Congressman Congratulates NRCS NJ on Quick EWP Action - On Monday, Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr., 8th District, New Jersey, met with local leaders to see the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program work done at Little Falls, Passaic County. After Tropical Storm Floyd hit the State hard in September, the banks of the Peckman River overflowed, causing a great deal of streambank erosion and property damage. At the gathering, Pascrell congratulated NRCS on the fast emergency response to the town of Little Falls. NRCS paid 75 percent of the costs for streambank stabilization through EWP. Three newspapers covered the story, which featured NRCS' program. Your contact is Irene Lieberman, State Public Affairs Specialist, on (732) 246-1171X124.

Water Quality Info a Splash with Alabama Students - In Alabama, NRCS Guntersville Field Office personnel, the Marshall County Soil and Water Conservation District staff, and Earth Team Volunteers presented water quality education materials to 200 Hispanic students at a local elementary school. A coloring book entitled "Squinty Flinty" was translated and printed in Spanish by the Tennessee Valley Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council. Students were given soybean crayons donated by the ALFA Farmers Federation. The English version of "Squinty Flinty" is distributed to more than 2,000 Marshall County students each year. For more information, contact Stan Franklin, Marshall County District Conservationist, on (256) 582-6923.

70 Sites in South Set for Master Tree Farmer 2000 Viewing - Organizers, sponsors, and other partners have been overwhelmed by the response to an upcoming satellite video-short course scheduled for February 1 through March 14. The course is a series of seven 3-hour evening sessions, which will feature experts teaching introductory forest management, pine and hardwood management, investment and tax issues, marketing, selling and security issues, wildlife (game and non-game) management, and forestry services for landowners. Broadcast live from Clemson University and including regional and national experts, the course is currently scheduled to appear in more than 70 locations throughout the South. For more information or for a location near you, contact Dr. George Kessler on (864) 656-4836, or at gkssln@clemson.edu; or Bill Hubbard on (706) 542-7813, or at whubbard@uga.edu Information is also available at http://www.mtf2000.net

TECH TIP

Where the Water Flows: Agricultural Water Use

By Aaron Pugh, Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, National Water Management Center

With increased competition for water, higher energy prices, large drawdowns in western ground-water levels, and stagnant farm commodity prices, agriculture will have increasing difficulty competing economically for available water supplies. The following are some important facts and figures from a 1995 study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) that puts the growing demand for water into perspective:

• In 1995, agriculture accounted for nearly 41 percent of freshwater usage with almost 139,500 million gallons of fresh water used every day (124 million acre-feet per year).
• The average amount of water applied per acre irrigated during 1995 was about 2.1 acre-feet, well below the 1975 and 1980 average of 2.5 acre-feet, a decline due to improved and more efficient irrigation systems and techniques, and decreased irrigated acreage in the west.
• From 1990-95, population increased 6 percent, while public supply water use increased 4 percent, rural (agricultural) water use decreased 1 percent and industrial water use decreased 3 percent.

The leveling in the rate of agricultural water use combined with growing population and urbanization suggest that new balances will have to be struck in water use between rural and urban areas. Major attention needs to be given to water-management problems to ensure that maximum benefits will be obtained from use of the Nation's water resources.

The National Water Management Center (NWMC), part of NRCS' Conservation Engineering Division, assists the agency's State and field offices address agricultural water issues. NWMC's conservationists, engineers, geologists, and hydrologists offer expertise in irrigation, ground water, and surface water, water quality, watershed planning, and ecology. Working with other NRCS Institutes and Centers, including the National Watershed Sciences Institute, and the National Water and Climate Center, other Federal agencies and educational institutions, the NWMC provides a vital link between the State and field offices and new water management technologies.

More information on the NWMC is available at http://wmc.ar.nrcs.usda.gov/ Your contact is Mike Sullivan on (501) 210-8900, or at mike.sullivan@ar.usda.gov More information on water use in the United States is available on the USGS Water Use Web site at http://water.usgs.gov/public/watuse/

This article is based on information from USGS Circular 1200, "Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 1995" by Wayne B. Solley, Robert R. Pierce, and Howard A. Perlman.

HONORS AND ACCOLADES

Vermont State Con Wins Life Achievement Award - Vermont State Conservationist John Titchner is this year's recipient of the Vermont Association of Conservation Districts' Life Achievement Award. The award, given to a conservationist who continuously upholds the highest standards for conservation, was presented to John, in absentia, at the VACD's annual meeting.

According to VACD, "John was selected for his 23 years of commitment to the conservation of the natural resources of Vermont, his support of conservation district efforts and the efforts of Vermont farmers to improve their farm management. Because of his support, Vermont was one of the first 10 RCWP projects in the country. Vermont was also the first PL-566 project in the country to be specifically targeted for water quality. His efforts through the Lake Champlain Management Conference brought a common sense and rational approach to dealing with the nutrient loading problem from development of its Agricultural Non-point Source Pollution Reduction program was a contributing factor to making it one of the first comprehensive programs in the country. His positive attitude and sense of 'good government' has created a feeling of team work and community that allows those who work with him to be 'problem solvers' and not "problem seekers." Congratulations, John!

Nat Deutsch Named New APDA President - Congratulations go out to NRCS' Senior Human Resources Specialist Nat Deutsch, the new President of the Association of Persons with Disabilities in Agriculture (APDA). The APDA is a chartered employee organization formed in 1990 to meet the needs of USDA employees with disabilities. Nat's priorities for APDA's 2000 agenda include: continuing to aggressively push forward on Secretary's Advisory Committee for Employees with Disabilities (SACED) objectives; mounting a membership campaign; technology accessibility issues; creating an APDA education campaign to increase awareness of the challenges faced by employees with disabilities; and participating in Department efforts to create a streamlined reasonable accommodation process. The APDA's Web site is http://www.apda.usda.gov/

Nat serves NRCS as Senior Human Resources Specialist at National Headquarters where he works on employee relations, EEO complaints, investigations, ethics, and administrative convergence. He obtained a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Rochester in 1973, and a J.D. from George Washington University Law School in 1976. He's a member of the New York State Bar. Nat hails from New York City, and although he's learned to say "y'all" with the best of 'em after 26 years in Washington, he says, "You can take the boy out of Brooklyn, but you can't take the Brooklyn out of the boy." His passions include world travel, singing, writing and arranging music, baseball, natural sciences, and meteorology. In 1993, he lost on "Jeopardy!" in front of 20 million of his closest friends.

AWARD & PRESENTATION OPPORTUNITIES

Nominations for White House Waste Reduction Award Due 1/31 - Nominations are now being accepted for the 2000 White House Closing the Circle Awards. This annual award program recognizes and rewards Federal agencies and individual employees for waste reduction, recycling, and environmental procurement innovations and successes. For award categories and the electronic nomination form and instructions, see http://www.ofee.gov/ctcawrd/award-00.htm Electronic registration of nominations is required. The hard copy of your nomination package must be postmarked by January 31, 2000, and sent to: Office of the Federal Environmental Executive, MC 1600S, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C., 20460. USDA wants to recognize employees who made contributions toward achieving these successes. To assist USDA in identifying these employees and groups, please send copies of nominations to Theresa Hood at thood@usda.gov, or by fax on (202) 720-7722.

Environmental Ed Group Calls for Presentation Proposals - If you educate youth and adults about the environment, the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) might want you to make a presentation at its national conference. The conference theme is "Spanning Cultural and Ecological Diversity through Environmental Education." It will be held October 17-21 in South Padre Island, Texas. Proposals are due January 31. Find out how to submit your proposal, and learn more about the conference, at http://www.naaee.org The NAAEE is the world's largest association of environmental educators

SPECIAL EVENTS

January 2000

 

20th Annual Ecological Farming Conference

Monterey, California

January 19-22

Conducted by the Committee for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA) and one of the best annual ecological farming conferences in the West. For more information, call Lamaia Hoffmann, Soil Conservationist, at (831) 475-1967, or contact CSA directly at 406 Main St., Suite 313, Watsonville, CA 95076. Phone (831) 763-2111; fax (831) 763-2112; or visit www.csa-efc.org

No-Till on the Plains Conference

Salina, Kansas

January 24-25

The conference focuses on farmer-to-farmer idea exchange on all aspects of no-till. Keynoting will be former NRCS Chief Bill Richards and a no-till farmer from Ohio who will address carbon sequestration. Conference information is available at http://www.residue.org

 

National Association of Conservation Districts 54th Annual Meeting

Colorado Springs, Colorado

January 30 to February 3, 2000

Registration information and agenda are at http://nacdnet.org/meetings/00annual/

 

22nd Annual Zero Till Workshop

Minot, North Dakota

January 31-February 1-2

Sponsored by the Manitoba-North Dakota Zero Till Farmers Association. The Web site is http://www.mandakzerotill.org

 

February 2000

 

Working at a Watershed Level

California State University, Stanislaus

Turlock, California

February 7-11

An introductory-level training program for watershed group coordinators and members, agency staff, consultants and others addressing watershed issues. Will focus on watersheds in California's Central Valley that support natural production of Chinook salmon, steelhead, and other anadromous fish. Your contact is Ashley Griffen, CSU Stanislaus Foundation, on (209) 667-3062. Her fax number is (209) 667-3026.

 

Livestock Conference 2000-A New Era

Colby, Kansas

February 11

Sponsored by the Western Prairie RC&D Area. Topics include: Direct and Cooperative Marketing, Grass-Fed and Alternative Livestock Production, Livestock technology, Grazing Systems, Ranch Tourism. For more information, call Western Prairie RC&D at (785) 462-2602.

 

53rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management

Boise, Idaho

February 13-18

Registration begins November 15, 1999

 

International Erosion Control Association, 31st Annual Conference and Expo

Palm Springs, California

February 21-25

 

Agricultural Outlook Forum 2000

Arlington, Virginia

February 24-25

Topics include: Farm Prospects, 2000 and Beyond; Future of Farming and Rural America; Farming Under Contract; Impact of Agribusiness Mergers; New Markets: E-Commerce, Organics, and Industrial Uses. Updates on speakers http://www.usda.gov/oce To get updates by e-mail, send an e-mail to agforum@oce.usda.gov

March 2000

 

Farming and Ranching for Profit, Stewardship, and Community

Portland, Oregon

March 7-9

Innovative agricultural techniques, scientific research, networking, visions of the future, and examples of successful sustainable agriculture. Sponsored by USDA Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, with contributions from land-grant universities and the Federal sustainable agriculture effort. Deadline for scholarship applications is January 21; contact Jim Freeburn or Lori Schafer on (307) 532-8892.

Check the web site at http://wsare.usu.edu/2000

Asian Pacific Islander Organization 2nd Annual Training Conference

March 14-17

San Diego, California

Theme: "The Pacific Rim: Leading America Into the New Millennium." Contacts: Mon Yee at (909) 869-2191, e-mail mon.yee@ca.usda.gov, Virginia Lewis at (505) 761-4408, e-mail virginia.lewis@nm.usda.gov, and Quan D. Quan at (602) 280-8832, e-mail qquan@az.nrcs.usda.gov

NACD Spring Legislative Conference

March 19-22

Washington, DC

For information, see NACD's web site at http://nacdnet.org/meetings Your contact is Robert Raschke on (303) 988-1810. His fax number is (303) 988-1896

10th Annual Non-Industrial Private Forest Landowners Conference

March 20-21

Moscow, Idaho

The Clearwater RC&D Council hosts "Forest Stewardship Management: Looking Ahead into the New Millennium." Sessions include: What Can Regulations Do for Us and to Us?; Practicing What They Preach on Their Own Land; Envisioning Your Land in the New Millenium; and Forest Health: Managing the Millennium Bugs and Other Pests. Contacts: Dan Pierce on (208) 882-4960, ext. 4; and Harry Lee on (208) 885-6900; or e-mail: crcdc@moscow.com

 

NEW!

North Central Region RC&D Annual Conference

March 22-24

Oneida Indian Nation near Green Bay, Wisconsin

The conference will focus on diversity, outreach, sustainability, and partnerships. The Glacierland RC&D (though not federally designated) and the Wisconsin State RC&D Association will host this conference. To receive an agenda, please contact Gwen Klay at gwen.klay@wi.usda.gov

New Income Opportunities from Specialty Products: Agroforestry in the Northeast

March 23-25

Portland, Maine

A regional conference to help shape the future and success of agroforestry in the Northeast. Sponsored by NRCS, the Maine and New England associations of RC&D's, and USDA's National Agroforestry Center. Visit the Web site at

http://www.thresholdtomaine.org/agroforestry/, or contact Velma Orcutt, Down East RC&D, at (207) 546-2368 or Velma.Orcutt@me.usda.gov

Global Sustainability Conference

Springfield, Illinois

March 28-29, 2000.

Carbon sequestration and ecological practices in agriculture and forestry, global warming, water quality, bio-energy, soil health, world food security, production agriculture, and ecological economics. Sponsored by the Gallatin County Soil & Water Conservation District and the Shawnee RC&D Council. E-mail: Michele.Gidcumb@ilridgway.fsc.usda.gov

For more information, see the conference agenda on the NRCS Illinois web site at: www.il.nrcs.usda.gov

 

Managing Nutrients and Pathogens from Animal Agriculture

Camp Hill, Pennsylvania

March 28-30

A forum to present recent research, field experiences, and government responses regarding interactions of animal agriculture and the environment in the Eastern U.S. Topics include: Nutrients and Water Quality, NRCS and EPA Goals in Nutrient Management, Feed Management To Reduce Excess Nutrients, Manure Management Practices, and Nutrient and Pathogen Transport in Watersheds. USDA's Water Quality Working Group provided seed money for the conference. For more information, contact the Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service on (607) 255-7654, or by fax on (607) 254-8770.

 

NEW!

Upper Mississippi River Conference

LaCrosse, Wisconsin

March 28-30

The theme for the conference is "The Watershed Approach to Improving Water Quality: Fact or Fantasy?" Sponsored by the Soil and Water Conservation Society in cooperation with other partners. The conference agenda and details can be found at http://www.cares.missouri.edu/watershed/

 

NEW!

Summit 2000--Private Forest Forum: A Policy-Oriented Look at Private

Forests in Washington State

March 29-30

Capitol Lake, Olympia, Washington

Summit objectives are to understand and protect the economic, social, and biological viability of private forests in the State and devise a plan for sustaining future prosperity. The symposium is designed for forestland owners, managers, policy makers, and others interested in management and policies governing forestlands. Summit 2000 is designed to be participatory, technical and philosophical. For more information, please contact Dr. Donald Hanley, Forester, Program Chairman, on (206) 685-4960, or at dhanley@u.washington.edu

April 2000

 

Nation's First Upstream Flood Control Rehabilitation Project Celebration

Cheyenne, Oklahoma

April 14

Site 2 Sergeant Major Creek will be rededicated after complete rehabilitation of the 50-year dam, which will extend its life for another 100 years.

Forest Utilization Conference & Equipment Expo

Western Hills Resort, Sequoyah State Park, Wagoner, Oklahoma

April 26-28

Contact Ouachita Mountains RC&D on (918) 423-2479, or at omrcandd@icok.net

 

May 2000

 

The Culture, Economics, and Ecology of Ranching West of the 100th Meridian

Colorado State University at Fort Collins

May 4-6

Will bring together people who have devoted their lives to thinking, practicing, and helping change the culture, ecology, and economics of ranching. Sponsored by NRCS, American Farmland Trust, the Western Center for Integrated Resource Management, The Nature Conservancy, and others. For registration information, contact CSU's Office of Conference Services on (970) 491-6222.

 

Use of Conservation Buffers on Urbanizing Landscapes

Arbor Day Farm, Nebraska City, Nebraska

May 9-11, 2000

For more information, please check the National Arbor Day Foundation's web site on

http://www.arborday.org

 

NEW!

Third National Mitigation Banking Conference

Denver, Colorado

May 17-20

Sponsored by the Terrene Institute. Sessions on mitigation banking for wetlands, habitat conservation, introductory mitigation banking, and advanced sessions for practicing bankers. NRCS co-sponsors. For more information, contact the Institute on (800) 726-4853

 

Sustainability of Wetlands and Water Resources: How Well Can Riverine Wetlands Continue To Support Society into the 21st Century?

University of Mississippi at Oxford

May 23-25

Information is available at http://130.74.129.109/

June 2000

 

Association of State Floodplain Managers' 24th Annual Conference

Austin, Texas

June 16-23, 2000.

"Floodplain Management 2000 and Beyond: A New Beginning in a New Millenium." For reservations, call (512) 477-1234.

 

National Association of RC&D Councils Conference

Ogden, Utah

June 18-21, 2000

Your contacts are the National Association of RC&D Councils on (202) 434-4780, and David Spann, Coordinator, Bonneville RC&D Office, 1030 West 5370 South, Murray, Utah 84123. Phone: (801) 262-6838. Fax: (801) 263-3667. E-mail: mpatten@ditell.com

 

July 2000

 

NEW!

SWCS Annual Conference: Gateway to the Future-Conserving Private Land

St. Louis, Missouri

July 8-12

Information is available on the Soil and Water Conservation Society's Web page at http://www.swcs.org Your contact is Charlie Persinger, SWCS, Director of Member Services, 7515 NE Ankeny Road, Ankeny, Iowa 50021-9764. Voice: (515) 289-2331, ext. 12. Fax: (515) 289-1227. Email: charliep@swcs.org

 

NEW!

Valuation 2000

July 10-13

Las Vegas, Nevada

A business, education, and networking conference sponsored by the American Society of Appraisers, American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, and the Appraisal Institute. Will focus on environmental concerns and their impact on valuation, technology in valuation and its use, employment, regulatory concerns, trends, and other unique valuation problems. May be the largest gathering of NRCS' resource information customers, especially regarding soil survey. For more information, see http://www.val2000.org/

 

NEW!

2000 Annual Meeting of the American Association of Agricultural Economists

July 30-August 2

Tampa, Florida

For meeting information, see http://www.aaea.org/meetings/m2000

August 2000

 

International Conference on Riparian Ecology and Management in Multi-Land Use Watersheds

Portland, Oregon

August 27-31

An event of the American Water Resources Association, and co-sponsored by NRCS, this conference will provide a forum for discussion of biological, physical, chemical, social, and economic aspects of riparian areas and stream corridors. For more information, visit http://www.awra.org/meetings/Portland/Portland.html or Bruce Newton at the National Water and Climate Center, at bnewton@wcc.nrcs.usda.gov

 

Carbon: Exploring the Benefits to Farmers and Society

August 29-31

Des Moines, Iowa

Ag perspectives on emerging policies and technologies involving carbon management and sequestration and other greenhouse gases. Focus on the impacts and benefits of carbon sequestration affecting ag producers, society and the environment. Hear ideas from a cross-section of policy, science, and industry perspectives. Contact Jim Cooper, Coordinator, Chariton Valley RC&D at 515/437-4376 or jcooper@cvrcd.org

 

Spetember 2000

 

NEW!

International Poplar Commission 2000 Conference

Sept. 24-30

Portland, Oregon

Will include scientists and practitioners from more than 32 countries. The theme: "Poplar and Willow Culture: Meeting the Needs of Society and the Environment." Papers will be presented in working group sessions, including Poplar and Willow Breeding, Diseases, Insects and Other Animal Pests, Production and Environmental Systems, and Logging and Utilization. The Web site is http://www.ncfes.umn.edu/IPC2000/

October 2000

 

NEW!

North American Association for Environmental Education National Conference

October 17-21

South Padre Island, Texas

The conference theme is "Spanning Cultural and Ecological Diversity through Environmental Education." Learn more about the conference, at http://www.naaee.org

 

Third Biennial Conference on Understanding Each Other and Working Together for a Better Future

October 24-25

Eugene, Oregon

Forum for agricultural interests, government, and environmentalists to discuss issues relevant to agriculture and water quality. Perspectives presented in a non-confrontational forum and others see and understand other points of view. For more information, see the conference's Web site at http://www.agwaterqualitynw.org

 

December 2000

 

National Conference on Grazing Lands

Las Vegas, Nevada

December 5-8

Economic and environmental effects of proper grazing lands management. Sponsored by NACD, Grazing Lands and Public Lands Committee, the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI), and others. Abstracts for oral and poster papers accepted until April 1. Contact John W. Peterson, NCGL Program Manager, by phone on (703) 455-6886, or fax at (703) 455-6888, or by e-mail on jwpeterson@erols.com

 

May 2001

 

National Watershed Coalition Conference

Richmond, Virginia

May 20-24

"QUOTE OF THE WEEK"

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-- Unknown

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