Arkansas Annual Report 2008

Dear Arkansans:

It is my pleasure to share the 2008 Arkansas Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Annual Report. The work depicted in this report portrays only a snapshot of the benefit Arkansas farmers and ranchers receive from the dedicated professionals and partners of NRCS.

Fiscal Year 2008 was a great year for NRCS and the Arkansas Conservation Partnership (ACP). With the passage of the 2008 Farm Bill, Arkansas benefitted greatly with additional financial resources.

Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), we obligated more than $31.1 million of conservation projects on private lands. This funding was supplemented with money provided by landowners through cost-share.

Arkansas farmers and landowners consistently show they truly care about Arkansas’ natural resources. More than 860 landowners with Conservation Security Program (CSP) contracts have been rewarded with more than $53.3 million for their stewardship ethic and hard work since CSP began in 2004.

But, our work wasn’t just confined to Farm Bill programs. The NRCS staff provided technical assistance to thousands of landowners across the state. We wrote conservation plans for more than 457,000 acres and applied conservation practices on more than 733,000 acres. Educating our customers about no-till farming, animal waste management systems, prescribed grazing and efficient irrigation are just a few examples of how NRCS assists land-users in protecting the Natural State’s natural resources.

Our staff was also on the front lines when historical flooding and tornadoes devastated Arkansas in the spring. Through the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program, we contracted $605,266 worth of work to remove debris from stream channels and bridges and stabilize 3,000 feet of streambanks.

We wouldn’t be able to do all the great work we do throughout the state if it wasn’t for the ACP and other conservation partners. I appreciate the ACP for their continued cooperation.

As I look ahead, 2009 will be another challenging year with the implementation of the 2008 Farm Bill. But, with the dedicated NRCS staff and assistance of our partners, I am confident we will continue to protect and enhance Arkansas natural resources.

Arkansas Conservation Partnership

More than 240 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 2008, the partnership focused on water resources, land resource management, conservation education, forestry health, 2002 Farm Bill implementation, 2008 Farm Bill program changes, 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 2008, construction was completed on Site 13 of Ozan Creeks. This $1.1 million flood control dam provides flood control in Hempstead County.

In addition to construction, NRCS participated in the plan, supplemental plan and design of the Departee Creek Flood Control Project in Independence County and the Big Slough Watershed, a flood control project in northeast Arkansas near Piggott. A feasibility study for a new lake site for municipal water supply was also completed for Saline County.

Five Rapid Watershed Assessments were completed in eastern Arkansas. Resource concerns were evaluated in the Upper L’Angillle River, the Middle Cache River, a limited resources area in the Big Watershed, Bayou De’View, and the Boeuf River Salinity Area.

The Emergency Watershed Protection program provided funding for recovery from this year’s tornado and flood damage. NRCS buried cattle killed by tornados, removed debris from channels, opened-up bridges jammed with trees and armored bridges threatened by floodwaters.

Soil Surveys and National Resource Inventory

The Arkansas Soil Survey staff of 15 soil and Geographic Information Systems professionals modernized soils data on 562,000 acres. New soil survey information was released for Grant County. Interactive Soil Surveys are available online at http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov for all counties in Arkansas.

The U.S. Forest Service Ouachita National Forest and NRCS signed a memorandum of understanding to collocate a new soil survey office in Glenwood.

The National Resource Inventory (NRI) is a national program that monitors the conservation efforts of our conservation programs and the trending of our natural resources. The results from this inventory are used to develop environmental policy for program implementation, such as the Farm Bill. Arkansas completed data collection on 1,065 sites throughout the state.

Grazing Lands

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

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 (AACD), Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council (ArFGC), Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association, Arkansas Farm Bureau, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension and NRCS.

In October 2007, AGLC sponsored a forage assessment by producers throughout the state. The assessment results were used by the AGLC members to establish priorities for 2008.

Nineteen one-day fencing development/pasture management seminars were taught with 320 people attending. Approximately 60 events related to grazing lands reached 1,350 farmers and educators in 2008.

Support was provided to Heifer International for a Conservation Innovation Grant training limited resource farmers on prescribed grazing. Several presentations were made to county cattlemen groups, county conservation district meetings, the state and regional AACD meetings, and the ArFGC annual meeting. Monthly articles were also published in the Arkansas Cattlemen magazine.

The highlight of the year was a two-day training session for county extension agents and NRCS personnel to prepare them to conduct educational activities in grazing management. Another outstanding event was assisting the Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council with a tour of grazing operations in Central Arkansas attended by more than 100 people.

Earth Team

Arkansas has more than 778 active Earth Team volunteers who provided more than 11,300 hours of service.

Volunteers throughout the state helped with forestry clinics, field days, fair booths, outreach meetings, Earth Day, Farm Safety Day Camp, 2008 Water Fest, WOW III at the Zoo, Envirothon contests, grazing land management workshops, 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. Disabled students wrapped 700 tree seedlings with moistened towelettes and bagged them for distribution on Earth Day.

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 small-acerage landowners with small acreages, assistance with rural water supplies, drainage improvements, conservation education, outdoor classrooms, wetland restoration, expansion of a sweet potato co-op 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. RC&D promoted USDA Rural Development’s 9006 Energy Audit Grant/Loan program, providing energy savings to producers. 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 (PMC) serves 54 million acres in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. It is part of a national network of centers that provide vegetative solutions to conservation problems.

The staff of five conducted 25 studies to provided information on production and management of native warm-season grasses.

The center also assisted approximately 400 customers and managed $65,000 of grants with the Oklahoma Department of Transpiration and the Wildlife Management Institute.

The PMC partners with the U.S. Forest Service, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and Pine Bluff, Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts, Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, Agricultural Research Service, Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, and the Natural Heritage Commission.

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