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Friday, January 12, 2001 Washington, DC.
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"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
-- from Strength to Love by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., (1929-1968) American civil rights leader
- Focus on the Field
- Arizona: Southwest Strategy Coordinates Historical Tribal/Federal Effort
- Arkansas: Phase I of Large-Scale Irrigation Project Completed
- Nebraska: Environmental Festival A Hit
- New York: Plant Materials Workshop Held for Native American Nations
Awards and Accolades
- Alabama NRCS Employees Honored at Tuskegee University
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- What's Up in Washington
- USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum 2001
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- Tech Tips
- Invasive Plant Species
USDA/NRCS 'NetNewsLinks:
- NRCS National Water and Climate Center Snow-Precipitation Update for the West
- NRCS Legislative Summaries
Also on the 'Net:
- AGRICOLA: USDA's AGRICultural Online Access
- e-Notes from NACD: Weekly news briefs from the National Association of Conservation Districts: http://www.nacdnet.org/eNotes/.
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- Conference & Training Connection!
- See the alphabetical-by-subject list of upcoming events. See NEW! listings under Farmland Protection, Watersheds, and Range Management.
FOCUS ON THE FIELD
Southwest Strategy Coordinates Historical Tribal/Federal Effort -
The Southwest Strategy partnership, consisting of the Departments of Agriculture, Interior, and Defense, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Arizona and New Mexico's governors' offices and tribal representatives, recently conducted an interdepartmental Tribal/Federal Relations training session hosted by the White Mountain Apache Tribe in Arizona. The Southwest Strategy partnership, which sponsored the 4-day event, was created to protect and conserve the cultural and natural integrity of Arizona and New Mexico. The session brought together Federal government officials and tribal leaders in order to gain a better understanding of each other and develop tools to foster productive working relationships in the Southwest. Your contact is Gerry Gonzalez, NRCS Southwest Strategy Coordinator, at 602-280-8777.
Phase I of Large-Scale Irrigation Project Completed -
The first phase of a joint-effort irrigation project among the NRCS, Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Ducks Unlimited, and Pope and Conway counties' Conservation Districts was recently dedicated at the Point Remove Wildlife Management Area near Blackwell, Arkansas. The project will help farmers irrigate more than 12,000 acres of cropland and enhance 6,000 acres of wetland habitat. The first phase of the project consisted of building a flume from the Arkansas River. The second phase involves getting the water to the farmlands. Participants estimate that, once completed, the project could greatly increase crop yields. Your contact is Creston Shrum, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, 501-301-3168.
Environmental Festival A Hit - More than 350 fourth grade students and teachers from area schools attended this year's seventh annual Environmental Festival held in Ord, Nebraska. The theme for the event was "The Many Uses of Water" and featured activities led by NRCS employees where the students learned about different types of irrigation systems while watching a working model of canal, furrow, and sprinkler irrigation systems. Students also learned about aquifers, groundwater pollution, and the journey of a water drop through the water cycle. Other agencies participating at the festival included the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, Lower Loup Natural Resources District, Farm Service Agency, Bureau of Reclamation, North and Middle Loup Irrigation Districts, and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Your contact is Bev Smedra, Ord Natural Resource Conservation District Secretary, at 308-728-3781, ext. 101.
Plant Materials Workshop Held for Native American Nations -
The Big Flats Plant Materials Center (PMC) and New York Sea Grant hosted a plant materials workshop for Native American Nations at the PMC. Indian Nations from throughout New York State learned more about the Plant Materials Program, the New York Sea Grant Program, and the American Indian Agriculture Program at Cornell University. The participants toured the PMC, which highlighted conservation plants and field projects. After the tour, the group worked with sweetgrass, which is a culturally significant plant for Native Americans. Everyone had a hands-on experience of separating sweetgrass and potting up the plant divisions. They were then able to take these plants back to their tribal lands to establish propagation nurseries. For more information, contact Martin van der Grinten, NRCS Big Flats Plant Materials Center, at 607-562-8404 or martin.vandergrinten@ny.usda.gov
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
Alabama NRCS Employees Honored at Tuskegee University - NRCS employees and partners were recently recognized for their accomplishments in assisting small farmers and helping build rural communities to improve the economic conditions and quality of life throughout Alabama. Miles Robinson of the Alabama Small Farm Rural Economic Development Center at Tuskegee University recently presented awards to NRCS employees Elijah Moore, Winfred Andrews, and Grant Maddox; RC&D Coordinators Mike Cornett and Roland Perry; and Miles Robinson, from Tuskegee University. Your contact is Joan Love Smith, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, at 334-887-4530.
WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON
USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum 2001 -
USDA's Agricultural Outlook Forum 2001 will take place February 22-23 in Arlington, Virginia. The Department has held yearly outlook meetings since 1923 to help farmers and others plan for the year ahead. This year's program will highlight prospects for agricultural and trade policies, as well as the farm and commodity outlook for 2001 and beyond. Attendees will receive a set of new long-term commodity projections, planned for release at the Forum. Program information is posted on the Forum home page at http://www.usda.gov/oce/waob/agforum.htm. Your contact is Ted Kupelian, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, at 202-720-5776.
TECH TIPS
Invasive Plant Species -
Invasive species should be a key factor in resource management and conservation planning. When providing technical assistance to our customers, we must consider both the harmful effects an introduced species may have on an ecosystem. Among these, we must evaluate the degree of potential invasiveness of a plant or animal.
Both native and exotic invasive species can out-compete and displace many non-invasive, desirable species. With such a strong competitive advantage, combined with few economic benefits associated with an invasive species, it becomes imperative that we carefully screen all species for invasiveness before recommending them for use in conservation practices. In addition, once a species has actually become invasive, we must take measures to recommending control and, where appropriate, eradication.
If you are uncertain about the invasive characteristics of a particular species, there are information sources at the agency, county, and State level. For example, many counties and States have weed boards/councils. These groups often compile lists of State or local noxious or invasive plants that will help you with their identification. NRCS's Plant Materials Centers' specialists routinely evaluate plants before they are incorporated into the agency's Field Office Technical Guide recommendation lists. They also develop or select plants that will satisfy agronomic and conservation needs without becoming invasive themselves. Other sources of information include the National Plant Data Center website that lists thousands of plants and has a section devoted to invasive species at http://plants.usda.gov or the Plant Materials website that contains an abundance of technical information on many plants at http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov.
Your contact is Beth Sauerhaft, NRCS Ecological Sciences Division, at beth.sauerhaft@usda.gov.
CONFERENCE & TRAINING CONNECTION
January 12, 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
- Air Quality
- Coastal Zone Management
- NEW! Farmland Protection
- Forestry
Geographic Information Systems
- Global Climate Change
Grazing Land & Grassland
- Invasive Plant Species
- Irrigation Management
- Locally Led Conservation
- Mining & the Environment
- Nutrient Management
Partnerships
- NEW! Range Management
- Rural History
- Soil Science/Erosion Control
- Water Quality
- NEW! Watersheds
- Wetlands
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AFO/CAFO
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- 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
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- 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/.
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Agricultural Engineering
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- American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE) 2001 Annual Meeting
- July 29-August 1
- Sacramento Convention Center, Sacramento, California
- The ASAE annual meeting will provide and opportunity for attendees to interact with engineering professionals worldwide, share ideas, techniques, and research with peers, and promote the profession of agricultural, food and biological engineering. For more information visit the conference website at http://www.asae.org/meetings/am2001/cfp-2001.pdf or contact William Hughey, NRCS National Agricultural Engineer, at 202-720-5023.
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Agricultural Outlook/Policy
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- Agricultural Outlook Forum 2001
- February 22-23
- Arlington, Virginia, Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture will hold its Agricultural Outlook Forum 2001 to provide timely forecasts of farm prospects and insight on developments affecting the farm economy. Speakers will include top government officials, industry analysts, farmers, business leaders and academic experts. USDA plans to release a new set of long-term commodity projections at the forum. For more information visit the conference website at http://www.usda.gov/oce/waob/agforum.htm.
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Agroforestry/Forestry
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- Forest Utilization Conference
- May 1-3
- Wagoner OK
- The Ouachita Mountains Resource Conservation and Development, Inc. will sponsor its 6th annual Forest Utilization Conference and Equipment Exposition at the Western Hills Guest Resort in Sequoyah State Park on the shores of Lake Fort Gibson. For information, contact Gary Garman, Coordinator for Ouachita Mountains RC&D Council, at (918)-423-2479, fax 918-423-0793, email omrcandd@icok.net or visit the web site http://www.icok.net/~omrcandd
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- 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 www.southernforestscience.net or the USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station at (828)-257-4302.
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Air Quality
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- Future Directions in Air Quality Research
- February 12-15
- Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
- Conference topics will focus on ecological, atmospheric, regulatory/policy and educational issues. The conference is sponsored by the Air Resources Research Consortium. For more information contact Sherrie Knott at (919) 515-2261 or visit the conference website at http://www2.ncsu.edu/cpe/airqualconf.html
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Coastal Zone Management
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- Coastal Zone 01
- July 15-19
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Coastal Zone 01 will feature important lessons learned by coastal managers around the world and models of successful partnerships, such as that established in the Great Lakes, where two sovereign nations jointly manage water and living resources of this great "inland sea." Cleveland offers an outstanding opportunity to examine how local and regional issues are connected to worldwide influences of culture and commerce, climate and biology. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.csc.noaa.gov/cz2001/conference.html.
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Farmland Protection
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- NEW! The Capital District Regional Farmland Protection Conference
- January 24
- Albany, New York - Italian American Center
- The conference will be of special interest to county and municipal officials, farmers, land owners, conservationists and economic development promoters within the Hudson Mohawk RC&D region. For more information, contact Mark Grennan, Hudson-Mohawk RC&D Council, 518-828-4385 ext. 105.
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- Forestry
- Forest Stewardship: Now That the Fires are Out... Lessons from the 2000 Fire Season"
- March 26-27
- Moscow, Idaho, University Inn - Best Western
- The Clearwater Resource Conservation & Development Council will sponsor its eleventh annual two-day conference aimed at the non-industrial private forest (NIPF) landowner. Four main sessions will include Passing the Torch: What Will Be your Legacy? Fire Season 2000: Nature's Legacy, After the Fire: Management Implications, Forest Certification: Why Should I Certify? A number of vendors and organizations will display. For more information, contact Dan Pierce, RC&D Coordinator, at 208-882-4960 ext. 110 or Harry Lee, at 208-885-6900 or crcdc@moscow.com.
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- Geographic Information Systems
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- 2001 Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA) Annual Conference XXIV
- March 4 - 7
- San Diego Convention Center
- San Diego, California
- GITA's Annual Conference and Exhibition is the premier educational event for professionals involved in geospatial information technologies, including automated mapping/facilities management (AM/FM), geographic information systems (GIS), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), and related technologies. Conference XXIV will provide attendees with better ways to plan, design, manage, and maintain information technology systems and operations. . For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.gita.org/events/01xxiv_open2.html.
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2001 American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Annual Conference
- April 23-27
- America's Center / Adams Mark Hotel
- St. Louis, MO
- The 2001 ASPRS Conference and Technology Exhibition will highlight capabilities and technologies needed for you to succeed as we enter an era where decisions are increasingly based on geographic data. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.asprs.org/stl01/.
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The Fifth International Airborne Remote Sensing Conference and Exhibition
- 17-20 September
- 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.
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- Global Climate Change
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- The GW XII Global Warming International Conference and Expo
- April 8-11
- Cambridge, United Kingdom
- The GW XII Global Warming International Conference and Expo will provide an international review of progress towards Kyoto Protocol Targets by all nations in all relevant sectors, and to present the most current science and policy activities on global warming, sustainable environment and health on five continents. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www2.msstate.edu/~krreddy/glowar/gw12c.html.
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- Grazing Land & Grassland
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- Grassland Ecosystems: An Outlook into the 21st. Century
- February 10-21
- São Pedro State of Sao Paulo Brazil
- The International Grassland Congress will be focusing on grassland ecosystems, and the program has been designed to bring an updated broad view on current knowledge and available technology to improve different animal production systems under pasture conditions. For more information, write to the XIX International Grassland Congress; ESALQ; Av.; Padua Dias; 11; 13418-900 Piracicaba, SP Brasil or e-mail igc2001@esalq.usp.br or visit the conference website at http://www.igc2001-brazil.org.br/segunda2.htm.
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- Great Lakes International Grazing Conference
- February 12-13
- Shipshewana, Indiana - Shipshewana Antique Auction Barn
- This conferencewill have concurrentsessions for dairy, beef, sheep and a session on animal behavior. Other sessions will be conducted on soil health, riparian grazing, carbon sequestration, grass silage and phosphorus supplementation and the environment. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.msue.msu.edu/jackson/GLGC.htm or call 219-463-3471.
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- Invasive Plant Species
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- Plants out of Place: Invasive Plant Conference for the Upper Midwest
- March 1-2
- Eau Claire, Wisconsin - Ramada Inn -
- Plants out of Place: Invasive Plant Conference is the first confernce of its kind for the Upper Midwest. The conference will provide an opprtunity to share current information and methods for dealing with invasive plants in forests, grasslands, and wetlands in the Upper Midwest, as well as participate in the organizational meeting for the Wisconsin Invasive Plant Council. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.plantsoutofplace.org or call 715-834-9672 or 608)-67-5066.
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- Irrigation Management
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- Central Plains Irrigation Short Course & Equipment Exposition
- February 5-6
- Kearney, Nebraska, Holiday Inn.
- Topics for technical sessions include sprinkler irrigation uniformity, limited water & conservation, water quality, subsurface drip irrigation, precision agrculture, wter mnagement to cnserve energy, surface irrigation, and irrigation with degreaded water. The General Session will include presentations on cooperative agreement update, republican river update, and water marketing in Nebraska. For more information, visit the confernce website at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/sdi/REvents/cpia.html.
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- Locally Led Conservation
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- National Conference on Locally Led Conservation Efforts
- June 3-5
- Nebraska City, Nebraska, Lied Conference Center on the Arbor Day Farm
- NRCS, the National Arbor Day Foundation, and the National Association of Conservation Districts will sponsor a national forum for individuals and groups to share lessons learned about locally led or locally driven conservation efforts and to stimulate the advances of this "bottom up" approach to natural resource management.
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- Program focus: Locally led or locally driven conservation is an effort to empower citizens a community to work effectively to assess the health of their land and to address collectively their conservation priorities using the programmatic tools and resources available from Federal, State, and local governments, as well as private sources. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.arborday.org/programs/conferences.html
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- Mining & the Environment
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- Conference on Tailings and Mine Waste
- January 15-18
- Fort Collins, Colorado
- A forum for members of the mining community, engineers, and scientists concerned with environmental issues related to tailings and mine waste management. Abstracts due by June 2. To submit an abstract or for more information, contact Linda Hinshaw, Department of Civil Engineering, Colorado State Univeristy, (970) 491-6081, or at lhinshaw@engr.colostate.edu
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- Nutrient Management
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- 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.
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- Partnerships
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- Farmer Cooperatives Convention 2001
- January 14-17
- San Diego, California San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina
- The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives annual convention will include meetings and workshops designed to update and inform attendees on developments affecting their businesses. For more information, contact Tom Van Arsdall at 202-879-0821.
- 2001 National Association of Conservation Districts' Annual Meeting
- February 4-8
- Fort Worth, Texas
- For more information about the meeting, contact Robert Raschke on 303-988-1810 or visit the conference website at http://www.nacdnet.org/meetings/01annual/program.html.
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- Range Management
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- NEW! 2001 Cattle Industry Annual Convention and Trade Show
- Jan 31- Feb. 4, 2001
- San Antonio, Texas
- A Joint Meeting of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Cattlemen's Beef Promotion & Research Board, American National CattleWomen, Inc., Cattle-Fax, and National Cattlemen's Foundation. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.beef.org/groups/meetings/convention.htm.
The Society for Range Management 54th Annual Meeting - 2001: A Range Odyssey
- February 17-23
- Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
- Land managers, scientists, educators, students, producers and conservationists are invited to particpate in a professional program of posters, trade show, technical presentations, and six symposia. Symposia topics which have been accepted include: the role of fire in ecological restoration; ecosystem simplification (or why a patchwork quilt is more valuable than a burlap sack); noxious weeds - a global rangeland crisis; land restoration sucess and sustainability; the ecology and management of sage grouse populations; and many more. For more infomration, visit the conference website at http://www.casrm.org/Hawaii.shtml.
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- Rural History
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- Water and Rural History Symposium
- May 31 - June 2
- Reno, Nevada, University of Nevada at Reno (UNR) College of Agriculture
- The Agricultural History Society, NRCS, University of Nevada at Reno (UNR) College of Agriculture, and UNR Department of History will hold a Water and Rural History Symposium,. Housing is available at the University Inn on the UNR campus. In addition to the presentations, the symposium will include a one-day field tour focusing on history and water issues in Nevada. For registration information, please contact Professor William D. Rowley, History Department (308), University of Nevada, Reno NV 89557 (Telephone 775-784-6852) or by e-mail at rowley@scs.unr.edu.
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- Soil Science/Erosion Control
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- No-Till On The Plains 2001
- January 22-23
- Salina, Kansas, Bicentennial Center
- This popular well-attended conference gives those interested in no-tilling plenty of opportunity to visit farmer-to-farmer as well as hear presentations by nationally known speakers, farmers, and industry representatives. Exhibitors will be on hand in the exhibit space. Featured speakers will be Dwayne Beck, Dakota Lakes Research Farm, Pierre, South Dakota and Dean A. Martens, Ag Research Service, Tucson, Arizona. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.residue.org/ or call 1-800-484-2995.
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- International Erosion Control Association's (IECA) 32nd Annual Conference and Expo
- February 5-9
- Las Vegas, Nevada, Rio Suite Hotel and Convention Center
- IECA's Annual Conference and Expo is open to all erosion and sediment control professionals and suppliers. This event features five days of learning, including day-long training courses, half-day workshops, field tours and technical paper presentations. Topics of interest will appeal to contractors, landscape architects, civil engineers, public works and regulatory professionals, consultants, developers, mining and ski industry representatives. For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.ieca.org/index_conference.html.
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- The 24th Annual Southern Conservation Tillage Conference
- July 9-11
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
- The conference will provide federal and non-federal scientists, educators, consultants, and farmers from the Southern Region the opportunity to present and discuss recent, research accomplishments in conservation tillage. Deadline for title/summaries is Jan. 15, 2001. For more information visit the website at http://www.agr.okstate.edu/SCTC or contact Jim Stiegler at 405-744-6421 or jhs@mail.pss.okstate.edu.
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- Water Quality
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- 7th Federal Interagency Sedimentation Conference
- March 25-29
- Reno, Nevada
- Will provide Federal and non-Federal scientists and managers from various disciplines the opportunity to discuss recent accomplishments and progress in research and on technical developments in the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of sedimentation. Scheduled are tours, exhibitions, and presentations of papers. For more information about the conference, visit the website at http://water.usgs.gov/wicp/SED7FISC_crf.html
- Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) 2001 Annual Conference
- August 4-8
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Kingston Plantation
- For more information visit the confernce website at http://www.swcs.org/f_what_calendar.htm
- The deadline for Call for Papers is December 1, 2000. For more information visit the conference website or contact Charlie Persinger, Director of Member Services, SWCS, at 515-289-2331, ext 12 or charliep@swcs.org.
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