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CONSERVATION CONNECTIONAn occasional update on conservation activities in the Bay State April 2004 In this Connection:
State Conservationist's CornerRegional Equity, More Conservation Planning Coming to MassachusettsI’m pleased to report that Massachusetts has received $5.5 million in additional funding for Farm Bill programs as part of the USDA’s efforts to ensure that states with traditionally smaller allocations obtain adequate conservation funding to address their specific conservation needs. This “regional equity” effort brings Massachusetts’ total FY 2004 allocation for Farm Bill programs to a record $12.8 million. USDA provided an additional $55.7 million to 13 states and the Caribbean Area because the 2002 Farm Bill authorized Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman to “give priority for funding” to states whose annual conservation allocation for approved applications falls below $12 million. The targeted states will receive the additional funds through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP), and Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP). Other states that will benefit from this provision this fiscal year are: Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, West Virginia and the Caribbean Area. I am also pleased to announce that NRCS will partner with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources to provide a total of $400,000 to Massachusetts conservation districts to hire technical assistance specifically to reduce the backlog of farmers waiting for NRCS conservation farm plans. This will benefit participants in both state and federal programs. I thank Commissioner Doug Gillespie for his commitment to conservation and join in his belief that this investment will pay handsome dividends in helping farmers be the best environmental stewards possible. CECIL B. CURRIN, State Conservationist Cranberry Growers Honor Deputy Under Secretary R. Mack Gray
Gray was the featured luncheon speaker at the meeting, which was attended by cranberry growers, federal and state officials, and CCCGA staff. Gray gave attendees an update on FY2004 funding for conservation programs in the Bay State. Conservation and NRCS programs were recurring topics during the day-long meeting. Almost all of the commonwealth’s cranberry production takes place in Southeastern Massachusetts. Most of the state’s 14,000 acres of commercial bogs are located in Plymouth County, with others located in other southeastern counties and on Cape Cod. In FY 2003, Plymouth County farmers – primarily cranberry growers – received the most federal cost-share assistance for conservation projects through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) at a total of more than $744,000. Cranberry growers in Plymouth and Nantucket counties received more than $766,000 through the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) to take cranberry bogs out of commercial production and restore them to natural wetlands. Massachusetts cranberry growers produced some 1.4 million barrels – or 140 million pounds – of cranberries at a value of $45 million in 2003, according to the New England Agricultural Statistics Service. Massachusetts ranks second nationally for cranberry production, producing 23 percent of the nation’s crop. The cranberry industry has faced tough economic times in the last several years. The price per barrel fell from an all-time high of $71 in 1996 to $16 in 1999. The average price per barrel has rebounded somewhat to $32 in 2003. NRCS programs have played a key role in helping cranberry growers address conservation concerns and make their operations more efficient during this difficult time. Agricultural Management Assistance Funding in Massachusetts AnnouncedAgriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman has announced the release of $14 million in 15 states for Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) for fiscal year 2004. Massachusetts has received $377,000 in AMA funding. The AMA helps producers adopt conservation practices and investment strategies that will reduce or mitigate risks to their agricultural enterprises. “This funding strengthens USDA efforts to help producers comply with environmental standards and encourages sound conservation on America’s working land,” Veneman said. AMA, administered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, is a voluntary conservation program available in 15 states where participation in the Federal Crop Insurance Program is historically low. These NRCS state offices will receive AMA funding that will provide cost-share assistance to agricultural producers to address risk management concerns linked to water management, water quality and erosion control issues. NRCS determines the amount of funding for each state by using a formula that consists of ranking factors of natural resource concerns and that is weighted to meet national conservation objectives of the program. For more information, contact your local NRCS office or USDA Service Center, listed in the telephone book under U.S. Department of Agriculture, or on the Web at http://offices.usda.gov. Additional information about NRCS programs can be found at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs. USDA Announces Availability of Electronic “Customer Statement”Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman has announced the availability of an electronic Customer Statement, as part of USDA’s electronic government (eGovernment) initiative. The Customer Statement allows USDA customers to view:
The Customer Statement will be a focal point for providing agricultural producers access to their USDA information and facilitating online business with USDA. To view a Customer Statement, visit www.usda.gov and click on the Customer Statement button. Veneman said that in the future farmers will be able to cross-reference that data with interactive maps of their operations using geographic information systems, or GIS, technology with overlays for roads, soil types, water and other geographic features. New features will be added to the Customer Statement as they are developed. Security is a key feature of the Customer Statement. Through the use of a USDA ID, only users will be able to see statements and business transactions with USDA. "eGovernment solutions will be a major focus for USDA this year.” said Veneman. “Our goal is to operate more efficiently in order to be more responsive to the needs of American agriculture and consumers. The Customer Statement is a major accomplishment towards this goal by making available a wide range of USDA services and programs through a single report at the fingertips of agricultural producers." USDA’s eGovernment initiatives will standardize processes and provide tools to unleash the fuller potential of information technology. In January, USDA unveiled a new design of the USDA website, which is the first phase in efforts to make the website more powerful and accessible to USDA information and science. Features will continually be added throughout 2004, culminating in August with the launch of 'MyUSDA.gov' to provide a customized version of the USDA homepage for individual users based on their unique needs. USDA Supports New Conservation Planning SoftwareUSDA-NRCS Chief Bruce Knight has announced a partnership with John Deere Ag Management Solutions to provide conservation planning software tools for producers and technical service providers. “This partnership will help NRCS expand its capabilities and meet the enormous demand for conservation,” Knight said. “This tool—called Conservation Plug-In—will enable producers to complete certain activities electronically, similar to e-filing tax returns. Not only will we see an increase in efficiency as part of the Administration’s e-Gov initiative, but also an increase in the number and quality of conservation plans.” "The Conservation Plug-In is one example of what USDA and our agriculture partners are doing to improve and enhance Internet technology for government, our partners and agricultural producers alike," said Scott Charbo, USDA chief information officer, while attending the Commodity Classic being held here. Conservation Plug-In, which will be available late this fall, allows producers and technical service providers to record farm and field data, schedule conservation practices, report completion of practices and attach certification documentation. Electronic assistance for developing conservation plans also will be available with the new software. By using Conservation Plug-In, producers can spend less time at their local USDA Service Center and self-certify when they have completed practices in their conservation plans. Technical service providers can manage conservation plans and cost-share agreement records for those producers using their services. For additional information on Conservation Plug-In, contact Jack Carlson, NRCS Information Technology Center Director, jcarlson@itc.nrcs.usda.gov or phone 970-295-5455. 2004 Envirothon slated for April 29 at Cochituate State Park, NatickMore than 300 Bay State high school students from nearly 50 public and private schools across the state are expected to compete in the 17th annual Massachusetts Envirothon on Thursday, April 29th at Cochituate State Park in Natick. The Envirothon is America's leading natural resource education program for high school students. Teams comprised of five students represent their school or organization in a statewide competition testing their knowledge of: aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, and current environmental issues. Students prepare for the Envirothon throughout the year through classroom curricula and workshops. Each year teams focus on a different current issue that they research in their own community prior to the competition. This year’s current issue is “natural resource management in the urban environment.” At the event, teams rotate through four stations where they demonstrate their environmental knowledge through hands-on activities. Each team also gives a presentation on their research into the current issue. Judges for the competition include more than 60 environmental professionals from government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private industry. The Massachusetts Envirothon is planned each year by a committee whose members represent state and federal environmental and conservation agencies, non-profit organizations, private industry and educators. Massachusetts Envirothon sponsors include the Massachusetts Environmental Trust and Massachusetts Electric Company. The Envirothon program originated in 1979 in Pennsylvania as the Environmental Olympics. In 1988 the name was changed to the Envirothon and the program was expanded to a national program. Massachusetts held its first competitive event in May 1988 with five teams participating; this year nearly 50 teams will participate in the Bay State’s competition. The winning team from each state has the opportunity to represent their state in the Canon Envirothon, the North American competition. Massachusetts has hosted the international competition twice; the National Envirothon in 1989 and the Canon Envirothon in 2002. For more information on how to get involved with the Massachusetts Envirothon, call 978-692-1904, or visit www.maenvirothon.org. Resource Conservation & Development UpdateWelcome New Patriot RC&D Coordinator!Stephanie Parrish has been selected as the new Patriot Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Coordinator based in Westford. The Patriot RC&D area serves Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk and Worcester counties. Stephanie has been a Natural Resources Specialist in the Holden field office since August 2002. Prior to coming to Massachusetts, Stephanie worked for the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, DC where she had been a staff person for the National Invasive Species Council whose membership includes 10 federal departments including USDA. Stephanie has also served as the Assistant Director for the University of Maryland's College Park Scholars in Environmental Studies and has experience working on both private and public lands with the Maryland Department of Environment in the Gunpowder Watershed area north of Baltimore. She has a BA in Political Science from the University of Chicago and MS in Ecology from the University of Maryland. Stephanie can be reached at the Patriot RC&D office, 319 Littleton Road, Suite 302, Westford, MA 01886, 978-692-1904 x108, or stephanie.parrish@ma.usda.gov. CISA to Host "How to Start a Town Agricultural Commission" WorkshopCommunity Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service will host a workshop on how to start a Town Agricultural Commission on April 6, 4:30-5:30 pm at the Red Barn on the Hampshire College campus in Amherst, Mass. Speakers will include Irene Winkler, Resource Conservation & Development Coordinator, USDA-NRCS; Sue Guiducci, Dartmouth Ag Commission member; Barbara Link, Rehoboth Ag Commission member; and Bob Wagner, Hatfield Ag Advisory Committee member. A town agricultural commission is an appointed town standing committee whose members are primarily engaged in farming. They are responsible for representing the farming community; encouraging the pursuit of agriculture; promoting agriculture-based economic opportunities; and preserving, revitalizing and sustaining the community’s agricultural businesses and lands. “Farmers and citizens who care about agriculture need a local structure through which they can address the challenges of agriculture and advocate for change,” said Annie Cheatham, Executive Director of CISA and organizer for this event. “CISA has helped energize the community about buying local farm products through our ‘Be a Local Hero/Buy Locally Grown’ campaign, and they want to do more. Town Agricultural Commissions will give them a chance to sustain farming in their own community.” Four southeastern Massachusetts towns that have organized agricultural commissions have developed master plans to protect agricultural lands, preserve rural character, and provide viable options for retaining the use of land for agricultural purposes; have participated in town planning; and have become advocates providing a voice for farmers and farm businesses and improving the visibility of farming. The workshop is organized by CISA and NRCS and is co-sponsored by Hampshire County Farm Bureau; Hampshire, Hampden and Franklin Conservation Districts; New England Small Farm Institute; American Farmland Trust; the Connecticut River Watershed Council; and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. For more information: 413-665-7100, annie@buylocalfood.com, Annie Cheatham, Executive Director, CISA, or visit www.buylocalfood.com. Partner NewsNACD Welcomes Krysta Harden as New CEOKrysta Harden stepped into her new role as chief executive officer of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) on March 1. Harden, a native of Camilla, GA, comes to NACD from Gordley Associates, a Washington, DC consulting firm, where she held the position of vice president. While at Gordley she served as senior lobbyist for a variety of commodity organizations, most notably the American Soybean Association. Her major areas of responsibility included conservation, environmental and energy issues. As CEO, Harden will oversee the association’s policy development and member services programs and coordinate strategic planning, budget formulation and related business operations. Prior to working for Gordley, Harden served in various positions on Capitol Hill for 12 years. She is a University of Georgia graduate with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Learn About Food Waste Management at DEP SummitThe 4th Massachusetts Organics Recycling Summit: "Links in the Food Gather with 200 of your colleagues for a comprehensive overview of the
By providing food waste generators and haulers with the economic and Officials from the Massachusetts departments of Environmental Protection To see agenda and get a registration form, visit the DEP website at DAR Offers Bioterrorism Awareness WorkshopsAnimals may play a significant sentinel function in the event of a The workshop will prepare you to recognize the clinical syndromes that may signal a possible bioterrorist event. Livestock owners, animal control officers, board of health members, pet owners, emergency personnel, veterinarians and other animal professionals are invited to attend one of these free workshops. Morning workshops are held from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and evening workshops are held from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
For more information, contact Maxine Armour, Bioterrorism Training Coordinator, Bureau of Animal, Department of Agricultural Resources, 617-626-1795 or 617-626-1722, maxene.armour@state.ma.us. "Ask the Forester" Online NetworkThe Society of American Foresters has launched a new feature on its web site – “Ask the Forester” – to help answer questions about trees, wildlife, water, soil, forest products, or other forest-related topics. The "Ask a Forester" feature will link foresters with the rest of the forestry community and other people who are curious about forests. SAF is able to make this possible through its nationwide e-mail network of hundreds of foresters and other resource professionals who are willing to answer questions relating to forests. Once a question is sent to ask@safnet.org, the SAF national office staff will either answer the question or relay it to the nationwide network. To find out more about forests, forestry, and the "Ask a Forester" feature, visit the SAF website at http://www.safnet.org/aboutforestry/index.cfm. Growing Possibilities: Agriculture in the CityA two-day Urban agriculture conference sponsored by The Food Project will be held on Friday and Saturday, April 16th and 17th, 2004 in Boston, Massachusetts. Friday will feature hands on training at The Food Project’s Urban Food Lot, 12:00 4:00 PM. Saturday will feature workshops, speakers and an agricultural tour at Roxbury Community College, 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM. The cost for both days is $65; Friday only is $25; Saturday only is $50. Both days include locally produced lunches and all conference materials, Saturday also includes breakfast. Limited scholarships available (call early!) According to The Food Project, urban agriculture builds communities, improves urban environments, benefits the local economy, and can be a sustainable method of achieving greater food security for city residents. For more info and to register go to www.thefoodproject.org or contact Amanda Blaine at 617-442-1322 x 15, ablaine@thefoodproject.org. CALENDAR
To receive the Massachusetts Conservation Connection by e-mail, to be removed from the list, or to submit news items, please send an e-mail message to Diane.Petit@ma.usda.gov. The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain and improve our natural resources and environment. NRCS Massachusetts State Office: 451 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002 | 413-253-4350 | fax 413-253-4395 | www.ma.nrcs.usda.gov Cecil Currin, State Conservationist NRCS field offices are located at USDA Service Centers in
Barnstable, Greenfield, Hadley, Holden, Pittsfield, Westford and West Wareham.
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