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| Friday, December 10, 1999 Washington, DC. |
Secretary Calls for Overhaul of Nation's Farm Policy, Announces NRI - Americans should pay farmers to save soil and to clean rivers and lakes, not just grow grain or raise livestock, said Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman at the National Summit on Private Land Conservation held Tuesday in Ames, Iowa.
Both Glickman and Senator Tom Harkin told an audience of 500 at Iowa State University that the Nation spends too little on programs that pay landowners to use voluntary conservation techniques. "We need more funding to support conservation programs, and most certainly we need more funding for technical assistance," Harkin said. "We must more closely integrate conservation into our overall farm program."
A USDA Web site, http://www.usda.gov/events/events.htm, links you to speeches, news releases, a video presentation titled "Preserving the Health of the Land," and other items related to the summit.
The Secretary used the occasion to announce the release of the 1997 National Resources Inventory (NRI). The NRI, a statistical survey taken every 5 years, describes conditions and trends of soil, water, and related resources on the Nation's privately owned lands. It reports on land cover and use, soil erosion, prime farmland soils, wetlands, habitat diversity, selected conservation practices, and related resources at more than 800,000 sites. The NRI Web site is http://www.nhq.nrcs.usda.gov/NRI/1997
Secretary Glickman dedicated part of the summit to honoring Norm Berg, NRCS Chief Emeritus, for more than six decades of commitment to conservation on private lands. Berg accepted the recognition on behalf of himself and his late wife, Ruth.
NRCS, EPA, Cherokee Restore Streambanks on Reservation - Thanks to two restoration projects put in place by NRCS North Carolina, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and members of the Cherokee Tribe, stream banks are less vulnerable to erosion and two rivers are protected from inflows of sediment.
Through a technique called fluvial geomorphic restoration, the partners restored the natural flow characteristics of a stream on the Cherokee Indian Reservation located in Cherokee. The stream's banks had been weakened by storm flows and the removal of vegetation by patrons of a nearby campsite. Sediment from the eroding stream banks was entering the Oconaluftee and Raven Fork rivers, which flow through the Reservation.
The result of the partners' efforts: stream velocities near the banks have been lowered and high-velocity, sediment-bearing flows now travel down the center of the stream. Native riparian vegetation was planted to stabilize the banks and slow the speed of storm flows.
EPA provided partial funding for the project; the tribe provided matching dollars. NRCS partners in the project were Mary Kollstedt, Jacob Crandall, Arthur Wade, John Ottinger, soil and water conservation staffs of Jackson and Swain counties, Steve Carmichael, Alan Walker, Angela Jesus, and Ron Morris. EPA partners were Tony Able, Duane Robertson, and Mike McGhee. Tribal partners included Dannie Childers and Ted Rose. Your contact is Arthur Wade, NRCS Tribal Liaison, on (828) 488-4743.
Valued Volunteers to Valuable Work in Maryland - The dollar value of work done by NRCS Maryland's Earth Team volunteers in fiscal year 1999 adds up to an astounding $233,291! Volunteers provided 16,429 hours of assistance. Seventy-four percent of Maryland's offices benefited from volunteer assistance. Highlights of volunteer activities include greenhouse work, assisting with soil surveys, shoreline plantings, slide show presentations, conservation education, dune and wetland restorations, assisting with conservation tours, helping with the installation of conservation practices, and computer input and office administration. Your contact is Carol Hollingsworth, State Public Affairs Specialist, on (410) 757-0861x313.
Regional Con Takes Earth Teamers on Inspirational Outing - NRCS' Southeast Region expanded its pool of potential NRCS personnel thanks to Regional Conservationist Charles Adams. Charles invited 34 Earth Teamers--high school juniors and seniors--from the Southeast and South Central Regions to the National Organization of Professional Black NRCS Employees' Eighth Annual Training Conference held this week in Atlanta. The students networked with agency professionals and learned about the agency and career opportunities. They attended workshops, one featuring Southeast Regional office personnel discussing their careers and what they did to prepare for them. Kudos to Charles for this outstanding effort! Your contacts are: Suzanne H. Pugh, Southeast Region Communications Specialist, on (601) 366-2143 and at spugh@se.nrcs.usda.gov and Lesia Young, Outreach Coordinator, NRCS Southeast Regional Office, on (404) 347-6105.
WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
A LOOK AT 1999 LEGISLATIVE ACTION - Here's a summary of some initiatives introduced on the Hill and their status in the legislative process.
Wetlands Reserve Program Reauthorization - Two pieces of legislation were introduced. In the Senate, S.1448 was introduced by Sen. Tim Hutchinson. The bill would allow for the annual enrollment of 250,000 acres into the program until the year 2005. The bill has 16 cosponsors. On the House side, H.R. 2066, introduced by Rep. Chip Pickering contains nearly identical provisions as the Senate bill, and has 39 cosponsors. Neither bill has received a hearing or markup by the agriculture committees.
Crop Insurance/Risk Management - During the first session, the House passed H.R. 2559, the "The Agricultural Risk Protection Act." Its goals are to provide better coverage at a lower cost, more coverage flexibility, and reward responsible producers. The Senate is expected to take up this issue in 2000. Proposals for risk management legislation contained provisions that call for conservation practices such as integrated pest management, nutrient management, conservation tillage, conservation buffers, water quantity management, and others. Investment in capital improvement, such as watersheds, windbreaks, and irrigation improvement, could potentially be included.
Aging Watershed Legislation - Rep. Frank Lucas introduced H.R. 728 that would provide $60 million annually for rehabilitating aging dams. The bill has 55 cosponsors and has received numerous hearings from Congressional Committees. On October 27, the House Agriculture Committee marked-up and reported the legislation favorably. On November 18, the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee did the same. The bill may see floor action in the House at the beginning of 2000.
Farmland Protection Program Reauthorization - Two pieces of legislation were introduced this year. S.333 introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy would reauthorize the program at $55 million per year and make other changes to the authorizing language. The bill has 23 cosponsors. The Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing on the subject on July 21. In the House, Rep. Sam Farr introduced H.R. 1950, which is virtually identical to the Senate legislation. That bill has 15 cosponsors.
Your contact is Doug McKalip, NRCS Legislative Affairs, Washington, D.C., on (202) 720-2771.
TECH TIP
New Doctor On Call at NRCS Wetland Institute - Laura Mazanti, who has been participating in the NRCS Graduate Studies Program, graduates in December from the University of Maryland, College Park with a Ph.D. in Environmental Biology in the Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Sciences Program. For her dissertation, Laura investigated the effects of three commonly applied agricultural pesticides (Atrazine, Metolachlor, and Chlorpyrifos) on the growth and survival of larval frogs that inhabit constructed wetlands. Laura will work as a wetland biologist for the NRCS Wetland Science Institute in Laurel, Maryland. Your contact is Billy Teels, Director, NRCS Wetland Science Institute, on (301) 497-5983.
NRCSITES.GOV
FWP Web Page Up and Running - The Federal Women's Program (FWP) Web page is now online and offering you an exciting array of useful information. A trip through its index links you to a directory of FWP leaders in every State and region, and information on training, upcoming events, affirmative action, and the agency's sexual harassment policy. Also included are links to other Web sites that feature resources for women. The Web address is http://www.nhq.nrcs.usda.gov/FWP/index.htm Your contact is Sheila W. Greene, National Federal Women's Program Manager, on (301) 504-2286.
HONORS AND ACCOLADES
USDA/NRCS "Mojave" Series Wins Gold Screen Award - The USDA-produced television series "Mojave Desert Conservation" won first place in the TV News Stories category at this year's Gold Screen awards. The 6-part series, which USDA up-linked to broadcasters this fall, highlights the work of NRCS and its partners in the Mojave's unique ecosystem. The agency and USDA's Video, Teleconference, and Radio Center send out a special thanks to Rick Aguayo, District Conservationist of the Apple Valley Field Office, for all of his work in making the series a winner. The National Association of Government Communicators sponsors the award. Your contact is Diana Morse, Public Affairs Specialist, NHQ, on (202) 720-4772.
You must do the thing which you think you cannot do
-- Eleanor Roosevelt
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (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 USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Addresses and telephone numbers for NRCS' Civil Rights Staff are: NRCS Civil Rights Program Compliance Division, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Mail Stop 5471, Beltsville, MD 20705-5471; phone: (301) 504-2287. NRCS Civil Rights Employment Division, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Mail Stop 5472, Beltsville, MD 20705-5472; phone: (301) 504-2181.
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