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| Friday, April 23, 1999 Washington, DC |
Soil Survey Team Saves Injured Cyclist - Soil survey project leader Alan Wasner, Chief of Resources of the State Parks Suzanne Goode, and archeologist Dr. Chester King saved the day, and a life, while on the job in the rugged Santa Monica Mountains. The three came upon a bicyclist who had fractured a hip and suffered injuries to her arms and face. She had been incapacitated long enough for blood to have dried on her face. Thirty minutes after the team placed a distress call, a medical evacuation helicopter and several park rangers arrived on the scene. "Their response was nothing short of amazing," said Wasner. The victim was discovered to have sustained neurological damage, and is now out of the hospital.
Institute Study Shows Shoppers Support Environmentally Friendly Products - The figures are in from NRCS' Social Sciences Institute and they show that people want environmentally friendly products. The study of 200 grocery store shoppers conducted in Portland, Oregon, showed that: 95 percent of them believe that there is a strong connection between the health of the environment and their own well being; 85 percent believe that how food is grown affects the environment; 85 percent believe that products that claim to be environmentally friendly should be certified as such; and 61 percent said that they were willing to pay more for products that are grown in an environmentally responsible manner. In next week's NRCS This Week: NRCS and eco-labeling.
Cheyenne Earth Team Wins Chief's Award for Northern Plains - The Earth Team of the Cheyenne, Wyoming, Field Office took home the Chief's Field Award for the Northern Plains Region. Reasons for the recognition include: the compilation of a conservation tillage guide for customers in Laramie County, assistance in completing a PL-566 flood control channel landscape plan, and service to a community ad hoc committee responsible for the landscape design of a local flood control plan. Also earning the team the spotlight were survey and drawing activities related to a local watershed plan.
New Video by Series Educates Kids About Forestry in Louisiana - The Twin Valley RC&D Area, along with NRCS and the Pineywoods Chapter of the Society of American Foresters, completed a 10-part video series entitled "Forestry in Louisiana/Best Management Practices" for fifth through eighth graders in four parishes in Northwest Louisiana. The series is designed to increase awareness of the economic importance of forestry and show the benefits of good natural resources management. Topics include: insects and disease, fire, tree identification, wildlife, forest recreation, logging, soil, water, and reforestation. For more information, please contact Twin Valley RC&D on: (318) 352-4946; by fax on: (318) 352-5559; or by e-mail at tvrcd@iamerica.net
Coming Soon...the Leader In You - Coming up May 18 is The Leader in You training seminar for all employees and directors. Entitled "Leadership Techniques for Project Managers," it will focus on the challenges of project management. Presenter Nancy Mercurio will show a model for project management and specific techniques that project managers can use to become more effective leaders. Broadcast time is 1-3 p.m, EST. Satellite coordinates and directions for downloading handouts have been distributed to training and social science coordinators. For more information, please contact the Social Sciences Institute. Phone (616) 942-1503, or fax (616) 942-0586. E-mail may be sent to ssinter2@po.nrcs.usda.gov
THE WORD FROM WASHINGTON
NRCS Announces New Policy, Guidance for Nutrient Management - NRCS announced in the April 19 Federal Register the adoption of its new policy and guidance for nutrient management. The result of 3 years of work, it establishes new standards for providing nutrient management-related technical assistance. Contributing were NRCS, major agricultural and environmental groups, and scientists from Federal and State research and educational institutions. State Conservationists will implement the new policy and standards within 2 years. Materials are on the NRCS Ecological Sciences Division's home page: http://www.nhq.nrcs.usda.gov/BCS/esd.html
NRCS Increases Volume of Vendors - This week, NRCS inked two more memoranda of understanding (MOU) with third party vendor certifying organizations. The new MOUs are with the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) Certified Professional Agronomists (CPA) and the ASA Certified Professional Soil Scientists (CPSS). CPA will provide technical assistance to land owners and operators in nutrient, pest, and residue management. CPSS soil scientists will provide assistance in nutrient management and in wetland restoration, creation, and enhancement. Nationally, NRCS has now signed MOUs with five third party vendor certifying organizations.
SPECIAL EVENTS
"QUOTE OF THE WEEK"
"It is time for the people of the world to realize the importance of land and accord it first place on the inventory of their assets -- including good neighborly relations and peace."
-- Hugh Hammond Bennett, Parkville, MO, June 1948
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