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Agriculture Leadership in Louisiana Celebrate Milestone in Conservation
75th Anniversary for the Natural Resources Conservation Service
Baton Rouge, April 22, 2010—Kevin Norton, State
Conservationist for USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Louisiana,
joined state agriculture leaders at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge to
celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Natural Resources
Conservation Service, formerly known as the Soil Conservation Service.
Before a crowd of legislators and soil and water conservation
district supervisors, Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, DVM,
recognized the anniversary of the Natural Resources Conservation Service and
proclaimed April 25-May 2, 2010, as Conservation Week in Louisiana.
“75 years ago, during one of the bleakest times in America’s agricultural
history, national leaders established the Soil Conservation Service to help save
America’s soil,” said Strain. “America was losing thousands of tons of topsoil
as a result of relentless dust storms caused by years of catastrophic drought
conditions and poor farming practices—and action had to be taken to save our
country’s farmlands.”
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Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, DVM,
presents Kevin Norton, State Conservationist of the USDA Natural
Resources Conservation Service in Louisiana with Conservation Week
proclamation. The pair are flanked by: (left to right) Dr. Ernest
Girouard, President of the Louisiana Association of Conservation
Districts; Brad Spicer, Assistant Commissioner-Soil and Water, Louisiana
Department of Agriculture and Forestry; Commissioner Strain; Kevin
Norton; Earl Garber, 2nd Vice President of the National Association of
Conservation Districts; and Randell Fletcher, Chair of the Louisiana
Soil and Water Conservation Commission. |
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Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, DVM,
signs proclamation declaring the week of April 25-May 2, 2010, as
Conservation Week in Louisiana. The following document requires
Adobe Acrobat.
Commissioner Strain Proclamation (PDF; 422 KB) |
The Soil Conservation Service was established in 1935 to carry out a continuing
program of soil and water conservation on America’s privately owned farms,
ranches, and forest lands. Working with local soil and water conservation
districts, the Soil Conservation Service helped land owners solve erosion
problems and improve soil quality.
The historic partnership between state and federal agencies in Louisiana is a
key factor in achieving conservation success in Louisiana. In 1938, three years
after the establishment of the Soil Conservation Service, the Louisiana
Legislature established the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee and
authorized it to work with local farmers to establish local conservation
districts.
“Today’s Natural Resources Conservation Service continues to work with soil and
water conservation districts to help private land owners conserve our country’s
natural resources,” said Norton. “Our team of professional conservationists
address such issues as water quality, water quantity for agriculture, declining
soil quality, forest health, forage quality, pesticide resistance, coastal
erosion, habitat fragmentation and loss—just to name a few.”
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During Conservation Week ceremonies at the State Capitol on April 22,
2010, Congressman Anh “Joseph” Cao, represented by Deputy Chief of Staff
Rosalind Peychaud, presented the USDA Natural Resources Conservation
Service a certificate from the U.S. House of Representatives recognizing
the agency’s 75th Anniversary and recognizing the celebration of
Conservation Week in Louisiana. The following document requires Adobe Acrobat.
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The Louisiana House of Representatives enrolled House Resolution 31 to
recognize April 25 through May 1, 2010, as Conservation Stewardship Week
in Louisiana. This resolution was introduced by Representative Andy
Anders to raise awareness of all past and future efforts to protect and
conserve our soil, water, and related natural resources. The following document requires Adobe Acrobat.
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The Natural Resources Conservation Service has offices in USDA Service Centers
throughout Louisiana to help Louisiana’s farm, ranch, and forest owners be good
stewards of their natural resources.
Last Modified:
08/14/2012
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