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

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Indiana

(from left) NRCS Southwest Office Resource Management Specialist Keri Bilbo, USDA Deputy Under Secretary Gary Mast, and NRCS Indiana Assistant State Conservationist - Outreach & Communications Jill Reinhart (NRCS photo -- click to enlarge)Indiana and NHQ Staff Exhibit at National FFA
NRCS staff from Indiana and NHQ recently exhibited at the national FFA Convention and Career Show in Indianapolis, Indiana.  An estimated 55,000 FFA students and advisors attended the Career Show and other events at the Indiana Convention Center where NRCS staff answered questions about the agency and careers with NRCS as well as distributing hundreds of informational posters and brochures.

 
Massachusetts

(from left) Jeff Lafleur, Director of the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association; Deputy Under Secretary Gary Mast; Len Reno, District Conservationist -- NRCS photo click to enlargeA "Berry" Special Tour
 USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Gary Mast viewed the 2007 cranberry harvest from all angles during a recent visit to Massachusetts at the invitation of the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association (CCCGA).

 
Texas

students from Odem Elementary dig in soil where they found earth worms rocks, roots, sea shells, and crop residue such as cotton, grain sorghum, and corn -- NRCS photo click to enlargeS.K Worm In the Lone Star State
More than a thousand fourth-graders recently attended an Ag in the Classroom event in Sinton, Texas, where the San Patricio Soil and Water Conservation District and NRCS brought in S.K. Worm to help the youngsters learn more about soil.

 

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

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(from left) Ross Braun and Carl Lucero (NRCS photo -- click to enlarge)Bringing Home the Bronze
The Animal Husbandry and Clean Water Division’s National Leader for Water Quality Carl Lucero and Natural Resources Specialist Ross Braun were recently presented the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Bronze Medal by EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Benjamin H. Grumbles. The two were recognized for “dedication and outstanding work to promote and implement EPA's priority of improving water quality and advancing cost-effective protections through the use of water quality trading.”


 

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USDA logoStatement by Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner Regarding the Nomination of Ed Schafer as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture



 

Mitch Flanagan (photo courtesy of Mitch Flanagan click to enlarge)NHQ Good Men
NHQ program analyst Mitch Flanagan recently finished his third consecutive Marine Corps Marathon.  Finishing the 26.2-mile course in three hours forty-eight minutes (21 minutes off his best time of 3:27) put him in the top 15 percent of the 1,143 runners in his age group.  Earlier in the month, Mitch ran the Army Ten-Miler in one hour and thirteen minutes -- a blistering seven minute and nineteen second-pace that put him in the top five percent of the runners in his age group.

Mitch started his NRCS career as a range conservationist in Nebraska where he was serving until coming to NHQ in September 1998.

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Wisconsin's Standards Oversight Council
In Wisconsin, as in many states, the federal, State and local agencies rely upon the same technical standards to implement programs and ordinances.  The Standards Oversight Council (SOC) was launched in 1996 to organize and improve the development, updating, and distribution of conservation technical standards.

 

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NRCS Directives For the Week of October 28, 2007
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Ski Doo snowmobile used in snow surveys in Montana (NRCS photo -- click to enlarge)Ski Doo Snowmobile
 Ski Doo snowmobile used in snow surveys in Montana during the 1960's and 70's (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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