Arkansas Conservation News -- Spring 2006

Conservation Corner

Kalven L. Trice
State Conservationist

I look out at my newly planted spring flower garden and am pleased to see a range of plants thriving together, enhancing each other by playing off their differences in style, color, and texture.  I look out over NRCS and hope that we have improved ourselves with variety too.

Early spring is a time for celebrating diversity.  We honored African American History Month in February and Women’s History Month in March.  I enjoyed seeing many of you at the luncheons.  The luncheons are a refreshing reminder of the changing face of America and NRCS.

Diversity is not merely being in compliance with EEO regulations, but meeting the bottom line of good business by adding new opinions and ideas to our work.  The dictionary’s definition of diversity is a “variety of something such as opinion, color, or style, socioeconomic and gender variety, in a group, society, or institution.”

A rich mix of employees with varied perspectives and experiences promotes innovation and better decisions.  I want to broaden perspectives in NRCS.   A staff’s varied background serves clients better, whether the customer is purchasing a soft drink or applying for a farm program.

With spring in the air, flowers in the yard, and variety in the work place, there is no better time to embrace diversity, both in your garden and office. 

On a completely separate note, I know that many of you read in the Jan-Feb USDA news that the proposed NRCS nation-wide budget for 2007 shows a decrease of over 1,500 federal staff years, or the equivalent of full-time positions.  We are in the process of evaluating our operational processes. You will be informed once decisions have been made.

It is not my, nor Chief Bruce Knight’s intention to eliminate any positions.  If this year is any indication, our budget will be tight.  We anticipate making the cost saving through attrition and other belt tightening approaches.

It is not the time to make life changing decisions based on this proposed budget.  The last thing I want to do is cut current permanent employees from our staffs.

Thank you for what you do. It makes all the difference in our ability to “Help the People Help the Land.”

EQIP:  Program helps Cleveland County farmer improve chicken, cattle operations

By Creston Shrum
Public Affairs Specialist

A Cleveland County farmer is improving his chicken and cattle operations through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

Mark Young, who enrolled 70 acres in EQIP, started raising broiler chickens in 1998. His operation grows 156,000 one-day old chicks to 4-pound broilers in 39 days, seven times a year.

With 1,092,000 chickens going through his six houses, more than 950 tons of chicken litter is created yearly.

To ensure the waste is disposed of properly, a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan addressing the handling, storage and application of the litter in an environmentally safe manner was developed by Lynne Alder, Dallas and Cleveland County District Conservationist.

“A key component of the plan was the construction of a stacking shed (waste storage facility) on the property,” Alder said.

“Without this contract I wouldn’t have been able to build the shed,” Young said. “This summer I had to store about 100 tons because the ground was so dry. From October to March, I store 300-400 tons.”

About 4,500 chickens also die in the houses each year. To handle the situation the contract included an animal mortality facility to store the dead chickens until they can be removed.

Another aspect of Young’s EQIP contract is prescribed grazing, electric fencing and a grade stabilization project for his cattle operation.

“I am dividing the pastures into eight areas with electric fencing and I will be moving the cattle a couple of a times a week to improve the quality of the grazing land,” Young said.

“We are also addressing an erosion problem along a creek where the cattle cross,” Alder said. “To fix the problem, we are stabilizing the grade with back fill. Also, by rotating the cattle, it will reduce the cattle’s access to the area.”

Economists discuss water resources program

More than 25 economists from the Central Region recently attended a three-day Water Resource Workshop in Little Rock.

While here, they discussed NRCS water resources, conservation, the emergency watershed program and easement programs. A Corps of Engineers economist taught the group about the Hydrologic Engineering Centers Flood Damages Analysis (a flood damage model).

A University of Mississippi engineering instructor and an engineering PHD student from the National Center for Computational Hydroscience and Engineering presented their flood damage model they would like developed to replace flood models that NRCS has used in the past. Training was also provided by the sociologist from the North Carolina Technical Center in Greensboro, on participation rates in a watershed.  

During the workshop, Tony Stevenson, state engineer, conducted a tour of the Grand Prairie and Plum Bayou Irrigation Projects. Tony explained the functions and benefits of both projects.

Along with touring the 20-mile stretch of endangered prairie grasses, the group visited the Grand Prairie Pumping Station that is under construction.

Belinda Bell, Arkansas economist, Dale Pekar, National Water Management Center economist, and David Buland, Central Region economists, hosted the meeting.

NRCS releases Arkansas County Soil Survey

The Natural Resources Conservation Service recently released the Arkansas County Soil Survey during a meeting at Phillips Community College in Dewitt.

The latest remapping of Arkansas County began in 1972 and concluded in 1995.  The initial soil survey for Arkansas County was completed in 1902 and included general information about the soils of Arkansas County and how they could be improved for crop production. Since then soils information for the county has been improved three times, and includes a wide array of information from soil classifications to interpretations for wildlife, septic systems, recreation, forestry and crop production.

With the rapid change in technology since 1972, the Natural Resource Conservation Service has improved the way it delivers soil surveys and increased the speed of updating soil surveys.

NRCS provides several alternatives for customers to gather soils information including: compact discs, the national Soils Data Mart, and via the World Wide Web.  The most current soils information is posted to the Web Soil Survey (http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/), which provides secure public access to the national soils information system.  This website is a simple yet powerful way to access and analyze soils data that contributes to every aspect of public and private land use.

Soil Survey has been and continues to be the foundation for natural resource and conservation planning since the Great Depression and Dust Bowl era.  Due to the tremendous loss of top soil during that period, the United States Congress created the National Soil Survey Program to inventory the nation’s soil resources and to develop ways to reduce soil erosion.

CSP ranks high among participants

Employees receive high marks for professionalism, courtesy, availability in ‘04

Chief Bruce Knight announced that producers in several Conservation Security Program pilot watersheds ranked NRCS employees very high for professionalism and courteous service in carrying out that program. Many respondents said they were satisfied with the services they received after enrollment in the program.

“NRCS employees are the agency’s greatest strength and this national customer satisfaction survey affirms our confidence in their service,” Knight said. “We are proud of the score achieved during the Conservation Security Program’s first year. I commend all our employees for their excellent service to our farmers and ranchers.”

According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), NRCS received an overall score of 76 out of 100 for administering CSP.

NRCS’ ranking for CSP is higher than the 2005 average national ACSI of 71 for the federal government and right on par with earlier rankings for NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (75) and NRCS Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (77). The EQIP and WHIP customer satisfaction surveys were conducted in 2004.

The ACSI identified four “drivers of satisfaction”—the CSP Self-Assessment Workbook, the Interview with NRCS, Contract Review and Award Process and NRCS Staff. Responses to questions regarding NRCS staff rated highest at 87, with courteousness, professionalism, helpfulness and availability ranking in the high 80s and low 90s. Survey respondents relied heavily on NRCS employees to clarify the program, including the application process, through interviews and workshops.

ACSI arrived at its overall customer satisfaction score by conducting telephone interviews—from September 12 to 16, 2005—with 250 producers from 13 of the 18 watersheds nationwide who were awarded CSP funding in 2004. Respondents were asked how satisfied they were with the services provided by NRCS in CSP; to what extent have the services provided by NRCS in CSP fallen short or exceeded their expectations; and how well do they think CSP compares to the ideal way of allocating funds.

Trice receives Wetland Conservation Achievement Award

Ducks Unlimited honor recognizes WRP work on marginal farmland

State Conservationist Kalven Trice was recently presented with the Ducks Unlimited Federal Employee Wetland Conservation Achievement Award at the 71st North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Columbus, Ohio.

“I’m honored to be selected for this award and I accept it on behalf of all NRCS employees and the landowners of Arkansas,” said Trice. “DU has been a valuable partner in restoring forested wetlands on marginal agricultural lands and I look forward to continuing this relationship.”

DU honored Trice with this achievement award in part because of his advocacy for on-the-ground conservation programs in Arkansas. Trice is a leading advocate for on-farm conservation programs in Arkansas, including enrollment and restoration of Wetland Reserve Program acres in the State, which has been recognized by some as one of the most efficient USDA programs in existence. Due to his high level of commitment to this program, almost 200,000 acres of marginal farm grounds have been enrolled and restored.

As state conservationist, Trice has forged partnerships with DU, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, soil and water conservation districts, and other conservation organizations to implement a wide array of conservation measures on private lands, particularly wetland restoration through the Wetlands Reserve Program.

Marie Ross wins NRCS Arkansas woman of the year honors

National Women’s History Month award highlights Ross’ character, community involvement

Marie Ross, a soil scientist at the Glenwood MLRA Soil Survey Project Office, was honored as the NRCS Federal Woman of the Year during the National Women’s History Month celebration March 28.

Marie’s nomination was based on her accomplishments as a soil scientist, her character, intrinsic qualities and community involvement.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rural Development and Farm Service Agency sponsored a program jointly to commemorate National Women’s History Month.

The guest speakers were Maggie Oholendt, a Hurricane Katrina survivor, and Rhoda Mae Kerr, fire chief for the Little Rock Fire Department.

National Women’s History Month is observed during the month of March.  This year’s theme was “Women: Builders of Communities and Dreams.”

WATERFEST

The Backyard Conservation WaterFest at Mabelvale Magnet Middle School April 21 taught more than 600 students why protecting soil and water resources are important.

Students learned about aquifers, watersheds, wetlands, and what they can do to keep the Natural State’s water clean and clear.

Hands-on activities demonstrated what students can do to keep our natural resources clean and productive.

“If students learned only one thing from WaterFest, I want it to be that they can make a difference in the future of our environment,” said Kalven L. Trice, state conservationist.

Northwest Area volunteer coordinator gives back to program that ... ‘got her foot in the door’

Amanda Mathis volunteered to be the new Area Earth Team Coordinator for Northwest Arkansas because, as Mathis says, “volunteering is what got my foot in the door with the agency.”

“My NRCS career began as an Earth Team volunteer in Harrison for Margaret Lonadier,” said Mathis, “and through the Earth Team, I was able to get a summer internship.” 

Mathis became a full-time Soil Conservationist in May 2005, and moved to the Paris Field Service Center.

Her interests include water sports--especially kayaking--and scrap booking.

After her Introduction to Earth Team Management training next month, Mathis will be available to answer questions regarding your volunteer program and database needs.  Contact her by e-mail or at the Paris FSC.

Mathis replaces Alvin Peer on the Earth Team board.  “We appreciate his outstanding support and contributions to the Earth Team Volunteer Program in Arkansas,” said Pat Hoeffken, state volunteer program coordinator.

Coordinators receive training on program management

NRCS Arkansas hosted an intensive three-day Volunteer Management and Program Development training course in North Little Rock with presenters from within NRCS and state and local governments.

Arkansas Earth Team area coordinators Alvin Peer, Dawn Fox, Sandy White, and Holly Anderson and state coordinator Pat Hoeffken completed the first draft of the Arkansas 2006 Earth Team Business Plan which retains the most popular volunteer projects and includes interesting new areas of involvement. 

Linda Aldridge, state office human resources assistant, presented important requirements and procedures for computer security clearance for volunteers.  Security clearance and the associated computer-based training is absolutely required for any “new”—entered on duty after July 1, 2005—volunteer who will access NRCS computers for 30 days or more.  The clearance process does take some time and the delay should be considered when planning new computer projects for volunteers.  Dianne Angelo will be the new contact person for obtaining volunteer computer security clearance.

Ron Brown, outreach coordinator, shared his extensive experience in utilizing the media to promote NRCS activities.  Ron demonstrated how any promotion of NRCS in general spills over into promotion of the volunteer program by making citizens more aware of NRCS and its activities. He demonstrated his point with videos of NRCS public service messages and examples of local media interviews he performed while working for NRCS.

Molly Voeller, state public affairs specialist, presented “Understanding Volunteers.”  With surprising information on volunteer demographics, she lead an in-depth discussion on how and why people are motivated to become volunteers and how those individual motivations can be used and nurtured  by  personnel  involved  in volunteer recruiting and management.

Charlie Baxter, senior leader for the Patrick Hays Senior Citizen Center in North Little Rock, provided guidance and suggestions on proper management of a successful volunteer program.

His key ideas were to (a) insure that volunteers have “real” jobs that actually contribute to the agency’s mission, (b) hold volunteers accountable for completing tasks, and (c) find ways for long-term volunteers to “advance” within the system. 

Fritz Friedl, director of volunteers for the Mayor’s Office of Volunteer Services in North Little Rock, spoke about the important issue of “expectancy.”

To operate effectively, a volunteer program must have specific goals and parameters.  These goals and parameters must be communicated directly to the volunteers.  Although this seems obvious, it is often very difficult to achieve.  Friedl provided excellent ideas on establishing expectancy for volunteers through detailed verbal instructions and written job descriptions.  

Rocio Hlass, volunteer program developer for the Arkansas Department of Human Resources, Division of Volunteerism, is a popular, full-time trainer of volunteer program managers.  Her first session described how to (a) get the most out of “episodic” volunteers for special events, (b) organizing volunteers for these events, and (c) follow-up evaluations to see what worked and what approaches should be changed before the next event.  In her second session, Hlass discussed how to best utilize volunteers in public schools. 

The training was a great success.  Earth Team coordinators were able to review volunteer activities from within their areas in this rare opportunity to be together in the same room for several days—team-building; brainstorming; learning from each other and outside speakers; and ultimately, developing many ideas for making the Earth Team even more successful.

Get to Know ... Ecological Sciences

Ron Morrow
State Grazing Lands Specialist

I rejoined NRCS in 2003 after working for SCS 35 years previously as a soil conservationist in Washington County.  I also served as professor of Animal Sciences at the University of Missouri for the 20 years in between. While at the university, I conducted research in forage systems and grazing management.

I co-founded the University of Missouri grazing workshops in 1990, taught beef cattle production and other courses.  The highlight of my professorship was receiving the prestigious Wm Kemper teaching award at MU--a cash award of $10,000 for teaching excellence.

I am a farmer who practices management intensive grazing on my own farm (50 cows). I find farmers listen more attentively when I speak of my own experiences as a farmer in addition to experience as an educator.

As the technical person for management of grazing lands, my primary objective is to work with NRCS personnel and other educators to help farmers manage grazing lands. I integrate mangement of grazing lands into our government programs.

Landowners/managers need more information on how to more intensively manage their grazing lands, with less emphasis on purchased inputs.

While we need to be concerned about resource management, we cannot forget the bottom line for farmers is economics.  They do go hand in hand and can be worked together very effectively.

I am concerned that we concentrate too much simply on water quality and soil erosion that we forget that proper management of natural resources negates the water quality and soil erosion concerns.

I personally believe that we need to spend more time on education related to resource management and less time making payments through government programs.

John Riggs
State Archeologist

In 2000, I was hired to oversee NRCS compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act.  The law requires all federal agencies to consider the impact their activities have on cultural resources.

I grew up in central Arkansas and have always had a love for archeology and the history of my home state.

Following graduation from the University of Arkansas in 1984, I worked for three years at the university as an archeologist.  In 1987, I took an archeologist position with the Little Rock District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers where I worked until transferring to NRCS.

The many programs that NRCS supports provide a steady, and at many times, a heavy work load. I review an average of 2,000 projects per year.  The law not only requires the agency to consider impacts, but also to consult with the State Historic Preservation Office, as-well-as any federally recognized Indian tribe that wants to be informed of agency activity.

The Quapaw Tribe, the Tunica/Biloxi Tribe, and the Caddo Tribe have expressed a desire to be consulted on every project in all or part of the state.  In addition to program responsibilities, the various irrigation projects and other NRCS sponsored construction projects require the same considerations and consultations. 

While the paperwork seems to constitute the evidence of work, it is actually the field investigations that command the majority of the time and energy investment.  With approximately 10 percent of all reviews requiring a field visit to the project area, a tremendous amount of my time is spent in the field.  It is this welcome chance for me to “get dirty” that helps fuel my continued enthusiasm for the job.  Due to the rich archeological heritage in northeast Arkansas, the majority of my field time is spent in that particular region.

Since I work closely with each of the field service centers, there are regular opportunities for everyone to not only learn more about archeology, but also about the people that have lived on the land in the long forgotten past.  Opportunities to assist in an archeological investigation will range from assisting in a preliminary survey to an actual site excavation.  At the present time, two extensive excavation projects are anticipated and NRCS personnel from the counties nearby will be asked to pitch in.  Sooner or later, this opportunity will come to your backyard too.  Significant pieces of the past are hidden all over the state and you can expect to have a chance to experience the life of an archeologist.

David Weeks
Resource Conservationist

My name is David Weeks. I’m a resource conservationist on the Ecological Sciences staff in the state office.

I have been with the agency since 1984, working in my home state of New York, as well as Rhode Island and Virginia before returning to Arkansas in late 1998.  (In 1982 and 1983 I worked for International Paper Company in south Arkansas.  I mapped soils on 100,000 acres of company-owned land in six counties.)

I work with the Ecological Sciences discipline specialists to help them provide technical services and information to NRCS employees throughout the state.  In that capacity, I coordinate efforts to keep the eFOTG current and I coordinate training and workshops in conservation planning and Toolkit.

I also serve as Toolkit Coordinator. As such, I help solve problems field employees have with Toolkit, conservation system guides and systems.

Area resource conservationists often are quick to spot emerging issues and problems.  I work with them to get solutions back out to all employees who might benefit from them.

Along with discipline specialists, I help the state resource conservationist keep an eye on issues related to conservation planning and ecological science practices. 

For example, I worked with Jim Caudle and the discipline specialists last fall to plan and conduct the first of a series of in-the-field workshops.  We led about a dozen conservationists in a planning exercise that stressed looking at the complete range of possible resource concerns.  Small groups created conservation plans to address as many concerns as possible with an integrated approach.  The results combined conservation practices into systems that truly fit the owner’s objectives and the capabilities of the land.  We will set up more workshops later in the spring.

In the arena of progress reporting, I work with Dennis Mobley to ensure the Toolkit/PRS interface is working as intended.  I make sure CSG’s and conservation systems provide accurate data to PRS so field work gets properly counted toward achieving your goals.

My position was created to help Jim Caudle and discipline specialists focus on technology in the face of great demands on the staff to deal with program management issues. Other steps are in the works to continue to support the field in program management and to also make it easier for discipline specialists to develop and transfer technical information and in-field assistance to field employees. 

I have had the pleasure of assisting many field offices with Toolkit problems, CSG’s and conservation systems, and a variety of other matters.

I’d like for employees to feel free to contact me with any issues related to Toolkit, the Field Office Technical Guide (including the eFOTG), conservation planning, or other ecological sciences technology problems.  If I do not have the answer, I will work with Jim Caudle and the staff to get you the help you need.

Calendar

May

4 -- Northeast Area All Employee Meeting, Village Creek State Park

10-11 -- Management Team Meeting

17 -- Arkansas Natural Resources Commission Meeting

17 -- West Centeral Area AACD Meeting, Booneville PMC

24-26 -- Arkansas Rural Development Conference, Eureka Springs

29 -- Memorial Day

June

12-15 -- Southern Region Soil Conference, Oklahoma City, Okla.

14-15 -- Management Team Meeting

19-21 -- National RC&D Conference, Savannah, Ga.

July

4 -- Independence Day

9-15 -- World Congress of Soil Science, Philadelphia, Pa.

11 -- Southwest Area AACD Meeting

12-13 -- Management Team Meeting

19 -- Arkansas Natural Resources Commission Meeting

23-26 -- SWCS Annual Conference, Keystone Resort, Colo.

24-28 -- NOPHNRCSE Training Conference, Orlando, Fla.

Comings & Goings

Diana Angelo is the new cartographic technician on the soils staff at the state office.

Robby Harpole is the new soil conservation technician at the Osceola FSC.

Andrew James is the new biologist on the ecological sciences staff at the state office.

Derrek Nokes is the new soil conservation technician at the Hope FSC.

Mark Robinson is the new soil conservation technician at the Fordyce FSC.

Did You Know?

• Rumor has it that an All Employees Meeting might be in the works for 2007 and the rumor is true.  The management team is tossing the idea around.  Funding still needs to be worked out though.
•  Information on Avian Influenza is available on my.NRCS. Employees should check the “Bird Flu” folder periodically—it now contains a link to many other Web documents. The “Bird Flu” folder is on the NRCS Today tab, down the page a bit from the chief’s photo.
•  The new NRCS Strategic Plan, “Productive Lands – Healthy Environment,” has been finalized and is now available on the NRCS website. For a direct link, go to http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/strategicplan/. A version for reading online, as well as a high-resolution version suitable for printing, which is separated into several .pdf documents is on the page.

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