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Sandia Peak in Albuquerque, New Mexico (NRCS photo by Ken Scheffe -- click to enlarge)NRCS This Week mast head

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

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Delaware

Project Restores Stretch of Pike Creek's Banks
(from The Wilmington News Journal)  A multi-agency project has given nature a helping hand along more than 200 yards of privately owned land bordering Pike Creek near Newark, ridding the riverbank of harmful nonnative plants and restoring wildlife habitat.
Montana

Montana's First Methane Digester
(from the Ravalli Republic) Long considered a family farm on the cutting edge of technology, the Huls dairy farm in Corvallis kept up with appearances this year by installing the State’s first methane digester.  The two, 31,000-pound tanks will generate 50 kilowatts of power continuously, creating energy from cow manure. The methane gas from that manure is the equivalent of the Hulses having a natural gas well on their property.  Not only will they be able to power their entire state-of-the-art dairy farm, they’ll be selling energy back to the grid.

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2008 Soils Planner (NRCS photo -- click to enlarge)2008 Soils Planner
The NRCS 2008 Soils Planner Soils Under the Microscope, has been distributed to State soils staffs.  While supplies last, additional copies can be ordered from 1-888-LANDCARE. 

For the past several years, the NRCS Soils Division has produced educational soils planners that highlight some aspect of the study of soils for use by students, teachers, and soil science professionals.
 

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Deputy Chief for Soil Survey and Resource Assessment William Puckett (NRCS photo -- click to enlarge)William Puckett Reassigned
Deputy Chief for Soil Survey and Resource Assessment William Puckett has been reassigned as Deputy Chief for Science and Technology, effective January 4, 2008.

 

 

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Know SWET for CSP
By using a farmer’s self-reported cropland management practices, the Soil and Water Eligibility Tool (SWET) can measure the relative conservation effort being applied to address soil and water quality. SWET evaluates management practices based on their contribution to each soil function or water quality concern. 

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 NRCS Directives for the Week of December 30, 2007
 

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a Soil Conservation Service range examiner inspects grass-covered range in San Benito County (NRCS photo -- click to enlarge)Early Rangeland Specialist
In this September 1937 photo, a Soil Conservation Service range examiner inspects grass-covered range in San Benito County, California, to determine the effect of vegetation in controlling erosion.  The effect of grazing on range cover is studied to estimate the extent that these hills can be used for pasture without accelerating soil loss (NRCS photo -- 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. 

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