***MLRA REGION 10 Newsletter***

***January/February 2001***

**NASIS Generated Interpretations**

Greetings

In the past several months, several of you have requested a list of data
elements that are used in NASIS generated interpretations. Robert Dobos,
SDQS, Morgantown MO, has come to the rescue. Robert has spent a
considerable amount of time and energy in developing the attached EXCEL
spreadsheat that appears to be quite comprehensive. The spreadsheet
itemizes those characteristics and associated soil data elements
evaluated in each of the Pangaea interpretations as of 8/30/00. As this
is a shapshot in time, there is always the possibility that the list may
change as interp rules are modified, and hopefully improved.

We commend Robert for his effort in developing the document. We see it
as a possible tool to identify those data elements that might have
priority for data population and validation.

There are three worksheets in the EXCEL spreadsheet. One is the original
document developed by Bod Dobos. The second is a unique sort on the
first by soil characteristic and data elements \-- about 130 records.
The third is a totally unique list of data elements used in any interp
\-- about 55 records.

Jim R. Fortner

NSSC, Lincoln, NE

\<jim.fortner@nssc.nrcs.usda.gov\>

{Contact Rhonda Osterman at the Reg. 10 MO Office for this spreadsheet.
(651-602-7862 or Rhonda.Osterman@mn.usda.gov}

\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~

**Soil Tunnel at 2000 State Fair of Texas Concludes Successful Run**

This year\'s 2000 State Fair of Texas drew over 3.3 million visitors.

Approximately 300,000 people entered the Food and Fiber pavilion, where

an article in the Dallas Morning News mentioning the NRCS Soil Tunnel

exhibit drew thousands to the display, which features a black lit, walk

through tunnel depicting the living soil beneath the ground. The

glow-in-the-dark animals and insects on the tunnel walls delighted

thousands of children who saw the exhibit.

Your contact is H. Harold Bryant, NRCS State Public Affairs Specialist,

at 254-742-9800 or \<harold.bryant@tx.usda.gov\>.

\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~

**Soil Survey Division/NSSC Steering Team/Regional Soil Leads**

**Teleconference Notes**

**December 11, 2000**

> Participants:
>
> Ken Lubich, WI Rick Fielder, AR
>
> Bill Craddock, KY Bill Dollarhide, NV
>
> Ron Taylor, NJ Chuck Gordon, MT
>
> Ed White, PA Dennis Potter, MO
>
> Bob Ahrens, NSSC Russ Kelsea, NSSC
>
> Bob Nielsen, NSSC Donna Zabel, NSSC

Tommie Parham, NCGC

Russ Kelsea: NASIS 5.0 and the central server were to be rolled out in
December 2000. However, because of problems with the central server
coming together, this has been delayed. The application server side is
running fine, but the data server side is having problems. We do not
have experience with the Compaq hardware, Linux operating system, and
the particular version of Informix on which the data server is run and a
whole host of issues have arisen. Fort Collins is working on these and
is not willing to give us a release date until issues are resolved. This
week they are running some experiments. If these don't work, they may
have to go back to a fully UNIX system. We can\'t predict the release
date until hardware and software issues are resolved, but at this point
we know the release can\'t occur before March 2001. Hopefully, an Alpha
test can be done sometime in the first part of January 2000. If that
test is successful, we will proceed with the normal Beta test schedule.
The new SSURGO format cannot be released until the central server is
operational. The new SSURGO format and the Customer Service Tool Kit
will use the same data structure and should use data from the same
export to assure consistency between the two datasets. The NASIS 5.0
release date affects Pedon conversion. Pedon data can only be converted
to NASIS 4.1. Pedons will not be converted to NASIS 5.0, so all pedons
should be converted to NASIS 4.1 before NASIS 5.0 is installed.

ACTION: Recommended that a reminder letter be sent out to states on
pedon conversion.

Rick Fielder asked what the contingency plan was for those who did not
renew maintenance on the Hp and the system went down. Russ advised to
buy the server direct on an as-needed basis. However, the turn-around
time may not be as good. September 2001 deadline (I heard this but don't
know what it was for.)

Bob Nielsen: Soil data viewer is currently being installed with the
Field Office Toolkit and a stand-alone version is being beta tested by
the public and NCSS. Unlike SSURGO, the attributes data source for SOIL
DATA VIEWER (SDV) is NASIS and [not]{.underline} the legacy data (3SD).
Some of the issues involved with the deployment of SDV are:

1.  SSURGO and SDV attribute data currently do not have the same data
    source. Upon the release of NASIS 5.0 this issues will be resolved
    when the attribute data are recertified by the state soil scientist.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
1.  Coordination of SDV Field Office Toolkit data with Section 2 of the
    FOTG. The SDV attribute data may not be identical to the FOTG and
    coordination depends on certification status of SDV data and vintage
    of Section 2 FOTG data.

2.  1/1/90 data is not necessarily the same as the attribute data in
    SDV.

3.  Public is using SDV and NASIS data which may not be what is
    currently certified in the FOTG.

SDV and SSURGO will be integrated with NASIS upon the NASIS 5.0 release.

Bob Nielsen: Phosphorous Index. Phosphorous and leaching indexes are
referenced in the Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan document.
However, the technical reference for these indexes is not specified.
States should assertane from their respective technical leads as to what
these indexes are and what soil survey data are needed to support the
respective indexes. NSSC has developed a phosphorous loading potential
interpretation. The interpretation name is \"PRGM P Loading Potential
(Draft Not for Official Use)\". NSSC would appreciate states testing and
evaluating this interpretation and report their findings to Bob Nielsen
at 402-437-4149 or email <bob.nielsen@nssc.nrcs.usda.gov>. There may be
an opportunity to incorporate the P loading potential into the state\'s
local P index.

Dennis Potter -- The Board of Directors for MLRA Offices 10 and 11 will
be meeting right after the first of the year in Chicago.

Ron Taylor -- Joseph DelVecchio has been selected as the new State
Conservationist for New Jersey, effective December 3, 2000.

Bob Ahrens said map finishing funds available for soil survey
publication in FY2000 is \$1M. Ken Lubich reported that approximately
28-30 surveys are ready for publication when funds are available (Maps
and Text complete, most of work at NPSS complete). He is working with
Horace who will be trying to get additional funding. There are 471
surveys listed in NASIS Soil Survey Schedule, that have 100% of mapping
completed or are updated surveys that have been correlated. Manuscripts
are done on 125 of these 471, and maps are done on 36 of the 471. There
are few surveys with maps done, but not text; and a lot with text done,
but not maps. We are hoping to have 100 soil surveys ready to publish
this fiscal year. However, at a publishing cost of from \$35,000 to
\$40,000 per survey, the \$1M would only cover publication of
approximately 25 surveys.

Ed White reported that Penn State, Virginia and others are working on a
good, effective spatial method to update/maintain soil surveys.

Bill Craddock: Southeast Regional Team has been involved in work with
the Soil Data Viewer and tool kit. The team will be reporting back to
Roy Vick. The new MLRA Office 18 has been established in Lexington, KY.
As of now, 2 people are on staff. David Sawyer is Acting MLRA Office
Leader. Steve Carpenter has a map that has been prepared of the new
area.

Bill Dollarhide: All soil scientists/all Agency workshop was held in
MO3. Bob Nielsen gave a presentation on fuzzy logic.

Bob Ahrens will check with Maxine Levin about sending out the latest
draft of the National State Soil Scientists' Meeting agenda. Ken Lubich
suggested that more on new technology going on in states would be
interesting to the group.

Bob Ahrens advised that Horace Smith, Ken Harward, Terry Aho and Jon
Gerken are looking at the original DRS for NASIS. Russ Kelsea will work
on putting together a newer version and hopes to have it available for
the State Soil Scientists' meeting in March 2001.

Jim Fortner has been selected, effective December 10, 2000, for the
GS-14 Soil Scientist vacancy that recently closed at the National Soil
Survey Center. Curtis Talbot has been selected, effective February 11,
2001, for the GS-13 Range Management Specialist position at NSSC.

\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~

**Articles is from NRCS \"This Week\"**

*Secrets of the Soil*

Secrets of the Soil were revealed to Newark Star-Ledger readers in New
Jersey. Part of a series for the new gardener, Gardening 101, the soils
article was the lead story in a recent Home & Garden section of the
State\'s most widely circulated newspaper. Chris Smith, NRCS New Jersey
soil scientist, provided the Star-Ledger reporter with background on the
importance of soil and was frequently quoted in the article.

Your contact is Irene Lieberman, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, at

732-246-1171 x 124 or \<ilieberman@nj.nrcs.usda.gov\>.

\+ + + + + + + + + + + + +

*Virginia Soil Scientists Team Up With Students*

Dr. John Galbraith, professor at Virginia Tech University, and David
Kriz, NRCS State Soil Scientist recently led a 3-day trip through
Virginia for 40 environmental studies and soil science students from
\"Tech.\" The purpose of the tour was to offer the students an
opportunity to study different soils and to see what their lives might
be like as scientists. The trip featured professional soil scientists
from NRCS, Virginia Tech, and private consulting firms who provided
opportunities to pair off with teams of students to study soils and talk
about careers in conservation.

Your contact is David Kriz, NRCS State Soil Scientist, at 804/287-1646.

\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~

**WEB SITES OF INTEREST**

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

\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~

**OSDs updated 11/2000 - 12/2000:**

frigid: angelica \... augwood \... banat \... biscuit \... carbondale
\... deford \... lowe \... pelkie \... sartell \... sauxhead \...
shawano \... waupaca \... wega

mesic: albaton \... biscay \... blencoe \... delft \... derrynane \...
faxon \... hamel \... hooppole \... moville \... nodaway \... ocheyedan
\... salix \... swanlake \... tadkee \... tomall \... wacousta \...
wakenda \... wathena

\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~

**Schedule for January/February (subject to change)**

WEEK LOCATION MLRA STAFF ACTIVITY

01/08-12/01 ThiefRiverFalls KDM TSS Review/Workplan

01/08-12/01 Duluth 88 AGG Prog. Corr. - St. Louis County

01/08-12/01 St. Paul 105 CTS NASIS Intro/Rochester staff

01/08-12/01 St. Paul JFH NASIS Introductory Training

01/15-19/01 Rochester 105 CTS Steering Committee Meeting

01/15-19/01 Richland Center 105 JJJ Steering Committee Meeting

01/15-19/01 Richland Center 105 JFH Steering Committee Meeting

01/22-26/01 San Antonio JWM MO Leaders Meeting

01/22-26/01 St. Paul LLD Manuscript Training

01/22-26/01 Marshall 107A AGG Steering Committee Meeting

01/22-26/01 Marshall 107A JFH Steering Committee Meeting

01/29-02/02/01 St. Paul JFH NASIS Introductory Training

02/05-09/01 St. Paul LLD Manuscript Training

02/05-09/01 Mille Lacs Lake KDM Soils Workshop

02/05-09/01 TBD JWM MN MLRA Coord. Workshop

02/05-09/01 Hinckley 90A AGG Steering Committee Meeting

02/05-09/01 Mille Lacs Lake 105 ARSS MLRA Coordinator\'s Meeting

02/05-09/01 Mille Lacs Lake 105 DJP MLRA Coordinator\'s Meeting

02/05-09/01 Mille Lacs Lake 105 MPD MLRA Coordinator\'s Meeting

02/05-09/01 Mille Lacs Lake 105 KDS MLRA Coordinator\'s Meeting

02/05-09/01 Mille Lacs Lake 105 RCG MLRA Coordinator\'s Meeting

02/05-09/01 Mille Lacs Lake 105 CTS MLRA Coordinator\'s Meeting

02/05-09/01 Mille Lacs Lake 105 TCJ MLRA Coordinator\'s Meeting

02/05-09/01 TBD 56 TBD Manuscript Training

02/05-09/01 Hinckley 90A JJJ Steering Committee Meeting

02/05-09/01 Hinckley 90A MPD Steering Committee Meeting

02/12-16/01 Tree Haven TBD Training et. Al

02/12-16/01 Rochester 104 SDQS Steering Committee Meeting

02/12-16/01 Fargo 56 TBD Steering Committee Meeting

02/12-16/01 Tree Haven JJJ WI Soil Scientist Meeting

02/12-16/01 Tree Haven 90 JFH WI Soil Scientist Meeting

02/19-23/01 Duluth KDM TSS Review/Workplan

02/19-23/01 Champaign SDQS/

JWM MLRA Leaders Meeting

02/19-23/01 St. Peter 103 AGG Final Correlation - Waseca Cnty

02/26-03/02/01 St. Paul JFH NASIS Query Writing Training

\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~

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>

\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~

### USDA NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

> The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
> all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
> origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
> orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
> apply to all programs). Persons with disabilities who require
> alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
> large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s TARGET Center at
> 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).
>
> To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of
> Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
> Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice
> and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~