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

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Alabama

Giang Tong, an Environmental Health Engineering Ph.D. candidate at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, conducts water quality analysis along Five Mile Creek (NRCS photo)Alabama Intern Provides Valuable Water Quality Work
For a second year, Giang Tong, an Environmental Health Engineering Ph.D. candidate at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, did summer intern work with the NRCS Cawaco Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Council in Birmingham, Alabama.  The Office of Surface Mining sponsored the internship.

Alaska

Southeast RC&D Coordinator Paul Coffey discusses his idea to squeeze excess moisture out of the waste wood fuel to make burning more efficient with Senator Lisa Murkowski (NRCS photo by Karen Peterson)Alaska RC&D Project Draws National Attention
Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Mark Rey, Special Assistant to the Chief Gerald Willis, State Conservationist Bob Jones, and other State and local officials were in Craig recently for the ground-breaking of the Craig Wood Waste Project that aims to convert sawmill wood waste into energy to heat a local school and swimming pool.


 

Idaho.

snow survey station near Lake Tahoe, Washoe County, Nevada New Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) in Idaho
Watch this broadcast that includes comments by NRCS water supply specialist Ron Abramovich on how a SNOTEL site in Idaho will measure this winter's snow pack and help forecast this spring's water supply from the snow melt

 

New Jersey

An Island Shrinks in Brooklyn
Listen to NRCS plant materials specialist Chris Miller's comments for this radio broadcast story about an Army Corps of Engineers project underway in Jamaica Bay, New York. The NRCS Cape May, New Jersey Plant Materials Center is propagating plants for this project.

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

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Secretary Arlen Lancaster has been selected as Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation ServiceArlen Lancaster Named Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced that Agriculture Deputy Assistant Secretary Arlen Lancaster has been selected as Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service.  Lancaster held his former position in USDA’s Office of Congressional Relations since April 2005.  Prior to joining USDA, he served in various senior staff positions in Congress, having worked as Senator Mike Crapo’s senior policy advisor since 1999 and as the staff director for the Senate Subcommittee on Forestry, Conservation, and Rural Revitalization since 2001.  He played a key role in crafting the conservation title of the 2002 Farm Bill.  Lancaster also worked for Senator Robert Bennett from 1998-1999.
Links…

USDA logo.  USDA news release “Johanns Announces Appointment of Arlen Lancaster As Chief Of The Natural Resources Conservation Service (Aug. 23, 2006)

Biography

windmill in MontanaJohanns Focuses USDA Programs to Aid Drought Regions
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns has announced that $780 million will be available to help farmers and ranchers manage drought and weather-related production challenges. NRCS will use $11 million of that total to help farmers and ranchers in 14 states protect drought-affected grazing lands through its Grassland Reserve Program.  The states will use the funding for pending GRP applications for rental agreements in drought-affected areas.

Links...

 USDA logo. USDA news release “Johanns Focuses USDA Programs To Aid Drought Regions” (Aug. 29, 2006)

Grassland Reserve Program (scroll down to bottom of page)

strip cropping in IowaUSDA Agricultural Air Quality Task Force Meets in Pennsylvania
The USDA Agricultural Air Quality Task Force met August 30-31 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to discuss current issues facing agriculture and the potential impacts to air quality from agricultural operations.

Links…
 USDA logo. USDA news release “USDA Agricultural Air Quality Task Force to Meet in Pennsylvania" (Aug. 16, 2006)

USDA Agricultural Air Quality Task Force

End Date for EQIP Energy Conservation Initiative Extended
NRCS extended the deadline for completing environmental projects to qualify for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) energy cost assistance until December 29, 2006.  The energy conservation initiative has been effective at offsetting energy cost increases, and accelerating the application of conservation practices. Prior to today's announcement the deadline for completion of the EQIP projects was September 1, 2006.  The one-time payment adjustment is available only to program participants who signed EQIP contracts in 2004 or earlier and who have EQIP practices that have been delayed due to increasing energy costs.  For more information contact your local USDA Service Center or the EQIP Web page.

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an example showing the average daily amount of precipitation when it occurs (based on annual average)PRISM is a GEM
 USDA has been a leader in the development of synthetic “weather generator” models.  An NRCS-ARS Weather Simulation Team is developing various components of a comprehensive and useable weather generator. Known as the GEM6 (Generation of weather Elements for Multiple applications) model, this weather generator model is now functional and is being used in several water quality and natural resource models (e.g., the Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator model), the Agricultural Policy Extender model, and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool / Hydrologic Unit Model of the United States.

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Maryland farmers Edwin and Marian Fry on their family farmFour Farmers Win 2006 Sustainable Farming Award From USDA-SARE
Demonstrating innovation, environmental stewardship and support for their communities, four farmers have been named winners of the 2006 Patrick Madden Award for Sustainable Agriculture.  The honor, awarded to exemplary farmers in four U.S. regions by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, were presented recently at the national SARE conference in Wisconsin.
 

 

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Click here for NRCS Directives for the week of August 27, 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.