NRCS This Week - 06/23/00

See the alphabetical-by-subject list of upcoming events. . See additions under Air Quality, Conservation Tillage, Dam Safety, Soils and Soil Surveys, and Watersheds!

FOCUS ON THE FIELD

Actor Morgan Freeman Speaks Out (Again!) for NRCS - In the March 10 edition of "NRCS This Week" you read a star-studded item from NRCS Mississippi about radio spots recorded for the agency by world-renown actor Morgan Freeman. Well, guess what. Mr. Freeman returned to the microphone -- this time for television -- to put his voice on a pair of recruitment spots for the agency's Earth Team volunteer program. Penning the spots was Ron Nichols, NRCS' State Communications Director in Utah. The Creative Services Department of KUTV, Salt Lake City, produced. The conservation-conscious actor has starred in dozens of movies, including "Driving Miss Daisy," "Unforgiven," and "The Shawshank Redemption." The Oscar-nominated actor did not charge for his services. Learn more about Morgan Freeman and send him an e-message on http://the-movie-times.com/thrsdir/actors/mfreeman.html Your contact is Ron on (801) 524-4556, or at ron.nichols@ut.usda.gov

NRCS Indiana Exhibits, Talks Buffers at World Pork Expo - NRCS Indiana built support for conservation buffers at the World Pork Expo held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. Agency personnel talked with visitors and gave them useful and vital information about buffers and how they benefit the resource base. Many took home copies of the publication "Buffer Solutions for Pork Producers." More than 25,000 people stepped through the turnstiles at the Expo. Looking for buffer info? You'll find it on NRCS' home page at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/buffers/ To experience more about the Expo, enter the National Pork Producers Council's Web site at http://www.nppc.org Your contact is Pam Davidson, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, on (317) 290-3200 x322.

Sustainable Ag Goes Straight to the Heartland - The future of farming was the topic on the table at the first Heartland Conference and Fair held at California State University (CSU), Stanislaus, and a nearby ranch. Nearly 300 people heard lectures on how to achieve better crop yields, small-scale food production techniques, and integrated pest management. Glenda Humiston, USDA's Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, added an historical perspective with a audio-visual presentation showing the importance of sustainability in maintaining healthy natural resources and societies. The Committee for Sustainable Agriculture and the university's BioAg Project sponsored the event. Your contact is Michael McElhiney, District Conservationist, Modesto Service Center, on (209) 491-9320, or at Michael.Mcelhiney@ca.usda.gov To get the scoop on USDA and sustainability, click into http://www.usda.gov/oce/sdsf/

Arizona State Con Somerville to Chair Western SARE - Best wishes go to Mike Somerville, NRCS State Conservationist in Arizona, as he begins his term as chair of the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program. Mike brings to the post 29 years of experience as a resource conservationist, plus a track record that clearly demonstrates his belief in land management partnerships between agricultural personnel and producers. "Mike's new role on the council will build an even stronger bridge between NRCS and SARE," said Phil Rasmussen, regional coordinator of Western SARE and soil scientist at Utah State University. Mike's appointment was announced at a recent meeting of Western SARE's Administrative Council. Susan Matsushima, owner-operator of a nursery business in Hawaii, was appointed chair-elect. Your contact is Kristen Kelleher, Communications Specialist, University of California, Davis, on (530) 752-5987, or at kkelleher@ucdavis.edu

NRCS NM Shows South Africans Plusses of Planning, Management - Representatives of the South Africa's National Department of Agriculture saw conservation in action thanks to NRCS New Mexico. Agency personnel took them on tours of several sites in the Rio Grande corridor. The goal: offer the visitors experiences they can use to develop both a technical information guide on conservation planning and application and a landowner-driven sustainable land management effort called Land Care.

"New Mexico was selected as one of the tour locations due to the similarity of climates and land use here and South Africa," said State Conservationist Rosendo Trevino. "They are also very interested in dryland farming, range management, and irrigation with a limited water supply. Our working relationship with soil and water conservation districts is of great interest to them as they develop their Land Care effort."

Tour sites included private ranches, farms, pueblos, and acequias, a chile processing plant, Mesilla Valley Precision Farming project, and the NRCS Plant Materials Center in Los Lunas. Learn about South Africa's National Department of Agriculture at http://www.nda.agric.za Your contact is Betty Joubert, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, on (505) - 761-4406.
mmerce, and numerous local businesses and organizations. Your contact is Terri Daniel, NRCS Public Affairs, at (405) 742-1244.

NRCS Montana Puts Pub for Kids on Web - Now on the Weban activity book produced by Montana NRCS especially for kids in grades 3 through 6. Entitled "Hands on the Earth: Holding the Key to Life," the book tells the story of how Montana farmers and ranchers conserve and protect Montana's natural resources by using conservation practices. Click into "Hands" on NRCS Montana's homepage at: http://www.mt.nrcs.usda.gov/pas/eday/color.html Your contact is Heidi Brewer, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, on (406) 587-6971 or hbrewer@mt.nrcs.usda.gov

Water Quality Conference Addresses Community, Industry Needs - Nearly 200 representatives of government, business, and private organizations gathered in Decatur, Alabama, for "Bridging the Boundaries--A Water Quality Conference," an event co-sponsored by the Tennessee Valley Resource Conservation & Development Council. Speakers addressed the unique needs and requirements of individual communities and industries. Topics included increasing regulations that affect Storm Water Phase II Permitting, sanitary sewer overflow regulations, source water assessments and protection, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems Permitting, confined animal feeding operations permitting, animal feeding operations permitting, and Total Maximum Daily Loads. Your contact is Mike Roden at (205) 638-4771, ext. 3 or at mike.roden@al.usda.gov

ACCOUNTABILITY TODAY

Strategic Planning & Accountability Web Site Now Available
Check out http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/SPA Information on the Web site includes:
-- SPA and its Divisions;
-- The Integrated Accountability System and Its Components: Workload Analysis, TCAS, and PRMS;
-- "Accountability Today";
-- SPA Employee Directory;
-- Quality Management Information and Team Start-Up Kit;
-- The NRCS Strategic Plan;
-- Annual Performance Plan and
-- 1999 Performance Report;
-- and more!

Your questions and comments are welcomed.

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING

Home Page the "Last Word" on Agency History - NRCS has an incredible history, and it's yours for the reading on the Resource Economics and Social Sciences Division's home page at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/history/ You'll be just a click or two away from finding fascinating historical facts about NRCS, its programs and activities, and partners. Also FYI are looks at minorities and women in the agency's workforce, conservation in the Great Plains, and the lives of agency legends Hugh Hammond Bennett and W.C. Lowdermilk. Reference buffs, be sure to check the list of references on the soil and water conservation movement! Your contact is Douglas Helms, NRCS Senior Historian, on (202) 720-3766.

CONFERENCE & TRAINING CONNECTION

June 2, 2000

As a service to NRCS personnel and the agency's partners, "NRCS This Week" offers the following by-subject list of conferences and training sessions. To add an event, please send an e-mail message to fred.jacobs@usda.gov

Agricultural Engineering

Agroforestry/Forestry

Air Quality

Alternative Agriculture

Animal Residuals Management

Beef
Carbon Sequestration

Conservation Tillage

Core 4

Dam Safety

Economics

Employee Organizations

Environmental Education

Grazing Land & Grassland

Land Use

Mining & the Environment

Partnerships

Resource Conservation & Development

Rivers
Salmon

Agricultural Engineering

American Society of Agricultural Engineers 2000 Annual International Meeting

July 9-12

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The theme for this year's meeting is "Engineering Solutions for a New Century." Interact with engineering professionals worldwide; share your ideas, techniques, and research with your peers; and promote the profession of agriculture, food, and engineering. For additional information, contact ASAE at http://www.asae.org, or William Hughey at (202)-720-5023 and william.hughey@usda.gov