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The Natural Resources Conservation Service —
Helping People Help the Land.
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Delaware
 Delaware
Tour Highlights Conservation Successes
On a recent NRCS conservation tour, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del) asked landowners,
‘What is it that you think we, the Federal people here, should know?’ Family
farmer Helen Armstrong responded, “Without the federal program, we could not
have done this. You want to do this and that, but sometimes the money just runs
out. NRCS really helps out.”
Indiana
 Indiana
and NHQ Staff Exhibit at National FFA
NRCS staff from Indiana and NHQ recently exhibited at the national FFA
Convention and Career Show in Indianapolis, Indiana. An
estimated 55,000 FFA students and advisors attended the Career Show and other
events at the Indiana Convention Center where NRCS staff answered questions
about the agency and careers with NRCS as well as distributing hundreds of
informational posters and brochures.
Minnesota
 More
Than Two Million Acres in WRP
NRCS Chief, Arlen Lancaster announced this week that landowners have
enrolled more than two million acres in USDA’s Wetland Reserve Program (WRP), a
significant contribution toward exceeding a national goal of increasing the
Nation’s wetlands. “We have been able to enroll two million acres because
of ongoing support from Congress; the stewardship ethic of our cooperating
landowners; expert technical and financial assistance provided by federal, State
and local governments and agencies,” Lancaster said.
Links...
Florida has the nation’s third highest WRP enrollment at over 160,000 acres.
Listen to Florida NRCS State Conservationist Carlos Suarez explain how the
agency and its many partners achieved this success.
Wisconsin
 World
Dairy Expo
More than 67,000 dairy industry enthusiasts recently made the trip to World
Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. The EXPO, designed with today's dairy
producers in mind, is the international meeting place for the dairy industry
offering the most elite combination of dairy cattle and exhibits in the world.
 Texas
NRCS Employee Receives Department of Agriculture’s Highest Award
Horace Hodge, USDA/1890 agricultural liaison officer at Prairie View A&M
University, Prairie View, Texas, recently received the Secretary’s Honor Award
in – the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s highest tribute. The presentation took
place during the 61st Annual USDA Honor Awards Ceremony in Washington D.C.
 Kathy
Gugulis Selected for Meritorious Presidential Rank Award
Deputy Chief for Management Katherine C. Gugulis has been selected for a Fiscal
Year 2008 Meritorious Presidential Rank Award. Each year, an elite group
of career members of the Senior Executive Service , Senior-Level, and Scientific
and Professional corps are selected by the President for their exceptional
leadership, accomplishments, and service over an extended period of time.
A full listing
of 2008 Presidential Rank Award recipients can be found at the U.S. Office of
Personnel Management Website.
 Selena
Miller Receives CFC Double Eagle Award
USDA kicked-off the 2008 Combined Federal
Campaign (CFC) this week with Secretary of Agriculture and CFC Chair Ed Schafer
presenting USDA's first Double Eagle pin to NRCS NHQ Budget Team Leader Selena
Miller who was the first USDA employee to pledge two percent of her salary to
the CFC.
 David White
has been
selected as the Natural Resources Manager, Strategic Natural Resources Issues.
Mr. White previously served as the State Conservationist of Montana.
 Wendell Oaks
has been selected as
NRCS Chief Information Officer. Wendell previously
served as the Information Technology Division Business System Development Branch
Chief.
 Steve
Butler has been reassigned to the position
of Deputy Chief for Financial Management. He also
retains the title of Chief Financial Officer (CFO), which will be used primarily
for financial reporting and certification purposes.
 Roylene
Rides at the Door
has been selected as State Conservationist
of Washington, effective December 21, 2008. Ms. Roylene Rides at the Door has
served as State Conservationist of Rhode Island since 2005.
 Ron
Alvarado
has been selected as Oregon NRCS State
Conservationist effective December 7, 2008. Mr. Alvarado previously served
as New York NRCS State Conservationist since 2006.
 Leonora Baddoo, Meghan Irving, June Yeung, and Ida Ngambeki -- Massachusetts
NRCS Earth Team Volunteers
A multi-cultural group of Smith College engineering students served as group
volunteers for the Massachusetts Earth Team worked with NRCS staff and partners
to design a culvert for the restoration of the Weir Creek Salt Marsh in Dennis,
Massachusetts.
AGWA Increases Agency Efficiency
The Automated Geospatial Watershed Assessment (AGWA)
tool is a GIS interface jointly developed by the Agricultural Research
Service, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the University of Arizona,
and the University of Wyoming to automate the parameterization and execution of
the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and KINEmatic Runoff and EROSion
(KINEROS2) hydrologic models.
 State-of-the-Art
Technology
In 1952, Montana NRCS snow surveyor Ashton Codd was busy with latest model of
Merchant Calculator. (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.
Conservation... Our Purpose. Our Passion
The purpose and
passion for conservation is shared among many. It is shared between NRCS
employees and partners who help people help the land. And it is shared
by the landowners with whom we work. Our passion is manifested through
the benefits derived from stewardship of private lands—benefits we all
enjoy, such as cleaner water and air, improved soils and abundant
wildlife habitat.
Learn about our stories, the stories of conservation made possible
through a shared purpose, a shared passion and a shared commitment to
conservation. |
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.
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