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this 1997 image depicts NRCS Project Leader Delaware Estuary Program Elbert Wells and students from the Hartranft Elementary School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, collecting seed heads from marigolds for next year’s flowers -- the students plant, maintain, and harvest flowers and vegetables in a garden they built themselves (USDA photo by Bob Nichols – click to enlarge)NRCS This Week mast head

The Natural Resources Conservation Service — Helping People Help the Land.

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Florida

students participate in the annual Florida State Land Judging Contest (NRCS image click to enlarge)Contest Attracts Hundreds to Florida's Copeland Farms
Students from across the State participated in the annual Florida State Land Judging Contest held at the Alachua's Copeland Farm.  The 50th annual Florida State Land Judging Contest that has students evaluate four possible types of land uses and teaches youngsters how to properly evaluate land for potential uses, attracted some 148 participants.


 

Pacific Islands Area

Bringing Environmental Awareness Closer to Students
(from the Saipan Tribune) Between 300 and 400 students heard NRCS district conservationist James Eller make presentations about efficient farm practices, soil erosion prevention, and rainfall collection and conservation.

Texas

NRCS Big Spring Distict Conservationist Eddy M. SpurginTexas NRCS District Conservationist Takes Command of 36th Infantry Division
(from the  Big Spring Herald) NRCS Big Spring District Conservationist Eddy M. Spurgin recently became the 36 Infantry Division’s newest commander.  “I'll be taking a leave-of-absence from NRCS for about two-and-a-half years,” said Major General Spurgin.  “However, we're not planning to move.  My wife will stay home, in Big Spring and when we (36 Infantry Division) come back from our deployment, I'll be back to my home and my job.”

 

 

 

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(from right) Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Chairman Brings Plenty plant seeds at a ceremonial Three Sisters Garden (NRCS image -- click to enlarge)NRCS/USDA Celebrate Earth Day
The USDA People's Garden was the scene of a variety of activities in celebration of Earth Day.  Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan officially kicked off the Earth Day event at the Whitten Building with Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Chairman Brings Plenty who performed a traditional song and planted seeds at a ceremonial Three Sisters Garden to celebrate American Indians' contribution to American agriculture.  Merrigan led volunteers and USDA staffers in planting vegetables, herbs and flowers to complete the first phase of The People's Garden. Eventually, the garden will include organic raised vegetable beds, organic transition plots, an organic urban container garden, an organic kitchen pollinator garden, rain gardens and a bat house.

 

 

NRCS publications montage -- NRCS imageLANDCARE’s Back!
The LANDCARE Website is back on-line and ready for your orders.  LANDCARE is the NRCS National Publications and Forms Distribution Center that houses over 340 agency publications and forms shipped free of charge to internal and external customers.  



 

Famous Depression-Era PhotoHistory Channel to Air Dust Bowl Special
Take a front row seat on Sunday, April 26, 10:00 AM, Tuesday, April 28, 08:00 AM and 02:00 PM and re-live the period of U.S. history from 1930-1940 when America's heartland was ravaged by a weather phenomenon that became known as a "black blizzard."  Watch as scientists and special effects experts recreate the black blizzards in amazing detail and reveal that this was a man-made disaster. 

 

 

 

(from left) Chief White shakes hands after the MOU signing with AFS Executive Director Gus Rassam (NRCS image -- click to enlarge)NRCS and American Fisheries Society Sign MOU
NRCS and American Fisheries Society (AFS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) this week in Washington D.C.  The purpose of this MOU is to strengthen cooperation, communication, and technology transfer among the parties to proactively conserve fish species and the associated habitats and encourage, promote, and increase continuous scientific learning, and professional development within both organizations.
 

 

 

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Earth Team emblemNational Volunteer Week
This is National Volunteer Week running through April 25th.  NRCS is proud of the dedicated Earth Team volunteers and staff who commit their time and talents each year to conserving and protecting our natural resources.  Listen to the Southeast AgNet Volunteer Week radio feature.
 

 

 

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Asdepias tuberosa (click to enlarge)Using Farm Bill Programs for Pollinator Conservation Technical Note Released
Technical Note TN.190.B.78 - Using Farm Bill Programs for Pollinator Conservation is now available.  Learn about Farm Bill programs and associated conservation practices that can increase pollinator populations for healthier and more profitable agro-ecosystems. It was developed by the National Plant Data Center in cooperation with The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. It is available through the NRCS Directive System and also through the PLANTS Home Page. 
Your contact is Mark Skinner at 225-775-6280.
 

 

 

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poster for the annual farm and home week January 6-10, 19411941 University of Illinois Annual Farm and Home Week Poster
This poster for the annual farm and home week January 6-10, 1941, at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, College of Agriculture was produced as a Workers Progress Administration art project (Library of Congress image – 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. 
 

 

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.