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                                    Summer 2009 Issue 

State Conservationist Terry Cosby  

"Helping People Help the Land" -- This is the NRCS mission statement and can be seen on anything from NRCS coffee mugs, hats, thermoses, pens, and lanyards to how I sign off on all of my emails. It is how we identify what we do. In fact, if you go to our National NRCS website and click on "About Us," you will see this statement first:

"With the mission of "Helping People Help the Land," the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides products and services that enable people to be good stewards of the Nation’s soil, water, and related natural resources on non-Federal lands. With our help, people are better able to conserve, maintain, or improve their natural resources. As a result of our technical and financial assistance, land managers and communities take a comprehensive approach to the use and protection of natural resources in rural, suburban, urban, and developing areas."

This mission statement has been with our Agency since 2005, but never has it been more evident in Ohio than in these past few months with 2008 Farm Bill activities. Through the conservation programs we administer such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP), the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP), and the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program, we have assisted over 3,657 individuals in developing applications in the amount of $36,671,596! Many of these individuals, such as the organic and specialty crop farmers, as well as the 542 applicants for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program-Floodplain Easement (EWPP-FE) program, are a new type of clientele for our employees.

This is and will continue to be a very busy and overwhelming time for our Agency and conservation partners as we work to ensure that we have all necessary paperwork, signatory authority, Customer Service Toolkit planning, and other miscellaneous items finalized in order to obligate $36,671,596 in Federal contracts.

These are busy times for all of us, but remember that we are truly "helping people help the land." Ohio NRCS has great employees and conservation partners that have demonstrated exceptional dedication the past few months. Thank you for the fine work that you do!

A3 icon

  

Focus on the Field - An Area Update
 By:  Randy Jordan, Acting ASTC-FO, Zanesville AO
It has been a year since the last Area 3 update and a year of change for area three.
ONE Class Participants  

Area 3 Hosts ONE Course Field Trips
By: Denise Liggett, Office Assistant, Zanesville AO
NEDS presented the NRCS Orientation for New Employees (ONE) training course in Canton, Ohio.  The course is designed to teach new employees about the agency.

Fantastic Female Gina Schworm  

Area 3 Fantastic Female - Gina Schworm
By: Jennifer Chen, Natural Resource Specialist/ Federal Womens Program Manager, SO
I don’t believe it!" was Area 3’s Fantastic Female winner Gina Schworm’s response when she found out she was nominated by her peers to receive this recognition.
 
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsak  

Secretary Vilsak’s Rural Tour Stops in Zanesville
By: Chris Coulon, Public Affairs Specialist, State Office
 On Monday, August 31, Ohio was honored to host the 18th stop on Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsak’s Rural Tour of America.

 
Farm Organic  

Organic Farming Training
By: Rick Griffin, Resource Soil Scientist, Zanesville AO
 Area 3 hosted a training session, a timely one, on Organic Farming. This topic was chosen to help introduce district and NRCS personnel to what is involved with organic farming and what a landowner must do to become certified.

Touring Jensie Mine Site  

OMP Spring Meeting
By: Jim Williams, Coordinator Assistant, Buckeye Hills RC&D
 The Ohio Mineland Partnership (OMP) Spring Meeting was held in Jefferson County with over 50 people in attendance. The group met in the Yellow Creek Watershed in Northern Jefferson County to look at the progress being made as a result of abandoned mine land reclamation efforts.
 
Colorful produce  

Summer All Ohio Chapter SWCS Meeting Held at Malabar Farm
 By: Chris Coulon, Public Affairs Specialist, SO
The AOC-SWCS met recently at Malabar Farm where they learned more about local foods, organic production, the Crossroads RC&D beekeeping project, and local farm markets.
Caldwell Lake Dam after rehabilitation  

Caldwell Lake Dam Update
By: Mel Granberg, Supervisory Civil Engineer, Zanesville AO and Scott Jerrome, Planning Engineer, SO
 Construction to rehabilitate the Caldwell Lake Dam began in August 2008 and was completed in July 2009.
 
Richard Johnson is enrolled in WRP  

Additional Land Preserved Along the Grand River
 By: John Niedzialek, Western Reserve RC&D Coordinator, Painesville
 The Western Reserve RC&D Council teamed up with NRCS and the Lake SWCD to preserve 7-acres of land owned by Richard Johnson along the Grand River in Lake County.
 
Jim Maple, Disabled Veterans SEPM  

A Note from Your SEPMs
 By: Jim Maple, Disabled Veterans Special Emphasis Program Manager, Medina AO
 You may have recently seen newspaper and magazine articles about the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The bill went into effect on August 1, 2009, and expands the number of veterans who qualify for educational support from the VA.
 
ODNR Director Sean Logan  

Buckeye Hills RC&D Host ODNR Director Logan
 By: Jim Williams, Coordiator Assistant, Buckeye Hills RC&D
 ODNR Director Sean Logan spoke to the Council and shared success stories concerning wildlife, land management, and resource utilization. He also addressed the topic of budget reductions that have affected state-funded entities.
 
Soil in hand  

Refresh Soils Data
 By: Jeff Glanville, Soil Scientist, SO
 Soil Survey Offices (SSOs) investigate soils across their area of extent within the Major Land Resource Area (MLRA). The intent is to evaluate and update soils data for the entire State and to have every acre on a "refresh cycle."

Participants view a healthy bee population  

Beekeeping Training for 110
By: Beverly Fisher, Coordiator Assistant, Crossroads RC&D
Most people don’t realize that without pollination, 80 percent of the world’s crops would not exist. A healthy bee population is critical for healthy plants, healthy crops, and healthy food for people.

Ann Perales is recognized for her exceptional efforts  

2009 American Indian/Alaska Native Training Conference - Ohio Employee Receives Award
 By: Chris Coulon, Public Affairs Specialist, SO
The 2009 American Indian/Alaska Native Employee Association (AIANEA) Training Conference was held in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on the Oneida Tribe Reservation. Ohio's Ann Whitebird Perales was presented with a beautiful award for her work mentoring with the AIANEA.

 
USDA Employees at Siding Showdown  

USDA Employees Join Forces in "Siding Showdown"
By: Chris Coulon, Public Affairs Specialist, SO
NRCS employees participates in the Rural Housing Mutual Self-Help Housing Program "Work Day." The event brought together USDA employees and homeowners for a "Self-Help Siding Showdown."

Damselfly  

Stream Monitoring Program with ET Volunteers
By: George Feltham, ET Volunteer, Bellefontaine FO
NRCS Earth Team volunteers are continuing a stream monitoring program in Logan County.
Fairgoers identify soil type location on Ohio map  

Ohio Soils Featured At Ohio State Fair
By: Chris Coulon, Public Affairs Specialist, SO
Activities and exhibits on soils were featured at Ohio State Fair, using both art and science to highlight the importance of soil as the foundation of agriculture.
Impromptu fashion show with fur used in wildlife presentation  

Migrant Worker Children Learn About Ohio Wildlife
By: Chris Coulon, Public Affairs Specialist, SO
On a pleasant Monday in early August, the children of migrant workers in Huron County, Ohio, enjoyed a day at camp.
 

 





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




 


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