Arkansas Annual Report 2007

Dear Arkansans:

Fiscal Year 2007 was a very productive and challenging year for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Arkansas.

Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) and the Healthy Forest Reserve Program (HFRP), we funded more than $20.2 million of conservation projects on private lands. This funding is in addition to the money landowners provided through the cost-share programs. Thirteen Wetlands Reserve Program contracts were also accepted to improve wildlife habitat on 6,645 acres.

Arkansas farmers and landowners consistently show they truly care about Arkansas’ natural resources. Those that have been fortunate enough to be in a Conservation Security Program (CSP) watershed have been rewarded for their commitment and work. Although no watersheds were selected for CSP in 2007 due to funding, producers received more than $12.3 million for previous sign up contract payments.

Our work wasn’t just confined to Farm Bill programs. The NRCS staff provided technical assistance to thousands of landowners across the state.

Educating our customers about no-till farming, animal waste management systems, prescribed grazing, and efficient irrigation are just a few examples of how NRCS is protecting the Natural State’s natural resources.

Demand for conservation is not going to slow down. With greater demand comes a new challenge - coordinating our resources to get more conservation on the ground with less staff.

Cooperative conservation is the best way to maintain, enhance and expand conservation programs and practices and serve all of our customers. Without all eight of the organizations in the Arkansas Conservation Partnership working together, none of us would be as productive. The partnership deserves a great deal of thanks and appreciation for focusing technical and financial resources on conservation priorities throughout the state. Together, we make Arkansas a better place to live, work and put conservation on the ground.

I am pleased to present the 2007 Arkansas Natural Resources Conservation Service Annual Report. This report is just a brief glimpse of the great work our dedicated, professional team of conservationists has accomplished to make a difference for the environment, the people and the landscape of Arkansas.

Arkansas Conservation Partnership

More than 250 Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) employees serve Arkansas’ 75 counties from 62 field service centers throughout the state.

These employees work with private landowners and the Arkansas Conservation Partnership to preserve and maintain the natural resources of Arkansas.

The Arkansas Conservation Partnership is a unique force, combining the strengths of federal, state and local organizations along with educational institutions to help preserve and protect the Natural State. Formed in 1992, the partnership now consists of eight organizations: Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts, Arkansas Association of Conservation District Employees, Arkansas Resource Conservation and Development Councils Inc., University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and the Arkansas Forestry Commission. The various agencies’ diverse missions complement each other.

In fiscal year 2007, the partnership focused on water resources, land resource management, conservation education, forestry health, 2002 Farm Bill implementation, community development and alternative fuels.

Watershed Program

The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act authorizes NRCS to provide assistance to local organizations in planning and implementing watershed projects. In fiscal year 2007, Arkansas’ $1,154,000 allotment was used to award one contract for Site 13 of Ozan Creeks Watershed in Hempstead County.

In addition to construction, NRCS participated in the plan or the supplemental plan development of the following: the Upper L’Anguille River Watershed, ground water resource problem area; the Upper Petit Jean M&I Site 3, a new lake site for municipal and industrial rural agriculture water supply for the cities of Booneville and Waldron and the surrounding area; and the Big Slough Watershed, a flood control project in northeast Arkansas near Piggott.

Rehabilitation plans were developed for: Poteau River Site 8 and Poteau River Site 5 in Scott County; Big Creek Site 6 in Craighead County; Muddy Fork Site 3 in Washington County; and West Fork Point Remove Site 7 in Conway County.

Ground and Surface Water Conservation

The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers is partnering with NRCS to provide assistance to producers in the conservation of valuable groundwater through the Grand Prairie Demonstration Project. Over the last several years, $24.6 million has been spent constructing storage reservoirs and distribution systems which have resulted in 34,144.1 acre feet of ground water conservation.

In addition to the Grand Prairie Demonstration Project, the Ground and Surface Water Conservation portion of EQIP provided funding for water conservation on more than 66,000 acres of cropland.

Soil Surveys

The Arkansas Soil Survey Staff provided technical assistance to modernize soils data of the U.S. Forest Service Ouachita National Forest, creating seamless coverage of the 1.4 million acres Forest. The staff also provided technical assistance to Arkansas Natural Resources Commission for the completion of Camp Robinson Soil Survey Update. New soil survey information was released for Montgomery and Nevada counties.

Viewable interactive Soil Surveys are available online (http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov) for all counties in Arkansas. Digital soil maps are also available for all counties in the state.

Grazing Lands

NRCS has four full-time grazing specialists on the staff. Technical assistance for owners and managers of grassland in Arkansas is an important component of NRCS conservation activities in Arkansas.

The Arkansas Grazing Lands Coalition (AGLC) provides leadership and direction to the grazing lands programs. AGLC’s membership includes the Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts, Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council, Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association, Arkansas Farm Bureau, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension, NRCS, members of the dairy industry and producers of small ruminants.

In 2007, approximately 60 events related to grazing lands reached 2,050 farmers and educators. Several trainings reached 135 NRCS personnel with information on prescribed grazing standards and facilitating practices. Support was provided to Heifer International for a Conservation Innovation Grant training limited resource farmers on prescribed grazing.

Earth Team

Arkansas has more than 2,130 active volunteers who provided more than 14,173 hours of service to help NRCS accomplish the successes outlined in this report.

Volunteers throughout the state helped with forestry clinics, field days, fair booths, outreach meetings, Earth Day, Farm Safety Day Camp, 2007 Water Fest, WOW III at the Zoo, Museum of Discovery, Envirothon contests, grazing land management workshops, organizing a bioenergy conference, surveying, preparing EQIP contract folders, collecting data for farm plans, GPS readings and fence measuring; pond design, layout, checkout and staking; generating maps for TookKit, and other field work activities.

In addition to NRCS volunteers, the Earth Team includes a cadre of Resource Conservation and Development volunteers who worked on a farmer’s market project through planning, advertising, news releases, grant proposals, market duties and workshops.

Resource Conservation and Development

Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) councils in Arkansas worked on a variety of projects including grant programs for rural fire departments, developing markets for non-traditional crops, creating new farmers markets, assisting communities to improve and make available health care facilities, restoration of historic sites, timber management by landowners with small acreages, assistance with rural water supplies, drainage improvement, conservation education, outdoor classrooms, wetland restoration, development of a sweet potato coop and processing facility, and disposal of hazardous household chemicals.

RC&D councils looked at biomass as a feasible energy alternative, including an innovative process that converts chicken litter to a gas that can be used in internal combustion engines. Development of the biomass energy alternatives will create jobs and reduce dependence on foreign oil. The RC&D Council hosted the Arkansas Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Production Opportunities on the Farm Conference for landowners, vendors and government employees.

Plant Materials Center

The Booneville Plant Materials Center serves 54 million acres in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. It is part of a national network of plant material centers that provide vegetative solutions to conservation problems.

This year’s major initiatives fell into three overlapping themes: native grass cultivation and evaluation; ethanol and bio-fuel feedstock; and partnering.

The center initiated a study to evaluate the growth of two cultivars of switchgrass with dry land and irrigated situations, along with comparison of production using commercial and animal waste fertility in order to address the dry-matter production potential of switchgrass for use in the production of cellulosic ethanol.

The center became extensively involved with the Oklahoma and Missouri highway departments, developing contracts for vegetative establishment, demonstration and management methods. Major efforts were made to evaluate native grass species establishment on highway rights-of-way after construction. If proven effective, the same techniques can be used for rehabilitation of maneuver areas on Fort Chaffee.

A highlight of the year was the release of Hampton big bluestem germplasm. It will be used for erosion control, pastureland improvement and has potential as a biofuel feedstock.

Partnering with the center are the Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center (Agricultural Research Service), numerous conservation districts and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Janet Huckabee Nature Center.

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