United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Go to Accessibility Information
Skip to Page Content





winter sunsetNRCS This Week mast head

The Natural Resources Conservation Service — Helping People Help the Land.

 Subscribe to NRCS This Week | NRCS This Week Articles Index | NRCS This Week Archives | Contact Us | Where to Get Information | eNotes from NACD | Adobe Acrobat Document TSP Express (Requires Adobe Acrobat.)

focus on the field header bar
California

America’s day begins on Guam! Hawaii and the Pacific Basin Area have been merged. This is a long way from typical farming on the mainland! America's Day Begins on Guam
Last year's reorganization of the Hawaii and  Pacific Basin areas created the Pacific Islands Area that is organized into a western and eastern area.  Guam is the center of the western portion of the newly established Pacific Islands Area.
 

Microsoft FrontPage expand to regular size logoNote: when  the above story appears, drag your cursor onto the image and click on the "expand to regular size" icon that will appear in the lower right hand corner of the image.

Florida

The following two stories Requires Windows Media Player

Florida NRCS State Conservationist Niles Glasgow Windows Media Player logo Florida Working Up EQIP Applications

Many applications were received by the NRCS in Florida  for EQIP projects in 2007.

Windows Media Player logo Good Year for Florida NRCS

Florida State Conservationist Niles Glasgow says 2006 was a very good year for conservation efforts in the State, especially since a break in the weather allowed them to catch up on hurricane recovery efforts.

 
Minnesota

pine seedlings at the LDNR plant materials center (NRCS photo)Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Host Tour
Minnesota NRCS Area 1 staff recently got to see the good reforestation and plant materials work by the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indian’s Department of Natural Resources (RLDNR). Since 2001, the RLDNR forestry program has successfully used funding and technical assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for their reforestation efforts.

 
Nebraska

Bob Starck, volunteer with the AiKiRuti Healing Garden, shows plans of the Healing Garden to Constance Miller, NRCS State Forester NRCS Helps Plant Seeds of Hope at Healing Garden
A small seed can grow into something great. That is the symbolic idea behind the AiKiRuti Healing Garden. AiKiRuti (pronounced Ikey- ru-dee) is a project started by members of the Winnebago Tribe. AiKiRuti (which means “helping hand”) hopes to be just that in fighting substance abuse in the Winnebago Tribe and their northeast Nebraska community.

Microsoft FrontPage expand to regular size logoNote: when  the above story appears, drag your cursor onto the image and click on the "expand to regular size" icon that will appear in the lower right hand corner of the image.

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

Word from Washington header bar

"Celebrate Black History Month 2007" logoFebruary 2007 Is Black History Month
To recall and celebrate the positive contributions to our nation made by people of African descent, American historian Carter G. Woodson established Black History Week.  The first celebration occurred on Feb. 12, 1926. For many years, the second week of February was set aside for this celebration to coincide with the birthdays of Black abolitionist/editor Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.  In 1976, as part of the nation’s bicentennial, the week was expanded into Black History Month.

 

Chesapeake Bay lighthouseChesapeake Bay Conservation
NRCS provides technical assistance to farmers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to plan and apply conservation practices to improve water quality, restore wetlands, and enhance wildlife habitat. Financial assistance is provided through Farm Bill programs to help implement these practices.  For more information on conservation in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed:

Adobe Acrobat Document This item requires Adobe Acrobat — Chesapeake Bay and Agriculture Conservation Resource Brief

 

Sustainable Agriculture (SARE) header bar

demonstrations at Nebraska farms, including this one where cattle graze standing corn during the pasture's "summer slump," highlighted livestock systems that reduce feeding costs. The systems also require less labor, lessen odor, flies and dust, and minimize manure concerns. (SARE photo by Wyatt Fraas — click to enlarge)Sustainable Agriculture 101
For newcomers to NRCS and other agencies or organizations that serve farmers, SARE is serving up a free, online course in sustainable agriculture concepts and principles. The course provides a detailed introduction to sustainable agriculture and delves into what sustainable agriculture means for farmers, ranchers and communities. Perhaps most important, it explains how sustainable concepts relate to the roles of educators as they try to improve farming and ranching systems in their areas.
 

NRCS Photo Album header bar

In 1952, Montana NRCS snow surveyor Ashton Codd was busy with latest model of Merchant Calculator. (NRCS image — click to enlarge).State-of-the-Art Technology
In 1952, Montana NRCS snow surveyor Ashton Codd was busy with latest model of Merchant Calculator.  (NRCS image — click to enlarge).

NRCS This Week features a weekly historical photo and caption.  NHQ, districts, States, RC&D councils, and all other NRCS entities are invited to submit a historical photo of activities or individuals who have worked or are working for the agency along with a caption. 

NRCS directives header bar
 

NRCS Directives for the Week of January 28, 2007

General Manual

Title 130-408, NRCS Business Tools
 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.