National Leadership Review for the Caribbean Area
An NRCS National Leadership Review Team capped-off their review of the Caribbean Area by joining Chief Arlen Lancaster, USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Gary Mast, National Association of Conservation Districts CEO Krysta Harden, local NRCS employees, and other federal and State agencies to celebrate the signing of a local partnership agreement to manage resource concerns in the Jobos Bay Special Emphasis Watershed Conservation Effects Assessment Project.
 

Florida

NRCS Provides $1.8 Million for Canal Loop EWP Project
Partnerships was the theme at a recent press conference held in coral Gables, Florida, as NRCS and Miami-Dade County officials marked the beginning of a bank stabilization project on the Loop Canal in south Miami.  NRCS has provided $1.8 million to Miami-Dade County to restore this canal from the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP).
 

Links...
The following requires Real Player.
Listen to the Southeast AgNet bank stabilization project radio story.

Minnesota

Agencies Unite for Organic Agriculture
A group of State and federal agencies recently confirmed their commitment to Minnesota’s organic agricultural industry with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in St. Paul.  The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) joined nine other State and federal agencies and the University of Minnesota to pledge support of this expanding industry.
 

Ken Nielsen – Volunteer Media Specialist
For the last ten years, Ken Nielsen has been involved with NRCS as a news reporter -- last fall he became an Earth Team volunteer.

Snowpack Telemetry (SNOTEL) Now Yields Data Hourly
Historically, NRCS SNOTEL network forecasts have been issued once per month from January through June, mostly because the data were collected manually by snow surveyors. SNOTEL now provides hourly and daily snowpack and precipitation information thanks to new technology.

NRCS Directives for the Week of June 1, 2008

Minnesota Governor Ventura Visits NRCS Center of Excellence
This October 2001 image was taken at the Fond du lac Tribal and Community College NRCS Center of Excellence office in Cloquet, Minnesota, (from left) former Minnesota Governor, Jessie Ventura, NRCS Tribal College Liaison David Wise, and NRCS Duluth Area soil scientist Mike Waczynski (NRCS image — click to enlarge). 

NRCS This Week features a weekly historical photo and caption.  NHQ, districts, States, RC&D councils, and all other NRCS entities are invited to submit a historical photo of activities or individuals who have worked or are working for the agency along with a caption. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer,