New NRCS District Conservationist named to serve Berkshire County farmers

(AMHERST, MA) Aug. 30, 2005 – The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has named Kate Parsons as the new District Conservationist in charge of the NRCS field office in Pittsfield. Parsons replaces Bruce Philbrick who served in that office for eight years until his retirement in July.

Prior to her promotion, Parsons worked as a soil conservationist for NRCS in Hadley for three years. In addition to assisting farmers, she managed the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) for that office, working with private landowners and communities to implement conservation practices that benefit wildlife. Before joining NRCS, Parsons was a nutrient management specialist with the Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District in New York.

“My experience in New York and here in Massachusetts has given me a good understanding of the important relationship of conservation districts and NRCS,” explained Parsons. “I’m looking forward to working closely with the Berkshire Conservation District to serve the landowners of Berkshire County.”

NRCS is a federal agency that works with Massachusetts conservation districts and other partners to improve and protect the commonwealth’s soil, water and other natural resources. Parsons, along with soil conservation technician Ed Drake, civil engineering technician Paul Benjamin, and administrative assistant Beverly Daignault, provide conservation technical assistance and cost-share programs for Berkshire County landowners. For more information, call the Pittsfield office at 413-443-1776 or visit www.ma.nrcs.usda.gov.

“Kate understands agriculture in western Massachusetts and the pressure of development,” said Cecil B. Currin, NRCS State Conservationist for Massachusetts. “I am very confident that Kate will be a great asset to our partnership in Berkshire County.”

Parsons is a Certified Crop Advisor (CCA), Certified Nutrient Management Planner, and a Certified Conservation Planner. She graduated with a bachelor of science degree in agricultural technology from Cornell University in 1998. After graduation, she worked for two years as a crop and nutrient management specialist for Agway in Auburn, New York.

Parsons was raised on a 350 acre dairy farm in Westhampton and still helps out on the weekends. And she is proudly carrying on her family tradition of exhibiting registered dairy cattle at agricultural fairs

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Media Contact:

Diane Baedeker Petit
413-253-4371
Diane.Petit@ma.usda.gov

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