, human dimensions, conserving and managing forests for ecological services and benefits, and conserving and managing forests under different ownership. For more information, visit the conference website at conference.ifas.ufl.edu/urban/ or contact Susan Vince, at 352-846-0886 or svince@ufl.edu.
TO TOP

NEW! The Working Landscape Conference
November 8-9
Delavan, Wisconsin - Lake Lawn Resort
The conference will examine and promote land-based economic activity that sustains families, communities and watershed integrity, while also providing multiple benefits to society and help define the "working landscape" concept, including the meaning of "sustainable agriculture," from perspectives such as "watershed-wide management," as foundations for evaluating land-use diversity, ecosystem impacts, stakeholder needs, and sustainability of landscapes. The conference is designed to address the concerned public regarding policies and practices affecting the economics and ecological integrity of the working landscape. It will bring all appropriate sectors together, especially those that traditionally do not have adequate interaction, in order to simultaneously engage social, economic, and environmental theories, practices and paradigmatic shifts, and multi-cultural experiences that will encourage innovative thinking.
For more information, contact David Carvey at 608-224-3009 or dcarvey@mw.nrcs.usda.gov or visit the conference web site: at www.workinglandscapes.org.
TO TOP

2001 Groundwater Foundation Annual Conference
November 14-16
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Pittsburgh Hilton and Towers
This year's theme is "Technologies Communities Can Use to Protect Their Drinking Water." The conference is a useful event for anyone involved with education about water resources, whatever your audience. The conference will provide and opportunity for attendees to learn about successful activities undertaken in communities across the country and share what they've learned in their own communities. For more information contact Sherene Hess, Project Director, Water Resource Education Network, at 724-465-4978 or sherenehess@yourinter.net or visit the conference website at http://pa.lwv.org/wren/.
TO TOP

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 http://www.southernforestscience.net/ or the USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station at (828)-257-4302.
TO TOP
NEW! National Organization of Professional Black Natural Resources Conservation Service Employees (NOPBNRCSE) 9th Annual Training Conference
November 26-30
Memphis, Tennessee
The theme for this year's NOPBNRCSE's annual training conference will be "Embracing Opportunities--Building a New Tomorrow" that will include keynote speakers and training workshops covering the Customer Service Toolkit, integrated accountability system, nutrient management, workforce planning, disability awareness, and a workshop dealing with how to connect with youth and the importance of teaching them the value of natural resource conservation.
Your contacts are NOPBNRCSE planning committee co-chairs, Demitrice Boozer at 515-284-4525 or Hugh Jackson at 615-452-3838, ext. 3.
TO TOP
Joint Workshop for NRCS-ARS-CREES Hydraulic Engineers
November 26-30
Tucson, Arizona
This workshop is primarily for NRCS State specialists and their peers in ARS, CREES, and Universities to determine current and emerging issues in the fields of hydrology and hydraulics that need to be addressed and to develop partnerships among the attendants to address these needs. For more information, contact Jon Werner, NRCS National Hydraulic Specialist, on 202-720-0772
TO TOP
American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers Annual Convention & Trade Show
November 29 - December 1
Albuquerque, New Mexico
ASFMRA is the national organization for professionals who provide management, consultation and valuation services on agricultural and rural assets. ASFMRA's Annual Meeting will focus on current trends in the farm management, rural appraisal, and agricultural consulting industries. Many programs will include vendor sessions (presented by exhibiting company representatives) on emerging technologies, new products and services, and impacts on the agricultural industry. Keynote speakers will include Senator Peter Domenici and Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman. NRCS will host a double-size exhibit highlighting soil surveys and the economics of natural resources conservation. Materials on NRCS programs will be distributed. Additional information is available on the conference web site at http://207.174.153.155/fmeetings.htm.
TO TOP
December 2001
 
World of Water Conference
Dec. 10-12
Las Vegas, Nevada
The conference will feature utility officials, engineers, consultants or other industry professionals interested in sharing their experiences in system optimization and energy management. For more information, contact Marvetta McNeel at 918-831-9500.
TO TOP

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