Floyd Hits Hard in New JerseyNRCS Responds - Rivers and streams inundated by Hurricane Floyd left hundreds homeless and many more to deal with severe property damage. NRCS New Jersey responded swiftly by contacting Congress, the media, and county emergency coordinators with information about the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program. Working closely with State and Federal agencies and local groups, NRCS immediately assessed damages to streambanks and property. NRCS informed the public about assistance available for repairs to stream channels, bridges, and other structures, as well as natural areas. Members of Congress expressed interest in working closely with NRCS and local districts to reduce impacts of future floods.

A major bioengineering project established by the Urban Conservation Action Partnership in Morris County held up very well. A vegetated buffer along the Whippany River took the force of floodwaters and protected nearby structures. Your contact is Irene Lieberman, State Public Affairs Specialist, on (732) 246-1171x124.

Floyd Touches South Carolina's Coastal Counties - The initial disaster report compiled by NRCS South Carolina in response to Hurricane Floyd indicated that little wind damage had been sustained, but flood damages are expected in the coastal counties of South Carolina. In Horry County, the Waccamaw River is expected to crest at a record high, which could cause severe flooding. Moderate to severe damage is expected in Horry and Georgetown counties with slight to moderate damage expected in Charleston, Berkeley, and Williamsburg counties. Residents of Dillon, Florence, Beaufort, and Jasper counties are also concerned about flooding. Your contact is Perdita Belk, State Public Affairs Specialist, on (803) 765-5402.

Florida EWP Sites Identified - Although Hurricane Floyd spared Florida most of its wrath, EWP sites have been identified near St. Augustine in St. Johns County. Working with county emergency management officials, personnel from NRCS Florida toured the area in boats and viewed it from the air. NRCS determined that marshes and the intercoastal waterway might qualify for EWP assistance for removal of debris. Estimates of clean-up costs range between $150,000 to $200,000. Your contact is Dorothy Staley, State Public Affairs Specialist, on (352) 338-9565.

FOCUS ON THE FIELD

Sandy Island RC&D Project Receives Regional Funding - NRCS South Carolina reports that the agency's Southeast Regional Office has provided $40,000 in funding assistance for Phase I of the Sandy Island Community Initiative, sponsored by the Santee-Wateree Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council. Regional Conservationist Charles Adams recently toured the minority island community, which dates back to the 1800's and is only accessible by boat. Phase I, which will address public safety concerns, is just one component of a comprehensive plan to address human and natural resource concerns. Sandy Island is 3 - miles wide and 5 miles long and is the largest undeveloped freshwater island on the East Coast. Your contact is Perdita Belk, State Public Affairs Specialist, on (803) 765-5402.

Hundreds See Benefits of Buffers on Tennessee Tour - NRCS Tennessee and its partners showed more than 300 persons the benefits of conservation buffers at a recent field day held on a farm in Montgomery County. Featured was a stop that showed farmers how forestry buffer strips can reduce erosion, improve water quality, and keep an operation profitable. Other stops showed the value of pond management, forestry best management practices, filter strips for wildlife, and streambank stabilization. Adding flavor to the event was a visit to a riparian area where black walnut trees, planted just this spring, were bearing nuts. Your contact is Larry Blick, State Public Affairs Specialist, on (615) 736-5490.

NRCS, NPS Renew Plant Materials Agreement - NRCS and the National Park Service (NPS) recently agreed to a third 5-year term of a cooperative plant materials program that develops reclamation technology and produces native plant materials to revegetate areas disturbed by park road construction. The partnership has produced a steady stream of outstanding efforts that include 25 native plant development projects in 19 parks, and 78 reclamation projects in 31 parks that were done for $5 million, one-tenth the cost that NPS would pay for such services without the agreement. Your contact is Russ Haas, NRCS Liaison to NPS, on (303)-969-2172. His fax number is (303) 969-2236.

Texas RC&D Wins Safe Harbor, Restoration Award - The Sam Houston RC&D Council recently won an award for its work in bringing together landowners, NRCS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and private conservation groups to protect and develop habitat for the endangered Attwater's Prairie Chicken. The RC&D implemented "on the ground" coastal prairie habitat restoration through partnerships with private landowners. More than 17,800 acres are enrolled in safe harbor and prairie restoration programs. Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt and the Regional Director of FWS presented the award. Your contact is H. Harold Bryant, State Public Affairs Specialist, on (254) 742-9811.

WHAT''S UP IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

Chief's Feedback System Gets Great Response - In just the last 9 days, employees, customers, and partners have sent Chief Reed more than 50 messages. Topics covered included administrative concerns, technical assistance in the field, requests for technical materials, software applications, reducing field office workload burdens, and natural resource program concerns. Chief Reed also received compliments for initiating the feedback system. You can send your feedback to Chief Reed on the agency's homepage by clicking on the "Feedback" hotlink, or by sending an e-mail addressed to chiefs.feedback@nrcs.usda.gov All messages are anonymous, direct, and unfiltered.

From the Conservation Operations Division

• The Internet version of Part 1 of the NRCS Conservation Planning Course has been updated to reflect the July 1999 amendment to the NRCS conservation planning policy. Access to this portion of the course is available through the NRCS home page or through the following web address: http://www.ncg.nrcs.usda.gov/start.htm
• NRCS has a goal of establishing two million miles of conservation buffers by the year 2002. To meet this overall goal, regional buffer goals have been established. These will be provided to the appropriate regional and State conservationists in the near future.
• Representatives of NRCS, the American Society of Agronomy, the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants, and Extension Service will attend a meeting in Minneapolis on October 12-14 to discuss third-party vendor training needs, the roles of vendors, NRCS, and Extension in writing comprehensive nutrient management plans, and ways that vendors and agencies can work together. The group will also review the new NRCS nutrient management standard.

TECH TIP FROM THE NRCS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPUTY AREA

Farmers are risk takers. They make their living in an environment dominated by the vagaries of weather, wildly fluctuating markets, and accelerating technological change. Economists organize this range of risks faced by farmers into seven broad categories.

• Yield or Production Risk - Influenced by weather, disease, pests, genetic variations, timing of practices, and machinery breakdowns.
• Input and Output Price Risk - Influenced by changes in domestic and foreign demand and supply, speculation, and government programs.
• Financial Risk - Influenced by variability in cash flow and changes in leasing arrangements.
• Technology or Obsolescence Risk - Influenced by rapid changes in technology such as equipment. The recent concerns about marketing genetically modified crops is an example of the risks related to being an early adopter of new technology.
• Casualty Loss Risk - Influenced by fire, wind, floods, and theft.
• Social and Legal Risk - Influenced by laws and regulations, and changing social attitudes.
• Human Risk - Influenced by loss of employees, dishonesty, poor health, and family changes.

Because of the variety of risks, managing risk is complex and often requires that farmers overlay several risk management strategies. For events that can be assigned a probability, insurance is often available. However, in cases where the probability of occurrence is not known, farmers must resort to other direct risk management techniques such as:

• Contracting with Processors - Increasingly used to guarantee prices for farm products.
• Hedging - Used to offset potential losses in the cash market.
• Engaging in Environmental Control - Examples include supplemental irrigation and frost protection techniques.

In addition to these direct risk management tools, the overarching risk associated with loss of the farm operation can be reduced through indirect risk management strategies such as:

• Increasing Flexibility - Includes the flexibility to choose the most profitable crop or enterprise, production method, and marketing strategy as conditions change.
• Diversifying the Enterprise - Includes adding crops or enterprises and value added processing.
• Lowering Production Costs - Being a low-cost producer helps survival during financial shocks.
• Enhancing Liquidity and Solvency - By lowering the debt-to-asset ratio, or by expanding financial reserves, a farmer is better able to absorb unexpected financial stresses.
• Leasing Land and Equipment - Allows farmers flexibility in responding to market signals.
• Incorporating the Farm - Incorporation can protect personal assets or realize tax advantages.

Depending on the specific circumstances, practices in the Field Office Technical Guide can increase or decrease risk. For example, irrigation water management, nutrient management plans, and reduced tillage practices may reduce risk by lowering production costs. However, some practices such as reduced tillage may increase the variability in yields for a few years as farmers learn new production techniques and therefore increase risk. Practices with high up-front costs, such as waste storage systems and no-till planters, may increase debt and lower solvency, thereby increasing the farmer's risk in the short term.

By understanding how conservation systems affect real and perceived risks, conservationists can design conservation systems that not only protect the natural resource base they also address farmer's risk management needs. For further information on conservation and risk management, visit the Risk Management Agency's web site at http://www.usda.gov/rma/rme, or contact Doug Lawrence, senior economist, at Doug.Lawrence@usda.gov or (202) 720-1510.

SPECIAL EVENTS

October 1999

 

Building on Leopold's Legacy: Conservation for a New Century

Monona Terrace Convention Center, Madison, Wisconsin

October 5-7, 1999

National Leaders in Conservation celebrate our historical foundations and explore the future direction of conservation. Forty-eight working sessions and noted plenary speakers. Complete conference information on the web site at http://www.wisc.edu/wisacad/landethic/

 

Second National Small Farm Conference

St. Louis, Missouri

October 12-15, 1999

The conference's title: "Building Partnerships for the 21st Century." For more information, see the conference's web site: www.luce.lincolnu.edu/nsfc

 

49th Triennial National Convention Girl Scouts of the USA

Kansas City, Missouri

October 14-17, 1999

Stop by NRCS' hands-on learning exhibit and make your own soil profile in a tube.

 

1999 Association of State Wetland Managers Annual Symposium

Annapolis, Maryland

October 25-27, 1999

This year's theme: Restoration: Applying Restoration Science.

 

Exploring Opportunities for Carbon Sequestration: A National Conference

Missoula, Montana

October 26-28, 1999

Hosted by the Montana Carbon Offset Coalition. Researchers, policy makers, Federal and State agencies, conservation and commodity groups and private consultants will discuss issues and concerns related to carbon sequestration and to discuss the future of carbon storage. Contact Kit Sutherland, Bitter Root RC&D, on (406) 363-5450 for agenda and registration materials.

 

Future Farmers of America National Career Show

Louisville, Kentucky

October 27-29, 1999

NRCS will have an exhibit displaying conservation technology (buffers, stream corridor techniques, conservation practices and Backyard Conservation). A representative from the National Soil Survey Center will be there to mark the soil survey centennial.

 

Sharing the Heartland: Practical Tools for Conserving Farmland and Natural Resources

Bloomington, Minnesota

October 29-30, 1999

Featured will be practical information and guidance to help local decision-makers and organizations protect productive farmland and natural resources. For more information, see the conference's web site at www.mn.nrcs.usda.gov/heartland

 

American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society, and the Soil Science

Society of America Annual Meeting

Salt Lake City, Utah

October 31-November 4, 1999

 

November 1999

 

National Earth Team/ NRCS Public Affairs Specialists Meeting

Albuquerque, New Mexico,

November 1-4, 1999.

The theme: "Changing Patterns: Conservation, Communication and Volunteerism." All employees are welcome. Register by calling 1-888-LANDCARE, extension 50. Deadline for registration is September 20.

 

New Directions in Buffers: Common Sense Conservation

Billings, Montana

November 8-9, 1999

Hosted by the Montana Chapter Soil and Water Conservation Society. Details on pre-registration and the agenda are available from Valerie Oksendahl, Program Chair, on (406) 538-7401x117.

 

National Forage Quality and Animal Well-Being Training

New Orleans, Louisiana

November 15-18, 1999

Grazing Lands Specialists and other NRCS personnel will participate in a forage quality and animal well-being case study workshop and receive advanced nutritional training provided by the Grazing Lands Technology Institute and Texas A&M Universityís Grazing Land Animal Nutrition Lab. For more information, please contact Arnold Norman, Grazing Lands Technology Institute @ 817-509-3214 or email him at: anorman@ftw.nrcs.usda.gov

 

Native Plant Summit V

Bismarck, North Dakota

November 16-17, 1999

The theme for this year's summit is biodiversity. Speakers will address conservation programs, revegetation standards, mitigation efforts, and environmental mandates. Visit the web site at http://www.nativeplantsummit.org to check for speaker listings, registration numbers, and other updated information. For more information, contact Melissa Reep at on (701) 223-8536, by fax on (701) 223-9024, or by e-mail at melissa.reep@nd.usda.gov

 

Eastern Native Grass Symposium

Baltimore, Maryland

November 17-19, 1999

Sponsored by NRCS, USDA's Agricultural Research Service, and the National Association of Conservation Districts.

December 1999

 

Adding Value through Environmental Marketing: Opportunities for Food

Producers, Processors, and Retailers

Madison, Wisconsin

December 6-7, 1999

Special focus on production, and marketing and distributing field crops, meat and dairy products. Attendance is limited to 160. For more information, contact the IPM Institute of North America, 1914 Rowley Ave., Madison, Wisconsin, 53705; call (608) 232-1528; or fax (608) 232-1530. E-mail inquiries to tagreen@compuserve.com Information is also available on the web at iatp.org/labels/envcommodities/index.htm

 

Agricultural Total Maximum Daily Loads Workshop/Conservation 2000 Conference

New Orleans, Louisiana

December 14, 1999 (Workshop)

December 15-17, 1999 (Conference)

For information, check the web at ctic.purdue.edu, or call (765) 494-9555.

 

January 2000

 

National Association of Conservation Districts 54th Annual Meeting

Colorado Springs, Colorado

January 30 to February 3, 2000

Details on pre-registration and agenda may be found on the web at nacdnet.org/meetings/00annual/index.htm

March 2000

 

Sustainable Agriculture Coming of Age in the Year 2000

Portland, Oregon

March 7-9, 2000

The event will include innovative agricultural techniques, outcomes of scientific research, networking, visioning for the future, and successful examples of sustainable agriculture enterprises. Sponsored by the USDA Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, with major contributions from several land-grant universities and the Federal sustainable agriculture effort. Check the web site at http://wsare.usu.edu/2000

 

Global Sustainability Conference

Springfield, Illinois

March 28-29, 2000.

Sponsored by the Gallatin County Soil & Water Conservation District and the

Shawnee RC&D Council. Featured will be discussions and presentations on carbon sequestration and ecological practices in agriculture and forestry, global warming, water quality, bio-energy, soil health, world food security, production agriculture, and ecological economics. For more information, e-mail: Michele.Gidcumb@ilridgway.fsc.usda.gov

 

May 2000

 

Use of Conservation Buffers on Urbanizing Landscapes

Arbor Day Farm, Nebraska City, Nebraska

May 9-11, 2000

For more information, please check the National Arbor Day Foundation's web site on

arborday.org

He had not imagined the immense power of the great ocean. The plains of grass seemed to move only when herds of horses, cattle, and buffalo stampeded across them; but the plains of water moved always, with a strength greater than any strength he had ever imagined

-- Larry McMurtry, American writer

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