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USDA SIGNS TECHNICAL SERVICE PROVIDER AGREEMENT WITH ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS, LLC

Sylvia Rainford (202) 720-2536

DES MOINES, Iowa, June 17, 2003-The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Environmental Management Solutions, LLC (EMS) that will help landowners obtain assistance for Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planning.

“This partnership will provide a much-needed service for landowners who need various aspects of nutrient management planning to comply with state and federal regulations,” NRCS Chief Bruce Knight said. “EMS certified individuals will help NRCS expand its capabilities and meet the enormous demand for Farm Bill conservation programs.”

The 2002 Farm Bill expanded the availability of technical assistance to private landowners by encouraging the use of third parties-called technical service providers-to assist USDA in delivering conservation technical assistance services to farmers, ranchers and others.

The five-year agreement allows EMS to recommend its certified individuals to USDA for certification to provide technical services in manure and wastewater handling and storage, aspects of comprehensive nutrient management planning and nutrient management. Their work must meet USDA standards and specifications for effective comprehensive nutrient management.

This is the first MOU with a private company that includes a training and certification program component to help individuals and entities become technical service providers. EMS, based in Des Moines, is owned by the National Pork Producers Council. Signatories to the MOU were Bruce Knight, chief, USDA-NRCS; Earl Dotson, president, EMS, and Jenny Felt, chair, EMS Certification Board.

The certified specialists will be placed on a national, web-based registry called TechReg that is available to landowners, farmers, ranchers and others seeking conservation technical assistance. About 700 certified TSPs and about 700 pending applications are listed in the registry nationally.

Additional information on technical service provider assistance is available at <http://techreg.usda.gov>. Information on the 2002 Farm Bill can be found at www.usda.gov/farmbill <http://www.usda.gov/farmbill>.



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