NRCS Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Performance Plan Submitted - NRCS submitted its draft GPRA plan, developed by the Operations Management and Oversight Division, other National Headquarters divisions, and Regional staffs, to the Department as part of the agency's FY 99 budget request. The GPRA requires agencies to set strategic goals, measure performance, and report accomplishments.

The NRCS performance plan will provide a direct link between strategic goals outlined in the agency's strategic plan, completed earlier this year, and what managers and employees do day-to-day. The performance plan outlines the agency's annual performance goals, which are used to gauge progress toward accomplishing strategic goals, and identifies performance measures for assessing progress. The performance plan includes four types of measures: mission related, customer service, information generation/transfer, and organizational capability measures. According to Deputy Chief for Management Tom Weber, the NRCS Annual Performance Plan will be used in allocating resources within the agency.

Although the NRCS annual performance plan will not be implemented agencywide until October 1, 1998, the Regions, as part of a pilot effort, will apply the performance measures during FY 98, which begins October 1, 1997, to determine if refinements are needed.

National Conservation Buffer Initiative to be Coordinated from Northern Plains Regional Office - Max Schnepf, Program Manager, Strategic Natural Resources Issues Staff at National Headquarters, will be reassigned effective August 31 to the Northern Plains Regional Conservationist's staff in Lincoln, NE. Schnepf will continue to serve as coordinator of the National Conservation Buffer Initiative and will begin work under a Memorandum of Understanding between NRCS and the National Arbor Day Foundation.

Fishin' Buddies Program Awards Ceremony Held - On August 14, Gary Margheim, NRCS Acting Associate Chief, spoke at an awards ceremony to honor the District of Columbia youth and interns who participated this summer in the Fishin' Buddies Program, part of the USDA Plan of Action for the District. Participating agencies are the Forest Service; NRCS; the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; and the Agricultural Research Service. The program is conducted by the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs with financial assistance from the Forest Service and the D.C. Urban Forest Council. The program has been running since June 23. Objectives are to teach basic biology, ecology, and conservation of the Districts' aquatic resources through a summer education program for about 2,000 city youth. "You are the future of our Nation," Margheim told the youth. "The health of our planet depends upon you becoming good stewards of natural resources. This program has given you the tools to be advocates for clean water, clean air, and healthy soil."

National Commission on Small Farm Public Hearing Scheduled for August 22 - Harold Volkmer, chair of the National Commission on Small Farms, has announced that the commission's next public hearing will be in Sioux Falls, SD, on August 22. The commission, appointed by Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, is charged with finding new ways to support small and limited resource farmers and to study the problems facing these farmers and recommend ways to help them.

"The commission held a successful public hearing in Memphis, TN, July 28, and we look forward to meeting with interested parties in Sioux Falls," Volkmer said. "We're looking for testimony from farmers, ranchers, academics, the financial community and others to lend their perspective on solutions to enhance the viability of the nation's small farms."

Volkmer said people interested in testifying must contact the office of the National Commission on Small Farms by August 15, in order to be placed on a list of witnesses. Those wishing to testify, but unable to notify the commission office by August 15, will be able to sign up as a presenter August 22 on a first come, first served basis starting at 12:30 p.m.

The hearing will be held at the Best Western Ramkota Inn, 2400 North Louise, Sioux Falls, SD. Public testimony will begin at 10:15 a.m. Comments and statements should be sent to: National Commission on Small Farms, U.S. Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 2890, Room 5237, South Building, Washington, D.C. 20013.

The media and the public are welcome to attend. For information on participating in the hearing, please contact Jennifer Yezak Molen, Director, National Commission on Small Farms at (202) 690-0648 or fax at (202) 720-0596. Information on additional hearings will be announced shortly.

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

Congress is in recess and will return to Washington, D.C., on September 2.

CONSTITUENCY AND PARTNERSHIP NEWS

Community Watershed Education Training Materials Available - Over 600 educators, water resource professionals, and agency personnel attended a two-hour national satellite videoconference on May 1, 1997, covering essential steps in organizing and conducting effective water education programs. A videotape of the program, plus accompanying training materials, are now available.

Sponsored by University of Wisconsin Extension, the satellite conference "Community Water Education for Youth--Focus on Watersheds" aired in 28 States. Water specialists and directors of nationally-known water education programs shared proven techniques for making youth water education fun as well as scientifically sound.

Videotape copies of the conference are available for $45. Included with the video are facilitator and participant packets, publicity materials, and the Educating Young People About Water resource guide on program planning and evaluation. The package can be used to host training workshops for adults interested in involving youth in community water protection projects. Contact University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension Publications, 630 W. Mifflin St., Rm 170, Madison, WI 53703, (608) 262-3346, and ask for item #VA1039.

UPCOMING EVENTS

August 25-27 - The National Rural Development Partnership 1997 Annual Leadership Conference, "The Power of Partnership," Delavan, WI. For conference information contact Marsha Cannon by phone at 608-292-9479 or by e-mail at cannon@aae.wisc.edu. You can also visit this Internet site: <http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/nrdp>.

September 1-6 - The 9th World Water Congress, International Water Resources Association, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Contact Aly M. Shady at 819-994-4098 or e-mail aly_shady@ACDI-CIDS.gc.ca.

September 22-26 - National Watershed Water Quality Project Symposium, Washington, DC.

October 6-10 - National Conference on Urban Soils, New York City, NY. Contact Tyrone M. Goddard at 315-477-6526 or send e-mail to tgoddard@ny.nrcs.usda.gov for more information.

November 2-4 - International Irrigation Exposition & Technical Conference, Nashville, TN. For conference information visit the Irrigation Association's Web site at <http://www.irrigation.org/ia/main.html>.

November 2-5 - The National Urban and Community Conservation Conference "Natural Resources Issues in Rural America," Columbus, OH. For conference information contact Robert Raschke at 303-988-1810 or visit NACD's Web site <http://www.nacdnet.org>.

November 2-5 - Third North American Conference of the Farming Systems Research & Extension Association, "Food & Natural Resource Systems: Integrating Diversity, Inquiry, Action, & People," Welches (Mt. Hood), OR. For information contact seiters@bcc.orst.edu of Oregon State University.

QUOTE

"If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it..."

--William Arthur Ward

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: nancy.garlitz@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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