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

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Alaska

Delta Producers Explore Use of Anaerobic Digesters
NRCS engineers Jeff Oatley and Brett Nelson joined West National Technology Support Center Environmental Engineer Charles Zuller in the Delta Junction area last week to visit with producers about anaerobic digester technology. The group came together at the request of district conservationist Catherine Hadley.

Florida

cow montage (NRCS photo)These items require Windows Media Player
Windows Media Player logo  USDA has awarded grants to help with grazing lands — Florida received two of them.

         GPS collars are helping to better understand the behavior of Florida's livestock.

Louisiana

NRCS Golden Meadow Plant Materials Center (NRCS photo)NRCS Golden Meadow Plant Materials Center donates trees to diverse organizations ranging from Grand Isle Port Commission to the Audubon Zoo

 

New Hampshire

Dr. Alan P. Ammann, retired New Hampshire NRCS biologist and Earth Team volunteer (NRCS photo)NRCS Earth Team Volunteer Honored
Dr. Alan P. Ammann, retired New Hampshire NRCS biologist now Earth Team volunteer, was recently awarded the prestigious 2006 National Wetlands Award for Conservation and Restoration. 

Links...
Read the Portsmouth Herald story: Boyhood Loss Launches Lifetime Crusade

Montana

(from left) Jim Stone, Jason Smith, Mark Rey, and Dave White (NRCS photo)GLCI in Montana Meets the "Challenge"
Chairman of the Blackfoot Challenge Jim Stone and Powell County weed district coordinator Jason Smith accept a Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) grant check to the Blackfoot Challenge to fund a noxious weed project.  The check was presented by USDA Undersecretary for Natural Resources and the Environment Mark Rey as Montana NRCS State Conservationist Dave White looks on. (see story below)
 

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

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cows grazing (NRCS photo)USDA Awards $4.1 Million in Grants to Manage and Control Invasive Species Affecting Grazing Lands
USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Mark Rey has awarded $4.1 million to fund 27 projects in 20 states to manage and control invasive plants, animals or insects that adversely affect private and tribal grazing lands. Approved grantees include five county weed control and management districts, five resource conservation and development councils, three conservation districts, three foundations and non-profit organizations, three Federally-recognized Native American tribes or organizations that assist them, and two state departments of agriculture.

Links...
NRCS news release "USDA Awards $4.1 Million in Grants to Manage and Control Invasive Species Affecting Grazing Lands" (July 28, 2006)

State listing of Grazing Land Conservation Initiative grants (PDF)

Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative Web page

Iowa farmland in stripcropping (NRCS photo)USDA Announces Amendments to Interim Final Rule and Public Comment Period for the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program
USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Mark Rey has announced the release of an amended interim final rule for the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program with a request for public comment. Public comments on the rule will be accepted for 60 days from the date the rule appears in the Federal Register. USDA proposes that land eligibility criteria should focus on preserving the nation’s most critical farm and ranch lands resources.

Links...
 USDA logo. news release "USDA Announces Amendments to Interim Final Rule and Public Comment Period for the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program" (July 28, 2006)

Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program

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young soybean plants thrive in the residue of a wheat crop -- this form of no till farming provides good protection for the soil from erosion and helps retain moisture for the new cropSQNTD Team Developments
Crop residues perform many important ecosystem functions such as erosion protection, increasing soil organic matter, and nutrient storage and cycling that ultimately improve soil quality. As many of NRCS conservation practices and goals are achieved by leaving and maintaining residues on the soil surface, any residue removal activities should be carefully considered and offset by conservation practices such as cover crops and crop rotation.

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Click here for NRCS Directives for the week of July 30, 2006

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.