Agricultural Air Quality Task Force To Meet -- The first meeting of the Agricultural Air Quality Task Force is set for March 5-6, 1997 will take place at the Wyndham Bristol Hotel in Washington, D.C. The Task force will establish its operating procedures and outline objectives, and discuss pertinent air quality issues of importance to agriculture. For further information contact: George Bluhm, 916-752-1018 or FAX: 916-752-1552.

NRCS National Headquarters Staff Reorganizes -- The NRCS NHQ reorganization was approved by the Department of Agriculture on January 30. These changes are the result of recommendations obtained from appraisals conducted 1-year after the agency-wide reorganization in 1994/1995; NRCS' strategic planning process; and, recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Panel in their report entitled "Data Rich and Information Poor."

Findings from the above efforts revealed the need to fine-tune the headquarters staffing plan in terms of skills and positions needed to ensure agency-wide coordination; indicated a need to place more emphasis on strategic planning and data collection; and indicated that soil and natural resource assessment and analysis should be one of NRCS' primary responsibilities.

The goal of this NHQ reorganization is to realign and restructure the current headquarters organization based on agency appraisals. It will not reduce or increase staffing levels. NRCS Human Resources Management Division staff recently held 4 briefings for headquarters employees. Headquarters employees will be notified of specific placements in early March.

People, Partnerships, and Community Materials Being Developed -- The Social Sciences Institute has formed an interdisciplinary team of social scientists along with NRCS field staff and others to develop training and reference material for district and field staff. The focus will be on social and economic considerations when local community groups go through the locally led planning process. Materials should be available soon.

IN THE FIELD

Tulsa's Resource Management Conference Largest Ever -- Over 120 people recently attended the Tulsa County Conservation District's 13th Annual Resource Management Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma; setting a new record attendance for the event. The theme for this year's conference was "Managing Your Urban Lake." The conference attracted a wide cross-section of the conservation minded public, including representatives from homeowner associations, businesses, landscapers and lawncare professionals, engineers, Earth Team volunteers, university officials, and representatives from local, State, and Federal governments. Some of the partner conservation organizations represented were the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, Oklahoma State University, Cooperative Extension Service, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the City of Tulsa, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Tulsa County Conservation District.

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

Legislation of Note -- The following bill of significance to NRCS and conservation was introduced:

Bill H.R. 640, Member Hostettler (IN) et al.

Purpose To amend 1985 Farm Bill and Clean Water Act to permit unimpeded use of crop, range, and pasture lands that have been used for planting or grazing in 5 of 10 preceding years.

Clean Air Hearings Continue -- Chairman John Chaffee (R-RI) of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, held another hearing February 12, on the proposed Clean Air Regulations issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Carol Browner, Administrator, EPA, testified for the proposed strict regulations on ozone, smog, and particulate matter. The EPA proposed rules are in the public comment period. The final rules are expected in June.

Hill Briefings -- NRCS participated in a number of briefings for Congressional staff and members last week. Senator Faircloth (R-GA) held a briefing on the remaining work from Hurricane Fran. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee staff met with NHQ personnel on PL-566 and Emergency Watershed Protection programs. The House and Senate Agriculture Committees were briefed on the new Conservation Reserve Program rules which were announced on February 12.

CONSTITUENCY AND PARTNERSHIP NEWS

NRCS Partners with Commodity Classic Organizations - During the combined Convention and Trade Show event at the Commodity Classic in Tampa, Florida, NRCS and Commodity Classic organizations will work together on a variety of natural resource projects. The American Soybean Association, the National Corn Growers Association, and a Special Assistant to the NRCS Chief will work with the Conservation and Environment Committees to help develop policies and resolutions on conservation related items including the 1996 Farm Bill and natural resource planning. In addition, NRCS top staff will meet with the National Corn Growers Executive Board regarding the conservation buffer initiative and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

UPCOMING EVENTS

February 1-28 -- The theme for this Black History Month is "African Americans and Civil Rights: A Reappraisal."

March 6-7 -- "Enhancing Montana's Natural Resources: A Coordinated Effort." Sponsored by the SWCS Montana Chapter. Contact: Valerie Oksendahl, 406-538-7401.

March 12-14 -- Soil and Water Conservation Society Conference; "Cover Crops, Soil Quality, and Ecosystems," Sacramento, CA. Contact: Nancy Herselius, 800-843-7645, ext. 18 or e-mail: nancyh@swcs.org. Conference information can also be found at: http://www.swcs.org.

March 18 -- Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Soil and Water Conservation and The Ohio Conservation Partnership will sponsor Manure Management '97: "A Conference Showcasing Keys to Innovative Solutions," Novice G. Fawcett Center for Tomorrow, The Ohio State University Campus, 2400 Olentangy RiverRoad, Columbus, Ohio. Call: (614) 265-6684 or e-mail: tammie.brown@dnr.state.oh.us .

March 22 -- 4th Annual "Providing Education Through Agriculture for Students" (PEAS), Memorial School, Natick, MA. Contact: Stacia Caplanson, 413-245-7402 or Stacy Miller, 617-259-9506, ext. 7700.

March 24-27 -- NRCS National Economics and Related Social Sciences Meeting, Nashville Airport Marriott Hotel, Nashville, TN. Contact: Marita Baker or Renna Young, 202-720-2307, e-mail: renna.young@usda.gov.

April 3-6 -- 45th Annual Meeting, National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA. Information about NRCS participation may be obtained from Tom Levermann, NRCS Office of Public Affairs, 202-720-7570. Information about the convention is available from the NSTA Convention Office at 703-243-7100 or FAX: 703-243-7177.

April 4-5 -- Timber Utilization Conference & Equipment Expo, Wagoner, OK, sponsored by Ouachita Mountains RC&D. Call: 918-423-0785 or FAX: 918-423-0793. Conference information can also be found at: http://www.icok.net/~omrcandd/timber_conf.html.

April 25-27 -- National Association of Farm Broadcasters Washington Watch, Washington, D.C. Contact: 612-224-0508.

April 27-May 2 -- 21st Annual Conference of the Association of State Floodplain Managers, Little Rock, AR. Contact: Rod Emmer, 608-274-0123.

May 7-9 -- An American Wetlands Month Celebration -- "Communities Working for Wetlands," Radisson Plaza Hotel, Alexandria, VA. Call: 800/726-4853 or FAX: 703-548-6299 or e-mail: terrene@gnn.com.

May 8-10 -- Public Service Recognition Week, National Mall Event, Washington, D.C.

May 14-16 -- Senior Action for Healthy Neighborhoods is the theme for the Environmental Alliance of Senior Involvement annual meeting, Ramada Plaza Hotel, Alexandria, VA. Information about the conference is available from Harlow Knight Associates, 703-241-0019 or FAX: 703-538-5504.

May 18-20 -- The Wildlife Habitat Council (in cooperation with the Wildlife Society and sponsored by NRCS and other Federal, State, and private organizations) 1997 Wildlands Conference, "Exceeding Expectations," Swissotel, Atlanta, GA. Call: 201-588-8994.

May 25-28 -- 8th Global Warming International Conference & Expo, New York, NY. Conference Hotline: 630-910-1561.

June 1-3 -- National Agricultural Biotechnology Council 9, "Resource Management in Challenged Environments," Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Call: 607-254-4856

June 11 -- USDA Annual Honor Awards Celebration, Washington, D.C.

June 15-18 -- National Association of RC&D Councils Conference, St. Paul, MN. Contact Becky Lane: 202-546-8800 or write to: National Association of RC&D Councils, 509 Capital Court, NE, Ste. 100, Washington, D.C. 20002.

July 17-19, 1997 -- Land Improvement Contractors of America Summer Meeting, Providence, RI. Contact Wayne F. Maresch at 301/248-9313 or e-mail to: Wayne F86@aol.com

July 12-16 -- ACE/NETC '97, Renaissance Cleveland Hotel Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio. Contact: Martha Carroll, 614-292-9833

July 23-26 -- The 52nd Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Conference; Interactions, Managing Ecosystems on a Watershed Basis; Toronto, Canada. Contact: Nancy Herselius, 800-843-7645, ext. 18 or e-mail: nancyh@swcs.org. Conference information can also be found at: http://www.swcs.org/AnnCon.htm.

July 27-30 -- The 84th American Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada. Call: 515-233-3202. Conference information can also be found at: http://www.aaea.org/Meetings.html.

July 31-August 1/2 -- Indiana Land Care Exposition sponsored by Indiana Land Improvement Contractors in cooperation with Purdue University, NRCS, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and the Shelby County Soil and Water Conservation District. Contact: Don Sisson (317) 349-1935 or Shelby County SWCD (317) 392-1394.

August 10-14 -- ASAE Annual International Meeting, "Tools for Transforming Tomorrow," Minneapolis, MN. Contact: American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 616-429-0300 or FAX: 616-429-3852 or e-mail: hq@asae.org.

September 7-9 -- National Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Huntington, WV. Contact Kelly Sponaugle, 304-255-9225 or FAX: 304--255-1250.

QUOTE

"Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you're a thousand miles from the corn field."

Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969).

NRCS This Week is issued weekly by the Office of Public Affairs, NRCS headquarters, Washington, D.C., and posted in the SCS:SCS shared folder on FTS2000Mail. Please send correspondence and material via FTS2000Mail to !A16SCSOPA and type "This Week" on the subject line or e-mail: fred.jacobs@usda.gov or mail to Editor, "NRCS This Week," NRCS, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013 or fax to Editor, "NRCS This Week," 202-690-1221.

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