NRCS, Family Farm Star on Russians' Visit - NRCS South Carolina shared conservation information aplenty with a visiting Russian farm delegation on an educational tour of the State. Eleven Russian crop farm managers saw close up how NRCS works. Orangeburg County District Conservationist Bethel DuRant prepared a special presentation and took the delegation on a tour of Jameson Farms, a family operation that uses conservation tillage on 1,200 acres of corn, wheat, and soybeans. The delegation's 3-week tour is part of a program operated by the Center for Citizen Initiatives, a West Coast-based humanitarian organization that specializes in U.S./Russian relations. Your contact is Perdita Belk, State Public Affairs Specialist, on (803) 765-5402, and at pbelk@sc.nrcs.usda.gov

Drought Report Shows Commission Impacts on South - In Atlanta, the National Drought Policy Commission recently heard how drought impacts the South and gathered suggestions for policy changes that could help communities prepare for drought. Commission members listened intently as Southeast Regional Management Analyst John Dondero described how drought affected natural resources in the NRCS Southeast and South Central Regions. Jimmy Bramblett, Georgia's NRCS Water Resources Specialist, explained agency programs and how they address drought problems. This was the sixth of seven hearings across the country. In response to last year's drought, Regional Conservationist Charles Adams appointed Dondero to head a Southeast and South Central Regional Drought Task Force. Other task force members were Jerry Daigle, acting Technology Specialist; Belinda Duke and Suzanne Pugh, Communications Specialists; Javier Ruiz, GIS Specialist; and Vic Simpson, Acting Technology Specialist. Your contacts are John Dondero on (404) 347-6157 and Suzanne Pugh on (601) 366-2143.

RC&D Project To Protect American Indian Burial Site in TN - A project to protect an American Indian burial site along the Tennessee River was kicked off at a meeting of the Buffalo/Duck River Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Council, Tennessee State Parks, and the Army Corps of Engineers. Seventy people saw plans for the streambank stabilization and cultural resource protection project, which will be established in Mousetail Landing State Park. The cost of the project is $406,000. Your contact is Larry Blick, State Public Affairs Specialist, on (615) 736-5490.

Conservation Boot Camp To Put Employees Steps Ahead - In Pennsylvania, agency and partnership employees who have less than 6 months on the job will soon be marching to "boot camp." This boot camp, however, is about customer service, not military service. Two 5-day sessions, scheduled for March 27 and April 10, will include basic training in soils, agronomy, conservation planning, hydrology, surveying, conservation practices, nutrient management, and ag waste management. The targets for the training are District Agricultural Conservation Technicians, Conservation District Nutrient Management Technicians, and recently hired NRCS employees. Your contact is Stacy Mitchell, State Public Affairs Specialist, on (717) 237-2208, and at Stacy.Mitchell@pa.usda.gov

TECH TIP

A Prescription for Grazing Management - Submitted by Larry Butler, Director, Grazing Lands Technology Institute

Management of the grazing animal is one of the most economical methods to ensure the health and stability of the grazing land resources. For grazing management to be successful, it must meet the needs of the natural resources, the landowner, and the livestock. Meeting these needs is essential to the success of all grazing management.

The primary conservation practice used is prescribed grazing, which is a vegetation management practice applied to all land where grazing is a planned use. The grazing may be from domestic livestock or wildlife. Prescribed grazing is defined as the controlled harvest of vegetation with grazing or browsing animals, managed with the intent to achieve a specified objective. The minimum level of planning for the practice includes enough inventory information for the landowner to know the proper amount of harvest in order to maintain or improve the quality and quantity of desired vegetation. The available forage and the number of grazing and browsing animals must be in balance for effective management of grazing lands. This is accomplished by developing a balance between available forage and animal demand for the entire grazing season. For more information on grazing management, see Chapter 5 of the "National Range and Pasture Handbook." If you wish to contact someone in your State, please refer to the Grazing Lands Personnel Directory, which can be found at: http://www.ftw.nrcs.usda.gov/glti/homepage.html

EWP PERSCPECTIVES

NRCS Oklahoma Presses On with Post-Tornado, Flood Clean Up - Thanks to a combination of outstanding EWP restoration work and the persistence of agency personnel, NRCS Oklahoma is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel in areas struck by tornadoes and floods struck last spring.

The Disasters' Timeline:

April 24, floods. May 3, 74 tornadoes crossed through 16 counties. May 30 and June 1, Comanche and Cherokee counties, which were struck by tornadoes on May 3, were hit again by tornadoes. June 30, yet more flooding. The human toll: 44 fatalities, 795 injured. Destroyed were 3,137 homes; 4,866 were determined to be unlivable. Insured losses reached $1 billion. President Clinton declared 16 counties disaster areas, and State Conservationist Ron Clark declared 44 counties eligible for EWP.

Since then, 145 damage survey reports have been prepared, many covering entire counties. More than 25 percent of NRCS Oklahoma's staff has performed restoration work. Their actions include debris removal and disposal, streambank stabilization, grass seeding, and tree planting. By mid-February 2000, approximately 30 contracts totaling $9.6 million had been completed or obligated, making the light at the end of the tunnel shine brighter for the people set upon by the disasters and for hardworking NRCS personnel, as well. Your contact is Tony G. Funderburk at (405) 742-1275 or at tony.funderburk@ok.usda.gov for more information. Tony has disaster-scene photos that can be forwarded to you via e-mail.

TECH TIP

A Prescription for Grazing Management - Management of the grazing animal is one of the most economical methods to ensure the health and stability of the grazing land resources. For grazing management to be successful, it must meet the needs of the natural resources, the landowner, and the livestock. Meeting these needs is essential to the success of all grazing management.

The primary conservation practice used is prescribed grazing, which is a vegetation management practice applied to all land where grazing is a planned use. The grazing may be from domestic livestock or wildlife. Prescribed grazing is defined as the controlled harvest of vegetation with grazing or browsing animals, managed with the intent to achieve a specified objective. The minimum level of planning for the practice includes enough inventory information for the landowner to know the proper amount of harvest in order to maintain or improve the quality and quantity of desired vegetation. The available forage and the number of grazing and browsing animals must be in balance for effective management of grazing lands. This is accomplished by developing a balance between available forage and animal demand for the entire grazing season. For more information on grazing management, see Chapter 5 of the "National Range and Pasture Handbook." If you wish to contact someone in your State, please refer to the Grazing Lands Personnel Directory, which can be found at http://www.ftw.nrcs.usda.gov/glti/homepage.html

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

Fort Jackson Salutes NRCS Efforts - In South Carolina, Fort Jackson won the 1999 Department of the Army Natural Resources Conservation Award, thanks to a job well done by NRCS Civil Engineering Technician Ricky Walker and Fort Jackson Resource conservationist Doyle Allen. NRCS entered into agreement with Fort Jackson, the Nation's largest army training facility, several years ago to address erosion and natural resource concerns on the base. Your contact is Perdita Belk, State Public Affairs Specialist, on (803) 765-5402, and at pbelk@sc.nrcs.usda.gov

Soil Survey Division Director Receives NC Society's Highest Honor - Horace Smith, Director of NRCS' Soil Survey Division, received the Soil Science Society of North Carolina's highest honor at the Society's recent annual meeting. The Annual Achievement Award, is presented to a member who has rendered exemplary leadership and service to the Society and is currently making major contributions to the field of soil science and in furthering soils and soil management education. Horace presented a technical paper titled: "Soil Survey in the Next Millennium" on January 19 at this meeting. Your contact is Horace on (202) 720-7848, or at horace.smith@usda.gov

Cook Takes Coastal America Partnership Award - Congratulations go all the way to Alaska to NRCS Kenai District Conservationist Herb Cook for receiving the 1999 Coastal America Partnership Award. Herb was celebrated for his contributions as a member of the Alaska Regional Implementation Team for supporting the Alaska SeaLife Center, world-class marine research, rehabilitation, and education facility. Major research programs underway at the center include studies of migratory bird and marine mammal populations, and restoration of anadromous fish habitat and nearshore habitats. Your contact is Herb on (907) 283-8732.

RC&D Wins Award for Expanding Envirothon - The Great Plains RC&D Council received the 2000 Outstanding Organization State Award from the Oklahoma Association for Environmental Education for efforts in initiating, coordinating, and funding the Oklahoma State Envirothon contest. The council has been extremely successful in pulling together numerous State and Federal agencies to get Envirothon started. With just two teams participating in the first State contest in 1999, Oklahoma now has 12 teams for 2000. Your contact is Mark Rose, Coordinator, Great Plains RC&D, on (580) 832-3661.

ON THE WEB

Government Ag Terms, Abbreviations Really Click on Web - Easy-to-understand definitions of ag terms, plus a glossary of abbreviations, are just a click away on http://agriculture.house.gov/glossary/glossearch.htm The site was developed by the Congressional Research Service, and Library of Congress, at the request of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture. The entire document is available in PDF format.

MS Erosion, Sediment, Stormwater Control Manual Now on Web - The Mississippi "Planning and Design Manual for the Control of Erosion, Sediment, and Stormwater" is available on the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Mississippi State University, Web site at http://abe.msstate.edu/csd/p-dm/index.html

This manual was a cooperative effort of NRCS Mississippi, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, the Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission, and the authors of the North Carolina and Florida manuals. Hardcopies cost $40. To order, please contact the Water Quality Management Branch by e-mail at http://nonpointpollutioncontrolcontact@deq.state.ms.us/

Web Site Welcomes Professional Engineers - Professional engineers, there's a Web site especially for youthe site of the National Society of Professional Engineers. On it, you'll find the latest information and news from across all engineering disciplines. Now appearing on the site is an article on the National Academy of Engineering's picks for the Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century (safe and abundant water and agricultural mechanization make the top 20!) and issues surrounding the licensing of landscape architects. Check it out a http://www.nspe.org Thanks to Carl DuPoldt, NRCS East Region Urban Conservation IRT in Hammonton, New Jersey, for the tip on this Web site.

WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE

Erosive vs. Erodible: What's the Difference? II - Last week's "NRCS This Week" featured a piece on the differences between the terms "erosive and "erodible." The item generated a lot of e-mail, including the following one from Brian Aldrich, Ag Outreach Specialist for the North Jersey RC&D Council, who offers a closer look at their differences. Brian writes:

A few more points on fine-tuning the difference between erosive and erosivity vs. erodibility. Recall that the "r" factor for rainfall in the USLE is sometimes also called the "erosivity" factor. Erosivity is not really an intrinsic property of the soil itself; rather, it's a function of the climate in which the soil occurs: high rainfall vs. low rainfall, high wind vs. low wind. Erodibility ("k" in the USLE), on the other hand, is a function of the soil itself. For example, a soil texture with greater permeability might be classed as less erodible than a less-permeable soil. Your contact is Brian at baldrich@nj.nrcs.usda.gov

SPECIAL EVENTS

March 2000

 

Enhancing Income with Agroforestry Specialty Products

March 7-8

Grand Forks, North Dakota

A workshop for Northern Great Plains landowners to explore alternative income possibilities from native trees and shrubs. Researchers and practitioners will discuss income potential and resource requirements of an assortment of enterprises, such as jelly and preserve production, furniture manufacturing, wood turning, wood carving, and other locally developed enterprises that utilize the fruits and wood native to the Northern Great Plains. The workshop is funded in part by Environmental Quality Incentives Program Educational Assistance. For more information, contact http://www.craig.stange@nd.usda.gov

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

 

NEW!

Soil Science Institute Course for Mid-Career Soil Scientists

Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL

March 13-April 7

Sponsored by NRCS. Will accommodate about 35 students and is designed to update mid-career soil scientists of the National Cooperative Soil Survey. Topics are: soil chemistry, soil physics, soil fertility, soil classification and genesis, and soil geomorphology. Also, cutting-edge topics on GIS, global change, animal agriculture, expert systems, and fuzzy logic. For more information, call Earl Lockridge at (402) 437-5863, or email: earl.lockridge@nssc.nrcs.usda.gov

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 For more information, see the APIO Web site at http://www.nv.nrcs.usda.gov/apio

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

 

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.

 

The Watershed Approach to Improving Water Quality: Fact or Fantasy?

LaCrosse, Wisconsin

March 28-30

Sponsored by the West North Central Chapters of 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/ Contact Ann Robinson at annr@osmre.gov or Mary Hanks at mary.hanks@state.mn.us

 

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

MANRRS 2000: Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences 15th Annual Career Fair and Training Conference

March 30-April 1

Lexington, Kentucky

Sponsored by National Society of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences. For registration: Conferences & Institutes, University of Kentucky, 218 Peterson Service Building, Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0005. Phone: (606) 257-3929. Fax: (606) 323-8522.

April 2000

 

NEW!

Opportunities in Agroforestry

April 1

Viroqua, Wisconsin

Features agroforestry professionals from the upper Midwest. Topics covered include: Chestnut and Hazelnut Production, Growing and Selling Medicinals, Tree Pollen Collection, Windbreaks for Profit, Making the Most of Your Woodlot, Food Production & Carbon Sequestration Through Woody Crops, and Incorporating Agroforestry into a Sustainable Agriculture System. Sponsored by the Southwest Badger RC&D Council. Contact Steven Bertjens on (608) 348-3235, or at steve.bertjens@wi.usda.gov

Central Maine Grazing Conference

April 8

Oakland, Maine

Keynote speakers and presenters include Nate Leonard, Ed Rayburn, and Heidi Smith along

with producer presentations. For more information, contact Paul Hughes at (207) 990-9100 or paul.hughes@me.usda.gov, or Ron Desrosiers at (207) 947-6622 or e-mail at ron.desrosiers@me.usda.gov This conference is paid for in part through EQIP educational assistance funds. Conference fee: $20.

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. For more information, contact Nena Wells, Upper Washita Conservation District, Cheyenne, Oklahoma, on (580) 497-3413.

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

 

UPDATE!

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 practice and help 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. Contact CSU's Office of Conference Services on (970) 491-6222. E-mail messages to Wendell Gilgert at wgilgert@cnr.colostate.edu

 

Buffers: Commonsense Conservation 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

 

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

 

1ST Annual Mid-America Grassland Evaluation Contest

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

June 5-7

Open to FFA and 4-H teams, nationwide. Contest includes soil interpretation, plant identification, forage and livestock management, and wildlife habitat management. Sponsored by the Missouri Forage and Grassland Council, in cooperation with NRCS, the Missouri Department of Conservation, and University of Missouri Outreach and Extension. Contact Melodie Marshall on (800) 364-8732x3, or Mark Kennedy on (417) 967-2028.

22nd Annual Natural Resource Societies Science Day

Washington, D.C.

June 7

The event will address projected demographic, technology, and economic trends and their effects on natural resource science and practice.

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

 

National Organization of Professional Hispanic NRCS Employees

(NOPHNRCSE) 8th Annual Training Conference

June 26-29

Washington, D.C.

Theme: "Hispanics-The New Dynamic." In conjunction with the Hispanic Emphasis Program Managers (HEPM) and Federal Women Program Managers (FWPM) training sessions. For more information call Gerry Gonzalez (NOPHNRCSE) on (602) 280-8777, Rafael Salazar (HEPM) on (706) 554-5183, or Sheila Greene (FWPM) on (301) 504-2178.

 

July 2000

 

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

 

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/

 

Land Conservation Summit 2000

July 28-29

St. Paul, Minnesota

The conference will advance the debate about private land conservation and the use of conservation easements in the new millennium.

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. Poster abstracts due March 13. Contact Alice Vinsand, conference coordinator, at (515) 225-1051 or email

avinsand@aol.com Complete abstract details and other conference information are available at http://www.cvrcd.org/carbon.htm

Spetember 2000

 

Fragmentation 2000-A Conference on Sustaining Private Forests in the 21st Century

September 18-20

Annapolis, Maryland

For details, please contact: Terri Bates at 3325 Rose Lane, Falls Church, Virginia 22042. Her telephone number: (703) 538-1134; e-mail: Bates-Stasny@erols.com or William G. Hubbard, Southern Regional Extension Forester, 4-402 Forest Resources Building, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602. Phone: (706) 542-7813; fax: (706) 542-3342; and e-mail: hubbard@smokey.forestry.uga.edu

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

 

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

 

March 2001

 

7th Federal Interagency Sedimentation Conference

Reno, Nevada

March 25-29

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.

 

May 2001

 

Seventh National Watershed Conference

Richmond, Virginia

May 20-23

The theme: "Small Watershed Programs: Past, Present, and Future." This conference will examine our Nation's rich history with upstream small watershed programs and will explore innovative ways of accomplishing watershed project objectives as traditional sources of assistance become harder to get.

"QUOTE OF THE WEEK"

Quit thinking about decent land use as solely an economic problem. Examine each question in terms of what is ethically and esthetically right, as well as what is economically expedient. A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.

-- Aldo Leopold, American Conservationist

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