A Message to Federal Workers from President Clinton -- "As I begin my second term as President, I want all of you to know how proud I am of your hard work and accomplishments during the past 4 years. I came to Washington with a high regard for civil servants, and you have only confirmed that opinion.

"And I'm not the only one who has been impressed. Four years ago, public confidence in the Federal Government was at an all-time low. But you have begun to change that attitude. Even in a time of leaner budgets and smaller staffs, you have improved service to the public, forged effective partnerships with communities and private businesses, and discarded old-fashioned management systems. Now, for the first time in decades, public opinion of Federal agencies is markedly on the rise. Congratulations -- the credit for this stunning turnaround goes to you.

"Vice President Gore and I are excited and optimistic about the prospects for America in the next 4 years. We are on the right track to the 21st century and are picking up speed as we continue to work with you to reinvent government. I believe that our Nation will enter that new century stronger, more confident, and more capable than ever before. And I believe that a large part of that success will be achieved because of the energy and talent of each of you -- the men and women of the Federal Government.

Thank you for all you do on behalf of your fellow Americans."

Secretary Announces Final Regulations for USDA's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) -- Secretary Glickman this week announced final regulations for USDA's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which will protect about 36 million acres of the Nation's most environmentally sensitive lands.

The three primary goals of the CRP are erosion reduction, improvement of water quality, and the enhancement of wildlife habitat.

The CRP is an effective, voluntary approach to improving the Nation's natural resource base. Landowners enter into contracts with USDA to place erodible and other environmentally sensitive cropland in long-term conservation practices for 10-15 years. In exchange, landowners receive annual rental payments for the land and cost-share assistance for establishing those practices.

Today, some 32.9 million acres are enrolled in the CRP. The program protects millions of acres of American topsoil from erosion, and, by reducing water runoff and sedimentation, it protects groundwater and helps improve countless lakes, rivers, ponds and streams. All of these acres are planted to vegetative cover or other forms of wildlife habitat. As a result, the CRP is a major contributor to significant increases in wildlife populations in many parts of the country.

The 1997 Agriculture Appropriations Act effectively precluded the extension of any CRP contracts. Producers with contracts expiring September 30, 1997, may offer their acreage for re-enrollment during the next sign-up period if the land meets the basic eligibility criteria.

In addition to land eligible for enrollment under the continuous CRP sign-up provisions, eligible landowners will be able to sign up for the CRP beginning March 3, 1997, through March 28, 1997, at their local USDA Farm Service Agency office. The final CRP rule will be filed for public inspection and becomes effective February 12.

USDA/1890 Partnership Meeting -- The USDA/1890 quarterly partnership meeting will be held February 25, in Washington D.C. The 1890 institution presidents, agency program heads, and the executive team have been invited to attend.

Secretary Glickman is scheduled to give opening remarks. The agenda includes: the status and progress on the Task Force's core initiatives -- the National Scholars Program, Centers of Excellence, Capacity Building Grants, and the USDA/1890 Liaison Officers Program. Also, new and emerging issues, such as welfare reform, rural business and economic development, and natural resources conservation.

A legislative breakfast is scheduled for February 26, on Capitol Hill, for the seventeen 1890 Presidents and members of their respective Congressional delegations. The breakfast will be followed by an executive close-out session.

1996 National Resources Inventory (NRI) Update Special Study -- Data gathering from about 3,830 of the 4,000 primary sampling units (PSU's) selected for the 1996 NRI update ended on February 14. Cloud cover in 1996 and a lack of 1995 photography are the reasons all PSU data cannot be collected. Preliminary tabulations will be made by the Iowa State University Statistical Laboratory and will be available during the first and second week of March. The next phase of the 1996 NRI update will integrate results of National Agricultural Statistics Service interviews on management practices with NRI data. This will begin early this summer.

NRCS Headquarters Reorganization Approved -- NRCS National Headquarters reorganization was approved by the Department on January 30. NRCS Human Resources Management Division has scheduled 4 briefings for headquarters employees from February 18-20. Headquarters staff will be briefed regarding the purpose of the reorganization, major functional changes, and the placement plan. Employees will be notified of specific placements within the month.

National "Partnership Update" Satellite Conference -- On February 13, Chief Paul Johnson, NACD President Gerry Vap, and NASCA President Steve Meyer talked about important conservation issues of the coming year. The Chief discussed the new "Geography of Hope" publication and devoted a significant portion of the time to the new National Conservation Buffer Initiative.

IN THE FIELD

Soil Tunnel a Success -- NRCS in Pennsylvania used a soil tunnel developed in Virginia at the 81st Pennsylvania Farm Show held in January in Harrisburg. Above ground, visitors saw a mural that showed a cross-section of landscapes. Underground, they saw vegetables, critters, roots, and soil textures. Visitors to the attraction found the tunnel to be both educational and fun. NRCS booth staffers distributed about 5,000 publications to the nearly 3,000 people, mostly children, who toured the tunnel.

CONSTITUENCY AND PARTNERSHIP NEWS

Bayscaping for Conservation -- According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Americans manage 30 million acres of lawns on which they apply 100 million tons of fertilizer and 80 million tons of pesticides -- a rate 10 times greater per acre than that applied by farmers. Thanks to a joint effort by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, now there's information available about some attractive alternatives to the traditional lawn. The two partners have developed "Bayscapes," a program that consists of a packet of brochures and a 24-minute video that explains a holistic approach to landscaping that applies the principles and relationships found in the natural world. Topics covered by the program include beneficial plants and where to obtain them, integrated pest management, and dealing with special or poor soil conditions. For further information, contact: Sarah Richardson, 804-775-0951.

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

President's Proposed Federal Budget FY 98 -- The President's budget proposal was delivered to Congress on Thursday, February 6. Major items included in the budget request for NRCS include: Conservation Operations at $722.2 million; Watershed and Flood Prevention at $40 million; RC&D at $47.7 million; and FIP at $6.3 million. Outreach for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers is funded at $5 million. The Budget also sets the target acreage enrolled in Wetlands Reserve Program at 212,000 acres. The total budget request for FY 98 is $1.25 billion. This compares with the level of $1.17 billion the agency was funded at in FY 97. Note that $60 million in technical assistance for watersheds now appears in the Conservation Operations (CO) account. The $40 million remaining in the account is for cost-share only. Other activity funded from CO-1 includes $10 million for GIS activities, and also water resource activities assessments. The additional $18 million for RC&D has been designated for non-Federal watershed coordinators for rangeland watershed planning, including Bay Delta activities in California and "For the Sake of the Salmon" initiative, as well as other areas. Budget language also directs a study by an outside entity during 1997 to examine the Farm Service Agency and NRCS for opportunities for further coordinating and reducing costs in these agencies, including centralized servicing of Agricultural Market Transition Act payments and Commodity Credit Corporation non-recourse loans, and further consolidation of the agencies' operations.

UPCOMING EVENTS

February 1-28 -- The theme for this Black History Month is "African Americans and Civil Rights: A Reappraisal."

February 24-25 -- Agricultural Outlook Forum '97, Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C. Call: 202-720-3050 or 202-401-9421.

February 25-28 -- International Erosion Control Association's 28th Annual Conference and Trade Exposition, Nashville Convention Center, Nashville, TN. Contact: IECA at 1-800-455-4322 or 970-879-3010 or FAX at 970-879-8563 or e-mail: ecinfo@ieca.org.

February 26-March 1 -- American Soybean Association and National Corn Growers Association "Commodity Classic," Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, FL. Contact: Kristi Burmeister, 417-232-4999.

March 6-7 -- "Enhancing Montana's Natural Resources: A Coordinated Effort." Sponsored by the SWCS Montana Chapter. Contact: Valerie Oksendahl, 406-538-7401.

March 12-14 -- Soil and Water Conservation Society Conference; "Cover Crops, Soil Quality, and Ecosystems," Sacramento, CA. Contact: Nancy Herselius, 800-843-7645, ext. 18 or e-mail: nancyh@swcs.org. Conference information can also be found at: http://www.swcs.org.

March 22 -- 4th Annual "Providing Education Through Agriculture for Students" (PEAS), Memorial School, Natick, MA. Contact: Stacia Caplanson, 413-245-7402 or Stacy Miller, 617-259-9506, ext. 7700.

March 24-27 -- NRCS National Economics and Related Social Sciences Meeting, Nashville Airport Marriott Hotel, Nashville, TN. Contact: Marita Baker or Renna Young, 202-720-2307, e-mail: renna.young@usda.gov.

April 3-6 -- 45th Annual Meeting, National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA. Information about NRCS participation may be obtained from Tom Levermann, NRCS Office of Public Affairs, 202-720-7570. Information about the convention is available from the NSTA Convention Office at 703-243-7100 or FAX: 703-243-7177.

April 4-5 -- Timber Utilization Conference & Equipment Expo, Wagoner, OK, sponsored by Ouachita Mountains RC&D. Call: 918-423-0785 or FAX: 918-423-0793. Conference information can also be found at: http://www.icok.net/~omrcandd/timber_conf.html.

April 25-27 -- National Association of Farm Broadcasters Washington Watch, Washington, D.C. Contact: 612-224-0508.

April 27-May 2 -- 21st Annual Conference of the Association of State Floodplain Managers, Little Rock, AR. Contact: Rod Emmer, 608-274-0123.

May 7-9 -- An American Wetlands Month Celebration -- "Communities Working for Wetlands," Radisson Plaza Hotel, Alexandria, VA. Call: 800/726-4853 or FAX: 703-548-6299 or e-mail: terrene@gnn.com.

May 8-10 -- Public Service Recognition Week, National Mall Event, Washington, D.C.

May 14-16 -- Senior Action for Healthy Neighborhoods is the theme for the Environmental Alliance of Senior Involvement annual meeting, Ramada Plaza Hotel, Alexandria, VA. Information about the conference is available from Harlow Knight Associates, 703-241-0019 or FAX: 703-538-5504.

May 18-20 -- The Wildlife Habitat Council (in cooperation with the Wildlife Society and sponsored by NRCS and other Federal, State, and private organizations) 1997 Wildlands Conference, "Exceeding Expectations," Swissotel, Atlanta, GA. Call: 201-588-8994.

May 25-28 -- 8th Global Warming International Conference & Expo, New York, NY. Conference Hotline: 630-910-1561.

June 1-3 -- National Agricultural Biotechnology Council 9, "Resource Management in Challenged Environments," Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Call: 607-254-4856

June 11 -- USDA Annual Honor Awards Celebration, Washington, D.C.

June 15-18 -- National Association of RC&D Councils Conference, St. Paul, MN. Contact Becky Lane: 202-546-8800 or write to: National Association of RC&D Councils, 509 Capital Court, NE, Ste. 100, Washington, D.C. 20002.

July 17-19, 1997 -- Land Improvement Contractors of America Summer Meeting, Providence, RI. Contact: Wayne F. Maresch at 301/248-9313 or e-mail to: Wayne F86@aol.com.

July 12-16 -- ACE/NETC '97, Renaissance Cleveland Hotel Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio. Contact: Martha Carroll, 614-292-9833.

July 23-26 -- The 52nd Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Conference; Interactions, Managing Ecosystems on a Watershed Basis; Toronto, Canada. Contact: Nancy Herselius, 800-843-7645, ext. 18 or e-mail: nancyh@swcs.org. Conference information can also be found at: http://www.swcs.org/AnnCon.htm.

July 27-30 -- The 84th American Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada. Call: 515-233-3202. Conference information can also be found at: http://www.aaea.org/Meetings.html.

July 31-August 1/2 -- Indiana Land Care Exposition sponsored by Indiana Land Improvement Contractors in cooperation with Purdue University, NRCS, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and the Shelby County Soil and Water Conservation District. Contact: Don Sisson (317) 349-1935 or Shelby County SWCD (317) 392-1394.

August 10-14 -- ASAE Annual International Meeting, "Tools for Transforming Tomorrow," Minneapolis, MN. Contact: American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 616-429-0300 or FAX: 616-429-3852 or e-mail: hq@asae.org.

September 7-9 -- National Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Huntington, WV. Contact Kelly Sponaugle, 304-255-9225 or FAX: 304--255-1250.

November 11-14 -- Environmental Technology China '97 (ETC '97), Third International Exhibition on Environmental Protection, Pollution Control and Green Production Technology, Shanghai Exhibition Center, Shanghai, China. Contact: Perry Tang, Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd., 4/F Stanhope House, 734 King's Road, North Point, Hong Kong, 852-25163346 or FAX: 852-25165024.

November 16-18 -- National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges Annual Meeting, Washington Hilton Hotel and Towers, Washington, D.C. Contact: 202-778-0850

QUOTE

"When evil men plot, good men must plan. When evil men shout ugly words of hatred, good men must commit themselves to the glories of love."

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968).

NRCS This Week is issued weekly by the Office of Public Affairs, NRCS headquarters, Washington, D.C., and posted in the SCS:SCS shared folder on FTS2000Mail. Please send correspondence and material via FTS2000Mail to !A16SCSOPA and type "This Week" on the subject line or e-mail: fred.jacobs@usda.gov or mail to Editor, "NRCS This Week," NRCS, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, DC 20013 or fax to Editor, "NRCS This Week," 202-690-1221.

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