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***MLRA REGION 10 Newsletter***

***1^st^ Quarter 2002***

***(January-February-March)***

**Students Get \"Hands-on\" With Soil**

Nearly 3,000 fourth and fifth graders from Santa Clara County,
California, recently learned that one of the best ways to learn about
soil is to stick your hands in it. During \"Forest Conservation Days,\"
sponsored by the Northern California Chapter of the Society of American
Foresters, students got an opportunity to feel various soil textures,
including sand, silt, granite, clay, and different types of rocks. NRCS
resource soil scientist Jim Komar discussed the elements in soil and its
place in the ecosystem, and described a soil profile. The students had
fun making water and clay handprints and chalking up their hands and
faces with diatomacous earth. During their walk along a nature trail in
Sanborn/Skyline Park in Saratoga, students heard presentations by
foresters, geologists, biologists, and archaeologists. Other NRCS
conservationists including, Carol Mandel from the Ukiah office and Bruce
Eisenman from Hollister, also gave soils presentations.

Your contact is Jolene Lau, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, at
831-754-1595, or \<<jolene.lau@ca.usda.gov>\>.

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Schultz Maps a Million Acres during 44 Years with Agency

A career, which began for Loren Schultz in Sioux Falls as a student
trainee in 1958, came to a close February 1, as he retired with 44 years
of service. Schultz spent his entire career with the agency in South
Dakota. After a few years in the Sioux Falls area Schultz moved north to
Madison, where he worked for seven years. After a brief stint in Pierre,
he settled in Aberdeen (1968) and has been there ever since.

Schultz mapped more than one million acres in numerous counties
throughout South Dakota. He also mapped in parts of North Dakota and
Texas as a detail soil scientist. "Loren not only mapped, investigated,
correlated and interpreted soils, but he was key in getting the backlog
of soil survey manuscripts ready for publication. His services will not
be totally missed, as he has become an Earth Team volunteer and will
work on NASIS databases! We will miss Loren as the dedicated NRCS
employee, but we will thoroughly enjoy working with him as an Earth Team
member," said State Soil Scientist Jerry Schaar.

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height="1.5833333333333333in"}

*Schultz (seated) and the NRCS soils/GIS family.*

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**Interest Grows in Soil Climate Analysis Network**

The Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN) continues to expand thanks to
funding provided to the NRCS National Water and Climate Center from
Federal and State agencies, universities, and private groups. SCAN
consists of remote automated stations that measure climate, soil
moisture, and soil temperature, as well as the infrastructure to collect
and manage the data. There are 45 stations scattered across the country.
Four new SCAN sites were installed in September funded primarily by
other agencies and non-profit groups. Two sites in Missouri were
installed in cooperation with the Missouri State Climatologist. The
Agricultural Research Service National Soil Tilth Laboratory sponsored
one site near Ames, Iowa. The final site was installed in northern
Minnesota as a joint venture with The Nature Conservancy on a newly
acquired 23,000-acre wetland. A new master station for relaying data
went online this summer at Stoneville, Mississippi. The USDA World
Agriculture Outlook Board (WAOB) has provided funding for five more SCAN
sites scheduled for installation in FY02. Requests have been received
for additional SCAN sites for Iowa, Alabama, and Mississippi.

The number of users downloading SCAN data continues to increase. Data
users are varied. For example, the WAOB uses the SCAN network to predict
crop yields and assess drought risk throughout the United States. Data
are used as input for the new interagency Drought Monitor (see
http://enso.unl.edu/monitor/monitor.html). SCAN data also provide
valuable information for flood mitigation and more farmers are relying
on local SCAN data to make tough resource management decisions.
Researchers are using the data to explore relationships between climate
and soil responses and the implications of global climate change.

For more information, contact:

Garry L. Schaefer

National Water and Climate Center

\(503\) 414-3068

<gschaefer@wcc.nrcs.usda.gov>

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**Managing Soil for Earth Worms**

Earthworms are often associated with healthy, productive soil because
they improve nutrient cycling and soil structure, and because they
require many of the same conditions that crops thrive on. Although
earthworms cannot tolerate extreme conditions such as low soil moisture,
sandy texture, or low pH, their numbers can be increased by controlling
the level of food in the form of organic matter and litter levels.
Surface litter also provides protection from predators and weather.
Earthworm-friendly practices to increase litter include reducing
tillage, using cover crops and high-residue crop rotations, and growing
healthy, productive crops. Inoculating fields with earthworms has met
with mixed success and is generally not recommended. To establish
earthworm populations, create a suitable habitat by reducing tillage.
Once soil conditions improve, populations of shallow-dwelling earthworms
are likely to increase on their own within a couple years and will
provide the soil quality benefits of earthworm activity. Often
deep-dwelling nightcrawlers may naturally not be present so inoculation
may be necessary to establish a population. Test to see if the
earthworms will survive in a small area before spending time and money
inoculating a whole farm. If the inoculated worms survive, it may take 5
years or more for a population to become established.

For more information, see the Agronomy Technical Note #11,
\"Agricultural Management Effects on Earthworm Populations\" on the Soil
Quality Institute website at \<http://@statlab.iastate.edu/survey/SQI\>.

Your contact is Mike Hubbs, NRCS Agronomist, at 334-844-4741 ext. 177.

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**Collegiate Soil Judging**

NRCS and the University of Connecticut (U of C) teamed up to host this
year's Northeast Regional Collegiate Soil Judging Contest held at U of
C. Over 40 college students from across the New England competed both
individually and in teams in timed events to properly identify drumlins,
floodplains, and kame terraces and other soils and describe five soils
commonly found in Connecticut. Students judged soil morphology, profile
and site characteristics, soil classification, and soil interpretations
related to urban development. The top scoring teams -- the University of
Maryland, Ohio State University, and the University of Rhode Island --
will advance to the National Soil Judging contest in Minnesota.

Your contact is Shawn McVey, NRCS soil scientist, at 860-871-4044.

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**Putting Soil Survey on the Map**

When NRCS Soil Survey Project Leader Greg Hammer started soil mapping
the city of Chesapeake, Virginia, he faced a challenge of how to inform
local residents about why he was digging holes everywhere. With nearly
200,000 people living in the 341 square mile area, Greg decided he
needed help from of the local news media. He was successful in getting a
two-page spread with photos of him mapping soils around the city run in
the local newspaper. Greg designed large posters to hang in public
buildings explaining the value of the survey to local residents. During
October, he appeared on \"Horizons,\" a local cable program that showed
Greg mapping different types of soil and a city planner and an engineer
using soils information in a GIS system and for planning developments. A
taped copy of the broadcast serves as a valuable tool for schools and
others who want to know more about the survey.

Your contact is Pat Paul, NRCS public affairs specialist, at
804-287-1681.

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**Al Giencke Receives Soil Scientist of the Year Award**

By Joseph McCloskey, Region 10 MLRA Leader

On December 7, 2001, the Minnesota Association of Professional Soil
Scientists (MAPSS) named NRCS Soil Scientist Al Giencke as the Soil
Scientist of the Year for 2001. This award is given annually by MAPSS to
a member soil scientist who has made a significant contribution to the
understanding and interpretation of soils in the State. Al has been
active in MAPSS since its inception in 1974 and has held several
positions in the organization and has served as president.

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**WEB SITES OF INTEREST**

State Soils website at <http://www.geobop.com/paleozoo/Soils/>

Contact: David Blomstrom at <GeoBear@geobop.com>

Current soils forms may be obtained at this web site:
<http://www.ftw.nrcs.usda.gov/nps/soi.htm>

<http://www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov/mlra/index.html>

Soil surveys on the web available from MO 2. Your choice of:Mendocino
Co., CA, West; Napa

County, CA;; Stanislaus County, Western Part.

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**OSDs updated 10/2001- 12/2001**

FRIGID: beltrami ... bluffton ... borgstrom ... cantlin ... eckvoll ...
estelline ... parent ... portwing ... prebish ... ronneby ... ruse ...
rushlake ... totagatic

MESIC: belview ... biscay ... bluemound ... dempster ... dinsdale ...
dinsmore ... dobalt ... dunkerton ... edgington ... egan ... fairhaven
... finchford ... gladek ... good_thunder ... graceville ... grovena ...
huntsville ... ihlen ... janude ... kanaranzi ... klingmore ... marcus
... marquis ... maxmore ... merimod ... merit ... mt.\_sterling ...
ridgeton ... rosedell ... sac ... sigglekov ... spillco ... splitrock
... tadkee ... talmo ... tomall ... wentworth

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![](media/image4.wmf)**Schedule for January-February-March (subject to
change)**

[WEEK]{.underline} [LOCATION]{.underline} [MLRA]{.underline}
[STAFF]{.underline} [ACTIVITY]{.underline}

1/7-11/02 St. Paul, MN All LLD Query-Writing Training

1/9-11/02 Brookings, SD 102A AGG Steering Committee Meeting

1/21-25/02 Waverly, IA 105 JJJ Steering Committee Meeting

1/28-2/1/02 Laughlin, NV JWM MO Leaders Meeting

1/28-2/1/02 St. Paul, MN All LLD Report-Writing Training

1/28-2/1/02 Spooner, WI JFH NASIS Data Population Training

2/4-8/02 Rochester, MN 104 AGG Steering Committee Meeting

2/4-8/02 St. Peter, MN KDM TSS Quality Review - FSO SC

2/4-8/02 Treehaven, WI All JJJ Wisconsin Meeting

2/11-15/02 Rochester, MN KDM TSS Quality Review - FSO SE

2/11-15/02 St. Paul, MN 90B JJJ Review Series - Washburn County

2/18-22/02 Rochester, MN 104 AGG 104 Steering Committee Meeting

2/18-22/02 Rochester, MN 105 AGG MNSEP Progressive Correlation

2/25-3/1/02 Duluth, MN 92 AGG Progressive Correlation

2/25-3/1/02 St. Paul, MN 90B JJJ Meet with Dave Hvizdak

2/25-3/1/02 Atlantic, IA 107 LLD Final Field Review - Woodbury County

2/25-3/1/02 Ironwood, MI JFH NASIS PEDON Training

3/4-8/02 Iowa City, IA 108 TWN Steering Committee Meeting

3/11-15/02 St. Paul, MN 105 JJJ Final Correlation - Richland County

3/15/02 Duluth, MN 92 AGG Clay Till Soil Interps

3/18-22/02 Brainerd MO Staff All Personnel Training Session

3/18-22/02 Ironwood, MI 92 JJJ Steering Committee Meeting

3/25-29/02 Atlantic, IA 107 TWN Steering Committee Meeting

3/25-29/02 Spooner, WI 90B JJJ Final Correlation - Washburne County

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CONTRIBUTIONS, IDEAS, SUGGESTIONS, AND QUESTIONS ARE WELCOME

This newsletter is intended to be a forum to distribute information of a
general nature that will benefit soil scientists in soil survey project
offices. It is hoped that it will foster communications and sharing of
knowledge among those soil scientists in MLRA Region 10.

\* \* \* \* \*

Articles from other newsletters are often included to distribute ideas
and comments from other areas of the country; these ideas and comments
are not necessarily identical to those used in MLRA Region 10.

\* \* \* \* \*

The format of this newsletter is intentionally simple so that it can be
received, read, and printed by the project office having the least
sophisticated computer and printer setup.

\* \* \* \* \*

Thanks to those individuals who participated this month. It is your
efforts that have made this newsletter a success.

\* \* \* \* \*

Articles in an electronic format can be submitted to:

<rhonda.osterman@mn.usda.gov>

\* \* \* \* \*

Previous copies of this newsletter are available at:

<http://www.mn.nrcs.usda.gov/mo10/mo10.html>

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>
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> Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice
> and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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