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Wisconsin
Celebrating
the Completion of Wisconsin’s Soil Survey
Soil scientists, school groups, and State and Federal dignitaries recently
celebrated the completion of the Wisconsin soil survey with the Year of Soil
event held in Madison. Governor Jim Doyle declared 2006 as the Year of Soil
in Wisconsin. Wisconsin now becomes the 10th State to have complete
digital soil survey coverage.
Texas
NRCS
Co-Sponsors 7th Annual Texas State Wildlife Contest
With a host of agencies and volunteers from Texas, NRCS Zone 5 co-sponsored the
recent 7th Annual Texas State Wildlife Contest held at the Richards
Ranch. The ranch, located near Jacksboro, Texas, has been in operation since
1865. The contest was held in conjunction with the Texas Wildlife Alliance for
Youth with the objective of supporting and promoting proper management
and conservation of wildlife and related natural resources.
Massachusetts
NRCS
Approves Up to $30,000 and Technical Assistance for Dam Stabilization
NRCS has approved up to $30,000 in Emergency Watershed Protection funding for
work to stabilize the Millbrook Dam in Rockport, Massachusetts. The dam had partially collapsed, causing
extensive damage to the park and endangering public safety, as well as business
and residential property downstream. The possible rupture of water and sewer
lines also threatened to release contaminants into Rockport Harbor.
Illinois
Conservation
Tillage Thriving in Illinois
Illinois district conservationist Kevin Donoho is optimistic about
use of conservation tillage in his district.
Connect to
NRCS' State
News,
Newsroom, and
News Releases!
Walk-A-Mile
Comes to Washington, D.C.
Through a unique partnership with the National Association of Conservation
Districts the
Walk-A-Mile in
My Boots program has resulted in a number of exchanges between producers
and NRCS. One of the most recent provided an opportunity for three ranchers
from the western U.S. to visit and work with NRCS Regional Assistant Chief, West
Sara Braasch at NRCS National Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Johanns
Announces 43 Percent Decline In Total Cropland Erosion
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns has announced that according to USDA’s
National Resources Inventory (NRI), a statistical survey of natural resource
conditions and trends on non-federal land, that total soil erosion on cultivated
and non-cultivated cropland in the U.S. decreased 43 percent between 1982 and
2003, sheet and rill erosion decreased 42 percent, and wind erosion decreased 44
percent. The NRI is a statistical survey of natural resource conditions
and trends on non-federal land that measures soil erosion, land cover and use,
prime farmland soils, wetlands, habitat diversity, selected conservation
practices, and related resources.
Links...
Johanns Announces 43 Percent Decline In Total Cropland
Erosion (May 22, 2006)
National Resources Inventory
Celebrate
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Twenty-seven years ago, President Jimmy Carter signed a joint resolution
declaring the first Asian Pacific American Heritage Week as May 4-10, 1979.
Eleven years later, in 1990, President George Bush extended the week into a
month-long celebration. Two years after that, Public Law 102-450 designated May
of each year Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The theme for this year’s
Asian Pacific American Heritage month is Celebrating Decades of Pride,
Partnerships and Progress.
Links…
President's Proclamation
for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
Chesapeake
Bay Recognized during National Wetlands Month
Every day, watersheds from six States pour into the Chesapeake Bay —
our nation’s largest estuary and an endangered wetland.
Larry Clark Speaks at National Agronomy Conference in Alabama
"We really don’t recognize soil as the agronomists do. They think of our soils
as the factory that produces our food and fiber, so that factory needs care and
maintenance," said NRCS Deputy Chief for Science and Technology Larry Clark this
week at the National Agronomy Conference in Auburn, Alabama.
General Manual State Supplement
Nevada May 17, 2006
To issue a supplement to the General Manual setting policy on completing spot
checks at Nevada Field offices.
Title 450, Part 407, Documentation, Certification, and Spot Checking, Subpart A,
Policy
Subpart B, Documentation and Certification
Subpart C, Spot Checking
Subpart D, Exhibits
National Bulletins
National Bulletin: 190-6-13
May 18, 2006
Subject: ECS – Collecting Information on Conservation Plant Materials Releases
Available for Testing Through Conservation Security Program (CSP) Research
Enhancement
The Conservation Security Program (CSP) Research Enhancement component offers
the opportunity for increased testing of conservation plant materials releases.
To provide State-level offices with the latest information on available
conservation plant releases for additional testing under the CSP Research
Enhancement, the Plant Materials Program needs to collect information from
State-level offices on actually (i.e., current use/adaptation) and potentially
(i.e., to be tested in/for future adaptation) used conservation plant materials
releases.
National Bulletin: 210-6-10
May 17, 2006
Subject: ENG – Draft National Engineering Handbook (NEH) 630, Hydrology, Chapter
7, Hydrologic Soil Groups
This draft of Chapter 7 represents a multi-year coordination and collaboration
effort between the Conservation Engineering Division and the Soil Survey
Division to reach an agreement on definition and determination of hydrologic
soil groups. Upon final release the definition of hydrologic soil groups in
Chapter 7 will supersede information provided in any other NRCS technical
references. While the official definition of hydrologic soil groups will reside
in Chapter 7, the Soil Survey Division will still have responsibility for
assigning map unit components to hydrologic soil groups.
National Bulletin: 450-6-12
May 19, 2006
Subject: TCH – Technical Service Provider (TSP) Acquisitions Information Needed
for Fiscal Year (FYS) 2003 Through 2006 and Future Quarters
This bulletin is requesting information regarding TSP acquisitions for FYs 2003,
2004, 2005, and 2006 through the third quarter and for subsequent quarters. The
agency needs TSP acquisition data to respond to internal and external requests.
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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