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2002 Newsroom
National Media Liaisons:
Terry Bish, 202-720-3210
Mary Cressel, 202-690-0547
State News and Public Affairs Contacts
Where to Get Information About NRCS
NRCS Announces Record Year for Earth Team Volunteers
On December 18, NRCS announced a record-breaking year for its Earth Team
Volunteer Program with more than one million hours of service donated to
conservation activities. Volunteers worked on thousands of conservation projects
including streambank restoration; clean-up of rivers, streams, and lakes; and
outdoor classroom development.
Links...
USDA News Release
Earth Team Home Page
USDA Seeks Technical Assistance Providers to Help Deliver Conservation
Assistance
On November 25, USDA issued a news release on the interim final rule for
Technical Service Provider Assistance that was published in the Federal Register
on November 21. The 2002 Farm Bill expanded the availability of technical
assistance to producers by encouraging the use of third parties--called
technical service providers--to assist USDA in delivering conservation technical
services.
Links
 News
Release:
USDA Seeks Technical Service Providers to Help Deliver Conservation Assistance,
November 25, 2002
Interim Final Rule
Submit
Comments on the Technical Service Provider Process
Technical Service Provider Summit Held November 7
USDA Announces Final Rule for Conservation of Private Grazing Land Program
On November 12, 2002, the final rule for Conservation of Private Grazing Land
(CPGL) Initiative was published in the Federal Register. The 2002 Farm
Bill authorized the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide technical
assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service to owners and
managers of private grazing land through the program.
Links…
Read the Final Rule
NRCS News Release
Information on CPGL and other
2002 Farm Bill programs
Veneman Announces the Availability of $10 Million in EQIP Funding to
Drought-stricken States
On September 16, Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced the release
of nearly $10 million in previously unallocated FY2002 funds for the
Environmental Quality Incentives Program. "The majority of these funds
will be directed to states most severely impacted by the drought," said Veneman.
Links…
USDA News
Release
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
Emergency Watershed Protection Program Funding Will Help States Hit by
Natural Disasters
On September 16, Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced that $94
million will be released for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program in 36
States. "This program will provide assistance to help restore natural resources
from the devastating effects of wildfires and other natural disasters," Veneman
said.
Links…
USDA News
Release
Emergency Watershed Protection Program
See the Technical Service Provider Webcast!
On Thursday, September 12, 2002, a live Webcast, featuring NRCS Chief Bruce
Knight and other staff, focused on NRCS Technical Service Providers.
The discussion, with a live audience of Technical Service Providers (TSPs) in
attendance, gave an overview of TSPs at NRCS, legislation,
issues, rule publishing, processes and procedures, and was followed up with
a question-and-answer period. Click on the link below to view the Webcast.
Link…
NRCS and Cherokee Indians Sign Cultural Resources Agreement
On September 10, 2002, in Cherokee, North Carolina, NRCS and the Eastern Band
of the Cherokee Indians signed a joint protocol establishing procedures that
will ensure the identification and protection of tribal cultural resources in
conjunction with NRCS activities.
(Left to Right) Russell Townsend, Deputy Tribal Cultural
Resources Director; Leon Jones, Principal Chief; Mary Combs, State
Conservationist - North Carolina; and Walter Douglas, State Conservationist -
South Carolina. Photo Credit: Joe Martin, Editor, One Feather.
Link…
USDA Releases $323 Million for Conservation Programs
On September 6, Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced the availability
of $323 million for the Farmland Protection Program and the Wetlands Reserve
Program. "These funds will help keep agricultural lands in production and they
will help protect our country's valuable wetland ecosystems," Veneman said.
Links…
USDA News Release
Farmland Protection Program
Wetlands Reserve Program
 NRCS
Unveils New Electronic Technical Guides for Conservation
On Monday, August 26, NRCS Chief Bruce Knight launched the electronic
Field Office Technical Guide (eFOTG). The NRCS technical guide is a
compilation of resource information about soil, water, air, plant, animal, and
socio-economic resources within each NRCS field office area. It also contains
other conservation planning aides, including standards for conservation
practices, that are applicable for the area served by the field office. The old
technical guide was a traditional, paper-based reference used in NRCS field
offices to organize technical resources and activities for conservation. The
electronic technical guide makes scientifically proven and time tested NRCS
conservation technology available instantly to anyone with Internet access.
Links for more information...
Go to the eFOTG
NRCS News Release
Overview
PowerPoint Introduction
Chief Knight's Remarks
NRCS Chief Knight Attends DakotaFest
MITCHELL, South Dakota, August 20, 2002 -- NRCS Chief Bruce Knight attended
DakotaFest 2002, South Dakota's largest agriculture show. The Chief was
interviewed for radio, television, and magazines. He also spoke with South
Dakota producers and agricultural groups. Organizers introduced the
"Production for Profit" series, designed to bring industry speakers and farmers
together, "Save Our Farm Youth," a farm safety program for kids, and a
fundraiser for local 4-H and FFA groups.
Links for more
information…
Information on DakotaFest
Knight Announces Funding for Agricultural Management Assistance
WASHINGTON, August 19, 2002 -- NRCS Chief Bruce Knight announced the release
of $1.5 million for Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA). This is in
addition to the $7 million released earlier this year. AMA is a voluntary
conservation program available in 15 states where participation in the Federal
Crop Insurance Program is historically low. NRCS state offices soon will receive
funding to provide cost-share payments to farmers for conservation practices
such as water management, water quality and erosion control.
Links for more
information…
NRCS News Release
Agricultural Management Assistance Program
USDA Assists Klamath Basin Farmers
The USDA's first Klamath Basin Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
contract under the 2002 Farm Bill was signed on August 7, 2002, at an on-farm
ceremony near Klamath Falls, Oregon.
Links for more
information…
USDA News
Release
NRCS Farm Bill Page
Secretary Veneman Tours Farming Operations in Connecticut
Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman toured
farming operations and conducted constituent forums with state representatives
in Connecticut on August 5. Veneman announced more than $760,000 for
Connecticut to improve soil, water and air quality on working farmlands. The
funding is part of NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and
will provide financial and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers for
conservation practices that improve soil, water and air quality, wildlife
habitat and surface and ground water conservation on eligible agricultural land,
including livestock operations.
Links for more
information…
USDA News
Release
NRCS Farm Bill Page
Chief Knight Focuses on Farm Bill in SWCS Address
NRCS Chief Bruce Knight addressed the opening session of the 57th
annual conference of the internationally known Soil and Water Conservation
Society (SWCS) on July 15, in Indianapolis, IN. He focused on the importance of the Farm Security and
Rural Investment Act of 2002—the Farm Bill—for conservation on working lands and
how it builds on past conservation gains. Knight also commended the efforts of
conservation partners such as SWCS for taking their advocacy and policy roles to
a new level in supporting conservation.
Links for more
information…
Chief Knight's Remarks
NRCS News Release
USDA Features Farm Bill, Trade on National Broadcast
WASHINGTON, July 11, 2002 -- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman, Chief
Economist Keith Collins, Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural
Services Hunt Shipman, and Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Bruce
Knight discussed Farm Bill implementation, trade and related matters on a live
national broadcast. USDA Office of Communications Deputy Director Larry
Quinn moderated.
Links for more
information…
USDA Transcript
Veneman Announces $275 Million in Additional Funding for Environmental
Quality Incentives Program
WASHINGTON, July 11, 2002 -- Agriculture Secretary Ann M.
Veneman announced the availability of an additional $275 million in funds for
the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), a voluntary conservation
program that promotes environmental quality. Farmers and Ranchers may receive
financial and technical assistance for certain conservation practices, such as
nutrient management, integrated pest management and wildlife habitat management
on eligible agricultural land.
Links for more
information…
USDA News
Release
NRCS Farm Bill Page
Excellence in Conservation Award Winner
Al Poncia, a third-generation rancher from northern California, was the
recipient of the first national NRCS Excellence in Conservation Award.
Poncia was recognized at a ceremony at the USDA complex in Washington, D.C. on
July 8, 2002.
Links for more
information…
NRCS News
Release
NRCS Chief Bruce I. Knight
Bruce I. Knight, former vice president for public policy for the
National Corn Growers Association, became chief of the Natural Resources
Conservation Service on May 6, 2002. Chief Knight has farmed and ranched
in South Dakota for more than 25 years.
Links for more information...
Chief Knight's Bio
News Release
Download Photo
Selected Speeches
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NRCS
and Cherokees Sign Protocol (1:35)
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