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Farm Bill Listening Session Held in Hawaii
USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Merlyn Carlson recently joined USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas Dorr to host a Farm Bill listening session in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.  Hundreds attended the event to provide valuable input to be used in laying the groundwork for the next Farm Bill.

Wilder Wetlands in Indiana
With help from NRCS, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources has completed the largest single purchase of land for wetland habitat conservation in Indiana’s history with the acquisition of the 8,000-acre Wilder property in southwest Indiana. The purchase was celebrated recently at a ceremony attended by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels.

Connect to NRCS' State News, Newsroom, and News Releases!

Watershed Assistance Authorized in Four States
USDA has authorized federal assistance for local flood control and watershed rehabilitation efforts in Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. Eligible measures include flood prevention, water conservation, recreation, agricultural water management, floodplain easements, municipal and industrial water, and rural water supply. USDA will pay 65 percent of the total cost of each project.

Get the details...
 -- NRCS news release USDA Authorizes Watershed Assistance in Four States (Nov. 8, 2005)
en Español

 -- Watershed Rehabilitation Information

 -- Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention  

2006 SARE Conference Organizers Seek Presenters
For NRCS staff who promote successful new options to improve agricultural resource management and help explore ways to either produce or conserve energy on farms, the next national SARE conference will provide a great opportunity to share your experiences. Fifth in a series of biennial SARE conferences, A Midwest Homecoming: Sharing a New Tradition of Sustainability, will be held in August 15-17, in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.

Soil Conservation and Protection in Europe
Fifty-one individuals from twenty countries including NRCS Soil Survey Division Director Micheal Golden and Soil Classification and Standards National Leader Craig Ditzler recently participated at the Soil Conservation and Protection for Europe (SCAPE) international conference held in Selfoss, Iceland.  Ditzler and Golden presented a paper titled Assessment and Monitoring of United States Soil Resources that describes how the NRCS uses the soil survey, National Resources Inventory, and conservation programs to identify resource needs for the Nation and works with landowners to achieve conservation goals.