USDA Soil Scientists Honored by National Cooperative Soil Survey

Corpus Christi, Texas, May 24, 2005—USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) soil scientists received national honors today from the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) at the NCSS National Conference.

Anthony Khiel, NRCS, Sevierville, Tenn., and Douglas Thomas, NRCS, Waynesville, N.C., were co-recipients of the NCSS Soil Scientist of the Year Award and William “Rob” Knight, NRCS, Greensburg, Pa., received the NCSS Soil Scientist Achievement Award. Ohio State University soil science professor Dr. Neil Smeck received the NCSS Cooperator Achievement Award.

“I’m extremely proud of our soil science professionals and the quality of their work,” said Bruce Knight, NRCS Chief. “The national soil survey truly is an example of cooperative conservation at its best.”

Khiel and Thomas worked together as soil survey project leaders on the soil survey of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which covered more than 350,000 acres over two states.

“Rob” Knight was recognized for many years of work that produced high-quality soil survey products, applied technology and innovation for five soil surveys in Pennsylvania. He also completed four soil survey manuscripts covering more than 2 million acres while continually updating and maintaining soil surveys in 15 counties in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Smeck was honored for a lifetime of soil survey research that began in 1966 and produced numerous papers relating directly to classification and morphology of soils common in the Midwest states. He leads the Ohio State Soil Survey Program that is a strong partner in making soil surveys in Ohio.

The NCSS is a nationwide partnership of federal, regional, state and local agencies and institutions. This partnership works together to investigate, inventory, document, classify and interpret soils and to distribute, publish and promote the use of soils information. The work of NCSS is carried out on national, regional and state levels. NCSS has partnered with the federal government in support of soil work since 1899.

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