Current Developments is a quarterly newsletter that is sent out to Natural Resources Conservation Service Tennessee employees and partners. 

Click here to view the 2024 Summer Interns.

Greetings conservation partners and employees,

Happy New Year. This past holiday season has certainly been an enjoyable one. It has been an honor and a pleasure to have the opportunity to serve as the acting state conservationist for Tennessee. I can truly say Tennessee is on the move. I’ve had the chance to meet with various partners, organizations, landowners, and employees across the state.  
My heart goes out to the families and communities who we effected by the deadly tornadoes on December 9. We understand the challenges that they may be facing, and it is our mission to assist these affected communities where we can.
On November 7, I was able to meet with the Tennessee Urban Agriculture Sub Committee. I was able to share some of our accomplishments and goals for urban agriculture in Tennessee.  It was great to see the some of the urban agriculture projects that are going on across the state. 
 

State Conservationist Message

Greetings Conservation Partners and Employees,

I want to start off by saying I hope you had a Merry Christmas, and you were able to relax and spend time with family and friends over the holiday. I also hope you are ready and energized for 2023.

This morning I got to enjoy one last drive from Knoxville to Nashville and witness the great scenery of Tennessee that I soon will miss. While driving alone in the vehicle, I could not help but to reflect on the time I was able to spend in Tennessee for the past 10 years as district conservationist, area resource conservationist, assistant state conservationist for field operations, and most recently as acting state conservationist. I greatly appreciate each one of you that I have been able work with and get to know over that time. I am proud to be part of the Soil health! Soil health! Soil health! movement in Tennessee and witness the results of many installed conservation practices that made Tennessee farms and the environment more substantiable.

Click here to read complete Winter 2022 Edition.

State Conservationist Message

Greetings Conservation Partners and Employees,

I want to thank you for all of your dedication and hard work as we successfully close out fiscal year 2022.   

You all have done a tremendous job with the delivery and implementation of our conservation programs to producers in Tennessee. Your efforts have brought a total of $27 million to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, more than $12 million to the Conservation Stewardship Program and $3.6 million to the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program. We have processed close to 4,000 payments to Tennessee producers in the amount of $30 million.

Congratulations to the Tennessee Association of Conservation Districts for hosting their 78th annual convention in Knoxville, Tennessee. It was great to be able to attend in person and connect with our soil and water conservation district partners.

I also had the pleasure of attending the Tennessee Association of Conservation Districts summer meetings in Middle and East Tennessee where I spoke with our partners and Natural Resources Conservation Service employees. I appreciate the continued support and partnership. 

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Greetings Conservation Partners and Employees,

Thank you all for your efforts with our Environmental Quality Incentives Program approvals and obligations. You continue to go above and beyond in working with our producers on technical and financial assistance. We have obligated close to $25 million to our Tennessee producers.

The Tennessee Leadership Team conducted our management and administrative review in the Murfreesboro area. It was a great opportunity for the Tennessee Leadership Team to spend some time with field, area and partner employees.

The Field Office Advisory Committee met this quarter through Teams, and we had a very productive meeting in addressing some of the recommendations that came from the field staff. I am very proud of the suggestions and comments that came from these committee members. I would like to thank our outgoing member, Meaghan Maddux. I also would like to welcome new member, Daniel Horne.

I participated in a great kick-off session in Jackson, Mississippi for the second class of NRCS leaders in the Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee Southeast Leadership Development Program. There are a total of 19 participants in the program. Our Tennessee participants and board members did a great job with the first session.  

Click here to read complete Summer Edition 2022 Current Developments. 

State Conservationist Message

Greetings NRCS Employees and Conservation Partners,

I want to thank you for your dedication and hard work during these difficult times. Protecting your health and safety is very critical as our nation continues to combat the Coronavirus and its impact on our customers, friends, and families.

You all have done a tremendous job with on the delivery and implementation of our conservation programs to producers in Tennessee. Your efforts have brought a total of
$37 million to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, a total of $10.7 million to the Conservation Stewardship Program and a total of $9.6 million to the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.

Click here to read complete Fall 2021 Edition.

In This Issue

Quarterly Calendar

• State Conservationist Message
• Public Affairs
• NRCS State Office News
• Partnerships
• Administrative Tips and Tricks
• What's Happening in the Field?
• Tennessee Civil Rights Advisory Committee
• Earth Team Volunteer Program
• Employee Information
• Helpful Links

Open to view recruitment video

Greetings Conservation Partners and Employees,

A safe and healthy environment for our employees and partners is the number one goal of our agency. I am excited about the majority of our service centers being at the 75 percent staffing level and customers being able visit our offices without having to make an appointment. 

Despite all the challenges and recent setbacks we've encountered, you continue to go above and beyond in our delivery of conservation to our landowners and producers. We have processed close to 3,000 payments to Tennessee producers in the amount of $21 million.

Tennessee submitted 55 positions for direct hire authority, which includes soil conservationists, soil conservation technicians, civil engineer technicians, agricultural engineers, and foresters. The goal is to get more resources in the service centers.

Click here to open Tennessee FY2021 At-A-Glance

Greetings NRCS employees and conservation partners,

Happy Holidays to all of you!

December is an opportunity to reflect on the past year accomplishments and establish the vision for fiscal year 2022.

I am very thankful and fortunate to be able to work with each of you and serve as your state conservationist here in Tennessee. It’s because of your efforts that I see the tremendous impacts we have on our producers, partners and local community we serve every day.

We’ve had a busy and productive 2021. We couldn’t have achieved success without your hard and work dedication to the landowners and producers across the state. Please know how grateful I am for all the work you do in protecting our natural resources in Tennessee.

Included in this issue: Area One hosted its photo contest, and winners were announced during the Area One all-employee winter meeting that was held on December 7. The area-wide photo contest occurs every year with top three winners awarded in each category: people, places, and practices. Below is this year’s first, second, and third place winners in each category. Congratulations to all who participated!

Click on each picture below to enlarge.