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Iowa

Plymouth County farmer Ben Johnson and NRCS Soil Conservation Technician Dennis Eppling check a windbreak on Johnson’s farm. The windbreak is one of a number of practices NRCS has helped install on the 25-year old’s family farmYoung Farmer Credits Input Savings for Full-Time Employment
Agricultural statistics say Ben Johnson is very unusual.  He is a 25-year-old full-time farmer who doesn’t need off-farm income to survive. Johnson says he’s living his dream and he credits good stewardship and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for making his full-time farming dream possible.  “Ben Johnson’s EQIP contract requires him to follow a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) to properly store, transport, and apply the hog manure on his ground,” said Plymouth County NRCS district conservationist in Jim Lahn. 

Oklahoma

Dr. Carol Crouch (center) with students from high school and college AISES ChaptersNRCS Recruitment Success
The recent American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) Region IV Conference proved to be a golden opportunity for NRCS recruiting activities by NRCS National Special Emphasis Program Manager for American Indian & Alaska Natives Dr. Carol Crouch.  Carol, who is also the Purcell, Oklahoma field office District Conservationist talked to students from 19 active high school AISES Chapters and universities located in Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, and Louisiana during the conference that was held at Northeastern University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

 

Louisiana

(clockwise from top left) Nathaniel Todea, Lakeisha Hill, Jae Lee, and Helen DennistonNCRC Welcomes New Members
The NRCS National Civil Rights Committee (NCRC) recently held its first meeting of Fiscal Year 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana, in conjunction with the National Association of Conservation Districts Annual Meeting.  Chief White opened the meeting with a dialogue with committee members covering their professional backgrounds, issues faced in their respective States, what the committee could do to address these issues, and what he could do to help them accomplish their overall goals.  Chief White also shared his expectations of the committee.
 
 

 

 

Minnesota

Nick Drees Middle-Snake-Tamarac Rivers Watershed District Board AdministratorRed River Valley Flooding Update
Thanks to the good work by Minnesota NRCS, the City of Warren located on the Snake River, hasn’t been sandbagging and evacuating residents during the current Red River Valley flooding.  Warren has had a history of severe flooding with three floods in 1996 and 1997 causing $12.5 million in damage that prompted the city and the Middle-Snake-Tamarac Rivers Watershed District to request PL-566 Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program assistance from NRCS. 

Go to the WDAZ-TV link, scroll down the list of 'video headlines' to the immediate right of the image, and click on 'Warren, MN Flood Control' to see NRCS PL-566 flood control structures in action.

 

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NRCS Chief Dave WhiteNRCS Welcomes New Chief
Dave White was named Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service on March 24, 2009. He began his 32-year career with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) as a conservation aid in Missouri. Subsequently, he has served the agency in South Carolina, Montana and its Washington, D.C. headquarters. As Chief, he leads 12,000 employees and manages a budget in excess of $3 billion.

From 2002 to 2008, Mr. White was assigned as the NRCS State Conservationist in Montana. For much of 2007 and 2008, he was also detailed to Senator Tom Harkin’s Capitol Hill office, where he helped the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry craft the Conservation Title of the 2008 Farm Bill.

His earlier jobs in the Washington, D.C. area include two details to the staff of Senator Richard Lugar, in support of agriculture committee work on energy and alternative fuels and the 2002 Farm Bill, and a tour as Director of Communications for the White House Task Force for Livable Communities.

Mr. White is an honors graduate of the University of Missouri, where he studied agriculture. He and his wife have a grown son and daughter.
 

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(above) Jeff battling his way through Rainey Pass (NRCS image -- click to enlarge)NRCS Civil Engineer Wins Iditarod Trail Invitational
Nearly six days after the gun signaled the start of the Iditarod Trail Invitational, NRCS civil engineer Jeff Oatley rolled across the finish line in McGrath, Alaska, to take first place after pushing and riding his bicycle across 350 miles of some of the country's most remote, frozen terrain.  Jeff’s winning time was actually 5 days, 19 hours and 34 minutes. 
 

 

 

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sweetgrass baskets (lower right inset) basket weaving (NRCS image -- click to enlarge)Florida Plant Materials Center Helps Preserve Sweetgrass
With development pressure along the South Carolina coastline greatly reducing the number sweetgrass stands and endangering the basket weaving tradition in the area, the Charleston Division of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) contacted the NRCS Plant Materials Center (PMC) in Brooksville, Florida, to help preserve sweetgrass germplasm for future generations.
 

 

 

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Michael Humphrey -- New York Earth Team VolunteerMichael Humphrey -- New York Earth Team Volunteer
Bringing a background in geology and geographic information systems, Michael Humphrey sought out NRCS volunteer opportunities upon learning about the work that the agency does. “This is an excellent opportunity for anyone pursuing a degree in the natural resources field.  I would encourage everyone to explore the opportunity to join the Earth Team,” says Michael.

 

 

 

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CCC enrollee sighting through an engineer’s level at camp SCS-NC-5, Yanceyville, North Carolina -- National Archives-College Park 35G No 263 (click to enlarge)CCC Enrollee
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) enrollee sighting through an engineer’s level in 1940 at camp SCS-NC-5, Yanceyville, North Carolina -- National Archives-College Park 35G No 263 (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. 
 

 

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