United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Go to Accessibility Information
Skip to Page Content





barn and fences in winter snow (click to enlarge)NRCS This Week mast head

The Natural Resources Conservation Service — Helping People Help the Land.

 Subscribe to NRCS This Week | NRCS This Week Articles Index | NRCS This Week Archives | Contact Us | Where to Get Information | eNotes from NACD | Adobe Acrobat Document TSP Express (Requires Adobe Acrobat.)

focus on the field header bar
Alaska

Alaskan black bearSnow Survey Bear Tale
When Alaska Snow Survey Supervisor George Clagett drove up to the snow telemetry site, a good-sized black bear stood upright on its hind legs next to the snow pillow with its nose up in the air testing the wind.  Then the bear put its paw on one of the five-foot stakes marking the corners of the snow pillow.  It would have made a great picture with the bear, shelter, precipitation gauge, and snow pillow together, but George didn't have his camera.  Read what happened next.
Kansas

Jane Koger and team member Marva Weigelt discussing patch burn strategies. (Photo: Mike Blair/Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks)Kansas Cattle Rancher Becomes Steward of the Grass
Jane Koger credits NRCS personnel with first raising the question of sustainability.  The guest program she operated on her 4,000-acre ranch for 15 years also influenced her attitude.  “City women 'oohed and aahed' over sunsets, birds, and wildflowers — things I’d been too busy to really notice.  That fresh perspective helped me see the prairie as a whole system of resources instead of just a place to raise cattle.”
 
New Jersey

Min Raibman is honored for her 15 years of NRCS Earth Team volunteer service (NRCS photo -- click to enlarge)Min Raibman Honored for 15 Years of Earth Team Volunteer Service
Min Raibman of Manalapan, New Jersey, was recently honored for her 15 years of NRCS Earth Team volunteer service starting when she was 75 years young.  Min works a couple days a week at the Freehold Service Center and when asked why she continues to volunteer, Min quips, “It keeps me off the streets.”
 

Connect to NRCS' State News, Newsroom, and News Releases!

Word from Washington header bar

Requires Windows Media Player

 USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Merlyn Carlson 2007 Farm Bill May be Greener
USDA Deputy Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment Merlyn Carlson says the 2007 Farm Bill may have more conservation initiatives than the 2002.

 

 

ag outlook forum 2007 logoAgricultural Outlook Forum — “Agriculture at the Crossroads: Energy, Farm & Rural Policy”
USDA will hold its 83rd Agricultural Outlook Forum on March 1 and 2, 2007, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. USDA holds the forum to provide timely forecasts of farm prospects and insight into developments affecting the farm economy.  About 1,600 persons are expected to attend.  Program details and registration information is available on the forum’s website.

 

NRCS Photo Album header bar

1930's "Dust Bowl image shows contoured furrows collecting soil blowing from the unprotected field in the background (NRCS image -- click to enlarge)Oklahoma Dust Bowl
This 1930's "Dust Bowl" image shows contoured furrows collecting soil blowing from the unprotected field in the background (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. 

NRCS directives header bar
 

See NRCS Directives for the Week of January 7, 2007
 

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.