WASHINGTON, April 2, 2004—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural
Resources Conservation Service Chief Bruce Knight recently signed a memorandum
of understanding (MOU) with the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) to
promote better exchange of seed technology.
“This partnership will ensure that quality native seed is available for future
conservation efforts. Native seed supplies are essential and must be available
for conservation program participants,” Knight said.
The NRCS Plant Materials Program selects plants that are important to
conservation efforts and develops innovative planting technologies that make the
plants more effective in solving conservation concerns. The program includes a
network of 26 plant materials centers that work with commercial seed producers
to make sure that high quality seed needed for conservation work is available.
In addition, NRCS works closely with the Forest Service and Bureau of Land
Management to make recommendations for reseeding after wildfires and other major
disturbances, as well as to improve rangeland quality in the West.
The five-year MOU to exchange cultivation information and technology extends to
those activities of ASTA, the NRCS Plant Materials Program and related programs
that apply to conservation of natural resources.
Signatories to the MOU were Knight and Dick Crowder, ASTA President and CEO.
Additional information on the NRCS Plant Materials Program can be found at
http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov
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The Natural Resources
Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help
people
conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment.
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