New State Conservationists Selected - David P. Doss has been selected as the State Conservationist for Maryland effective March 30, 1997. Mr. Doss was the National Policy Coordinator for Watershed Programs, Watersheds and Wetlands Division, Washington, DC. Kalven L. Trice has been selected as the State Conservationist for Arkansas effective March 30, 1997. Mr. Trice was the Deputy State Conservationist in Arkansas.

Satellite Training Seminar To Be Held - On April 15, the NRCS Social Sciences Institute will sponsor a satellite training broadcast called "Keeping 'First Things First': The Secret to Real Productivity." After his presentation, A. Roger Merrill, Covey Leadership Center, Inc., will answer participants' questions, which can be faxed or called in. The seminar airs from 1 to 3 p.m. Eastern time. Contact your training officer for more information.

Conservation Reserve Program Sign-Up Ends on High Note - Nearly 26 million acres of land have been offered for enrollment during the 4-week sign-up period for the new Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Preliminary figures from the field show that 301,650 offers, covering nearly 26 million acres, were offered for enrollment nationwide. Of that total, about 18 million acres are currently enrolled under CRP contracts due to expire in September. Nearly 8 million acres are new and were offered for the first time.

Satellite Coordinates Now Available for Riparian Restoration Broadcast - The satellite coordinates for the May 1st broadcast on Riparian Restoration and Management are:

--Satellite - Galaxy 3R

--Channel - Transponder #21 Horizontal

--Downlink Frequency - 4120 MHz Horizontal

--Bandwidth 36 MHz

The Satellite Help Line number for trouble during the broadcast is 602-906-5629.

The program airs 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pacific time [or 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time]. Test and tone is the half-hour just before the program. Specific questions about the broadcast should be directed to Doug Blankenship at the Bureau of Land Management on 202-452-5079; fax 202-452-5199; or email dblankin@wo.blm.gov.

Chief Paul Johnson and Leonard Jolly, NRCS State Range Conservationist for California, will be among the panelists and presenters in the program.

Interagency Teams To Meet to Formulate Recommendations on Administrative Convergence - Twelve teams, each made up of a representative from the three Service Center agencies, will meet in Washington, DC, the week of April 7. The teams will look at specific areas (e.g., travel management, small purchases) selected by the Service Center agencies' division directors of Financial Management, Human Resources, and Management Services. The teams will review existing policy, including delegated authorities, and draft a decision memorandum recommending activities where common administrative policies and procedures can be implemented, and activities that can be assigned to a lead agency. The decision memorandum will be reviewed by the division directors, consolidated into a master plan, and presented in early May to the Deputies for Management of the Service Center agencies. Regional and Service Center employees and our partners will have the opportunity to review and comment on the convergence plan before implementation begins.

IN THE FIELD

Pilot Project Evaluates Water Quality Concerns - The Caldwell, ID, field office is currently working with the Water and Climate Center–Water Technology Team on a pilot initiative to evaluate water quality concerns. This is the first of six projects proposed for each region. The Caldwell project is evaluating how current technology fits the needs of the field office. It will help bridge the gap between technology development and on-ground application and implementation. The results will be incorporated in the Field Office Technical Guide.

Residue Management Club Fosters Farmer Networking - NRCS Soil Conservationist Steve Huber, David City, NE, knows that farmers talking to other farmers is the best way to promote conservation. That's why he started the Platte/Colfax Residue Management Club. "Many farmers in this area are going 100 percent no-till and are asking a lot of questions," Steve says. "Other farmers doing no-till may have the best answers. I wanted to get the farmers together and let them discuss what has and hasn't worked." The club includes producers from six counties and about 20 to 30 usually attend the meetings. "Once the club was organized, I turned it over to the farmers to run the meetings," Steve says. "Now the producers decide what topics they want to learn about at the meetings and where they would like field tours." For more information, contact Steve at 402-367-4877.

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

Easter Recess - The Senate will be out of session until April 6. The House will be out until April 7.

CONSTITUENCY AND PARTNERSHIP NEWS

Grants Available Through the Fund for Rural America - USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service is seeking proposals for grants available through the Fund for Rural America. Authorized by the 1996 Farm Bill, the fund will provide $100 million for each of the next 3 years to help rural residents and communities address the challenges facing them as a result of the Farm Bill's market transition provisions and other forces.

One-third of the fund is dedicated to competitive research grants for projects that address such concerns as international competitiveness, environmental stewardship, and rural community enhancement. Information is available from Dr. Patrick O'Brien at 202-401-1761 or on the World Wide Web at: http://www.reeusda.gov/funding/fund.htm.

Information from Agriculture Handbook Now Available Electronically - The information formerly available in Agriculture Handbook Number 305, "Directory of Professional Workers in State Agricultural Experiment Stations and Other Cooperating State Institutions," is now available electronically. The Web site is http://www.reeusda.gov. Click on "State Partners" and you will be connected to "State Partners of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service."

Soil Publication Proves Popular - The book "Stubble Over the Soil, The Vital Role of Plant Residue in Soil Management to Improve Soil Quality," by Carlos Crovetto, has been translated from Spanish into English by five NRCS employees. Copies have been distributed to NRCS State and field offices. Additional copies are available from the publisher, the American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI.

RESEARCH BRIEFS

Broccoli Goes No-Till - Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists are developing new ways to grow broccoli using less chemicals, eliminating soil erosion, and conserving water. Aref A. Abdul-Baki, a plant physiologist with the ARS Vegetable Laboratory in Beltsville, MD, has been growing broccoli in soybean mulch rather than in bare soil, the conventional way. He says that the new, no-till system would allow more broccoli to be grown in the Mid-Atlantic States where the soils are highly erodible and the terrain is often sloped. Contact Abdul-Baki by phone at 301-504-5057 or e-mail at vconley@asrr.arsusda.gov.

INTERNET ADDRESSES OF NOTE

Ag Research Puts Photos on the Internet - Photography editors and others can download high-quality digital images of farm, food, environmental, and scientific subjects from the Agricultural Research Service's (ARS) new on-line service. The ARS Image Gallery holds hundreds of photos, along with credits and captions. Each image can be downloaded in three sizes: thumbnail, in-line size, and full screen. Many of the photos produced for Agricultural Research magazine are already available in the gallery, and more are added each month. The address is: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/graphics/photos. NRCS employees or media outlets may phone (301) 344-2002 or e-mail for higher resolution digital files or duplicate transparencies. E-mail arsphoto@asrr.arsudsda.gov.

UPCOMING EVENTS

April - Keep America Beautiful Month

April 22 - Earth Day

April 25 - National Arbor Day

May 1 - Satellite broadcast on Riparian Restoration and Management; airs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time. Contact: Doug Blankenship, Bureau of Land Management, 202-452-5079, or Bill Boyer, NRCS, 202-720-0307.

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 18-21 - Fifth National Watershed Conference, "Living in Your Watershed." Sponsored by the National Watershed Coalition, Reno, NV. Contact: Jim Fisher, 303-988-1810.

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.

June 3-5 - International Symposium commemorating the 50th Anniversary of USDA's Wind Erosion Research at Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS. Contact: The Wind Erosion Research Unit (WERU) by phone: 913-532-6495; FAX: 913-532-6526; e-mail: sym@weru.ksu.edu; or on the World Wide Web: http://www.weru.ksu.edu.

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 22-25 - The 52nd Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Conference; Interactions, Managing Ecosystems on a Watershed Basis; Toronto, Canada. Contact: Jennifer Pemble, 800-843-7645. Conference information can also be found at: http://www.swcs.org/AnnCon.htm.

QUOTE

"The Nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value."

-Theodore Roosevelt

NRCS This Week is issued weekly by the Conservation Communications Staff, NRCS headquarters, Washington, D.C., and posted on the NRCS Home Page at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov. Please send correspondence and material via e-mail to: judy.ladd@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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