MLRA REGION 10 NEWSLETTER--DECEMBER 1, 1999


                     NASIS MANUSCRIPT DEVELOPMENT

                         By Lynn DesLauriers,
                     Soil Data Quality Specialist

NASIS reports to generate various parts of the manuscript have been under
development  for the last four to five months.   By December 15, 1999 the
following will be available in NASIS and on the Region 10 web site for
your use in developing a soil survey manuscript:

- NASIS map unit generator and general map unit generator reports
- NASIS reports to generate manuscript tables (including the stored
"legacy" interpretation tables)
- NASIS reports to generate NASIS style (fuzzy) interpretation tables
- Prewritten material for NASIS manuscripts (on the Region 10 web site)
- NASIS manuscript procedure manual with instructions for completing a manuscript
(on the Region 10 web site: http://www.mn.nrcs.usda.gov/mo10/mo10.html--
then click on "Soil Survey Reference Documents and Books")

All of the reports except for the NASIS style interpretations are
available under "Local" in the report generator.  The NASIS style
interpretations are available under "National" in the report generator
and are those that end "w/fuzzy rating".  These are interpretations that
have been developed by Bob Nielsen in Lincoln, NE.  Rick Fielder in the
Little Rock MLRA office has also developed interpretations.  Both of
these interpretations follow closely the criteria for the "legacy"
interpretations we used in SSSD.  Currently Rick Fielder's
interpretations are not available on the Region 10 NASIS site, but can be
run using nasisclient.  We cannot easily copy Rick's interpretations to
our machine since all of the properties, evaluations, and rules related
to these interpretations would have to be found and copied to the Region
10 computer.  When the NASIS central server comes into existence this
problem should be solved.

#########################################################################

                           NASIS DOWNTIME--A REMINDER

Please remember that all NASIS systems in the country will be out of
service from December 1-3 while the teams in Lincoln and Ft. Collins 
upgrade everyone to NASIS 4.1 and syncronize all systems to work 
together.

Information on NASIS 4.1 can be found on the Region 10 web site:
(http://www.mn.nrcs.usda.gov/mo10/mo10.html) then click on "National
Soil Information System (NASIS)".

#########################################################################

                          UNIX WORD 5 Y2K PROBLEM

Unix Word 5 is not Y2K compliant.   This affects MS Word on the ATT
Globalyst and NCR 3333 Unixware and Everex 386 unix 3.2 computers.
After the date changes to 1/1/2000, then Unix Word 5 crashes when a file
is saved.  You can use Word 5, edit a file, print the file, but can not
save a file.

Unix Word 5 on the 3B2 has the same problem, except that you can press
the ESC during one point during the SAVE process and the date stamp will
not be put on the file and it does not crash.

This affects everyone that uses Unix Word on a ATT 605 dumb terminal,
Wyse 99 or 160 dumb terminal,  unix console, HP X-Terminal, Windows PC
with a pc52, kermit, telnet session and/or a Hummingbird Xterm to a unix
computer.

The Public Information Module in FOCS uses Unix Word 5.   You may not be
able to use it after 1/1/2000.

There is a possiblity that a "work around" solution may be found for
Unix Word 5.  However, we might not be able to find a workable
solution.  For instance, the date on the unix computer can be set to an
earlier year so that Word 5 can continue to be used.  However, this will
cause problems such as email messages having the wrong dates and
appearing in odd places in your email lists.

The vendor, Santa Cruz Operation (SCO), will not fix the problem.  Rumor
is that SCO no longer has the source code.

The National IT Center does not see this as a problem, since they think
that we all have new PC's and are using Windows Word 97.

Most of the new PCs for NRCS will be shipped by December 1.  However
in most states there will not be enough time to have all computers
installed 1/1/2000.  There
may need to be some sharing of Windows computers for word processing
until all of the new computers are installed and the old computers
moved.  Every office should have at least one new Windows computer.

There is not a problem with using Windows Word 97 and accessing the unix
Word 5 files on the unix computer after 1/1/2000.  This means that all
of the Unix Word 5 files can be left on the unix server in Unix Word 5
format.  The files can be moved to the Windows Word 97 computer when
they are needed.

The process to access Unixware Word 5 files from a networked PC is as
follows:

  1)  double-click Word 97 icon on the Windows PC
  2)  click on file, open
  3)  change the "look in" location to the unix network drive where your
unix word files are located.  The network drive name will usually
include /home/xxx, where xxx is your unix login id.  If the unix drive
is not networked to your PC, contact your IRM staff.
  4)  change to the unix word directory or other location on the unix
computer and select the Unix Word 5 file.
  5)  Windows Word 97 will convert the file to a Windows file.
Sometimes a file is not converted and you get weird characters all over
that will need to be deleted.
  6)  You may want to save the file in Word 97 format on the Windows PC
instead of on the unix computer by clicking on File, Save As, Save in,
H:  word.  Also change the Save as Type to Word Document.

Some people that are getting a new computer have limited experience
using a Windows PC and Windows Word 97.  They may need Windows training
in the next 2 months in order to use the new computer.

The CCE (Common Computing Environment) Project provided a set of tutorial
CDs for each office and each group of 5 people in an office.   The set of
3 CD's has the following modules:  PC Fundamentals, NT 4 Workstation,
Word 97, Excel 97, PowerPoint 97, Access 97, Outlook 97, and Netscape
Naviagtor.  These are excellent tutorials.   If you are using Unix Word 5
and have limited Windows experience, then you should go through the first
3 tutorial CD's listed above before the end of the year.

From: Tom.Radermacher@mn.usda.gov

#########################################################################

                            PEDON AND Y2K

Many of you are still using PEDON 3.6 or PEDON 3.6.1 on a computer on
which the UNIX operating system is not Y2K compliant.  Unless you are
running UNIX 2.1, Solaris version 2.5, or HP UNIX 10.X (most project
offices are not), then your version of UNIX is not certified as being Y2K
compliant.

However, there are no known Y2K problems with non Y2K compliant versions
of UNIX.

As for PEDON, that software also has not been certified as Y2K compliant.

Extensive in-house testing of PEDON on a non compliant UNIX system has 
revealed no problems related to dates after 1/1/2000. In other words, all
tested functions of PEDON operated normally in the next millenium.

If you are still uneasy about what may happen to your PEDON data after 
1/1/2000, then two things are suggested before January 1.  One--be sure
your UNIX computer has a backup tape that is readable; in other words,
don't just assume that the files on your computer have been placed on
that backup tape--see if that tape can be used to restore a file or two.
Two--in PEDON, use its Export utlity (under Transfer on the main menu
bar) to export all your pedon data  and then have that data imported onto
another system for safekeeping;  if you wish to import them into MO 10's
PEDON system, then send them to me.  Also (similar to the backup tape),
just because you have exported your pedons, don't assume they are safe
until you have received confirmation of a successful import.

Contributed by:  John Handler

#########################################################################

                   HUMMINGBIRD AND Y2K COMPLIANCE

One other piece of software that soil scientists use is an X-emulator 
called Exceed in Hummingbird.  If you haven't checked your version yet 
for Y2K compliance, here is a repeat of an article that appeared in the
May 1999 newsletter:

The website at "http://www.hummingbird.com/products/y2k_nc.html" shows
which versions of Exceed are compliant and which versions need patches
installed to be y2k compliant.

From: Tammy Cheever <tcheever@gw.nssc.nrcs.usda.gov>
NASIS Hotline
hotline@nssc.nrcs.usda.gov
402-437-5378 or 5379

                           *     *     *     *     *

To find out which version of Hummingbird Exceed you are running,

1. Right mouse click the small "Exceed" icon on your Windows taskbar.
2. Scroll to "Help", then "About Exceed"; left mouse click.

(The above worked for my version.)

John Handler

#########################################################################

      SOIL SURVEY CENTENNIAL CELEBRATED AT MINNESOTA STATE FAIR

NRCS informed thousands of people about the importance of soils during
the Minnesota State Fair.  Between 8,000 to 10,000 people visited the
NRCS booth to view the National Soil Centennial exhibit; a large soil
monolith of the state soil, "Lester Loam"; and county soil surveys.
Visitors also "pressed their luck" at answering questions about
Minnesota's soils and geology on an interactive display, developed by
Soil Scientists Ken Matzdorf and Al Giencke.  Visitors received a
prize for answering questions correctly.  Prizes included a ruler with
information about Minnesota's soils, posters, bookmarks, and a
miniature soil profile of the state soil.  The interactive exhibit
generated much interest with youths and adults alike, resulting in
many requests for more soils information.  The 12-day fair, held in
St. Paul, attracted 1.6 million people.  Nearly 50 NRCS employees and
Earth Team volunteers assisted the State Office with this event.

By: Sylvia Rainford, Public Affiars Specialist

#########################################################################

                    WHY A MILE A DAY GOES A LONG WAY

Walking as little as a mile a day may lengthen your life according to a
study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Over a 12 year period, researchers found that men who walked one to two
miles per day had a 50 percent lower mortality rate than those who
walked less.  And the mortality rate was even lower in men who walked
more than two miles a day.

While the Journal's article focused on males for their study, I'm sure 
women can also benefit.

Walking a mile a day is not a problem for soil scientists during the
summer season, but during the winter season, do you get your mile a day
behind your desk or light table?

So keep walking--enjoy the outdoors AND live longer!

Contributed by: Laurie Otte, Safety & Health Officer

PS - Did you know that the human foot has more than 250,000 sweat glands?

#########################################################################

                  SOIL SURVEY TEAM SAVES INJURED CYCLIST

Soil survey project leader Alan Wasner, Chief of Resources of the State
Parks Suzanne Goode, and archeologist Dr. Chester King saved the day, and
a life, while on the job in the rugged Santa Monica Mountains [west of
Los Angeles].  The three came upon a bicyclist who had fractured a hip
and suffered injuries to her arms and face. She had been incapacitated
long enough for blood to have dried on her face. Thirty minutes after the
team placed a distress call, a medical evacuation helicopter and several
park rangers arrived on the scene.  "Their response was nothing short of
amazing," said Wasner.  The victim was discovered to have sustained
neurological damage, and is now out of the hospital.

From:  NRCS This Week

#########################################################################

                         "NASISNEWS" MESSAGE SERVER

A message server has been established for the distribution of NASIS news
and information to any users who wish to subscribe.

This message server is intended for the distribution of information by
the Soils Hotline to users.  It is not intended for correspondence
between users.  If users have information they think beneficial to other
users or wish to reply to the information being distributed, they should
mail their responses/comments to the Soils Hotline at
hotline@nssc.nrcs.usda.gov.  The Soils Hotline will then distribute it to
the list if necessary so subscribers aren't swamped with email messages.

To subscribe to the "nasisnews" message server:

Send an e-mail to: listproc@lists.nrcs.usda.gov

The "Subject" line can be blank, but in the body of the message, type:

     subscribe nasisnews {your name}

     EXAMPLE: subscribe nasisnews John Doe

To unsubscribe from the "nasisnews" message server:

Send an e-mail to: listproc@lists.nrcs.usda.gov

The "Subject" line can be blank, but in the body of the message, type
either:

     unsubscribe nasisnews

or:

     signoff nasisnews

Soils Hotline
National Soil Survey Center
Lincoln, NE

EMAIL: hotline@nssc.nrcs.usda.gov
PHONE: (402) 437-5378 or 5379

#########################################################################

                           QUOTE OF THE WEEK(?)

Can a timeframe really be put on this one?

"Be it deep or shallow, red or black, sand or clay, the soil is the link
between the rock core of the earth and the living things on its surface.
It is the foothold for the plants we grow.  Therein lies the main reason
for our interest in soils."

    -- Roy W. Simonson, USDA Yearbook of Agriculture, 1957

#########################################################################

                       CRATERS OF THE MOON SOIL SURVEY

Two years ago, the National Park Service asked NRCS Idaho to perform an
out-of-this-world task: complete a soil survey of Craters of the Moon
National Monument.  Last Aprl, Soil Specialist Neil Peterson and
Geographic Information Systems Specialist Dave Hoover, both of the NRCS
State Office in Boise, delivered a compact disc containing a digital
version of the soil survey to the Craters of the Moon National Monument
resource staff.  Compiling the data for the survey was NRCS soil
scientist Rulon Winward.  Rulon traveled by bicycle to get into some
areas.  Sometimes he had to walk up to 8 miles one way over sharp and
rugged lava clinkers.  "It was like walking on glass," Rulon said.  "And
it was as hot as an oven out there."  His work also produced a pair of
technological "firsts" for Idaho: the State's first soil survey written
to compact disc and the first time a soil survey had been completed in
Idaho through use of the new National Soil Information System.  Ten new
soil series were identified in the survey.

[Check it out using nasisclient--your access to the national NASIS data
base.  Some intersting names for those new series!]

#########################################################################

                 OUTREACH EFFORTS - CENTER OF EXCELLENCE

Over one year of operation, the Center of Excellence in map compilation
has been the work site for 12 Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
students.  Half of these students are Native Americans.  They have all
learned technical lettering and developed some aerial photo
interpretation skills.  Through team meetings, led by Tom Neuenfeldt -
Soil Scientist/Team Leader, the students have also come to appreciate how
and why soil maps are made.

Students begin working at the center with little or no experience with
soils and quickly learn to ask questions like:  What is soil?  What's a
soil scientist?  What are Longitude and Latitude?  What is soil texture?
What's that little three line thing with the dot?  What's a lagoon? What
do you mean - join?   If a feature, say a wetter soil in a better drained
soil, is already documented as a normal inclusion in the map unit, why do
soil scientists use a wet spot symbol in the map unit?  If both 1807 and
1804 are called ponded and mapped next to each other, how does the soil
scientist know where the line goes?

The mission of the Center is service to students, treating them as
internal customers.  Not only do Center personnel hire and train the
students as cartographic aids, assign work, perform quality control
checks, they also answer questions like those above from inquiring minds.

Outreach at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College includes service to
external customers such as College administration, staff and faculty,
family/ friends of student Cartographic Aids, and visitors to the Center.
About 160 individuals have signed the guest book at the Center.  These
visitors have represented groups such as: USDA, Legislative branches of
government both State & Federal, Tribal Officials, Academia, local High
Schools.  Much of this outreach is not orchestrated, but comes about
naturally in conversations with these groups of individuals.  Center
personnel also attend college activities/meetings like ground breaking
ceremonies for new dorms, facilities planning meetings, seasonal
festivals, and informal gatherings with the college President.

More formal outreach activities include NRCS Soil Scientist Tom
Neuenfeldt lecturing for college Environmental Science and Geoscience
classes, taking part in career fairs, and helping to interview students
for the Student Career Experience Program.

Dave Wise, NRCS Liaison and Tom Neuenfeldt have recruited two Fond du Lac
Tribal and Community College students to begin studies to become soil
scientists.  These students will complete basic science course work at
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, work at the Center then,
transfer to the University of Minnesota to complete their bachelor's
degrees.  These two students will receive financial help through the
USDA-NRCS Soil Science Scholarship Program.

Outreach at the Center of Excellence involves both formal and informal
activities. Tom Neuenfeldt says all soil scientists have the same kind of
formal and informal opportunities.  Outreach happens for all of us day-in
and day-out simply by doing our jobs and participating in various social
settings.  The next time someone asks you what you do, be bold.  Step up
and declare yourself a soil scientist.  Reach Out!

For more information, contact Tom Neuenfeldt (218) 879-0862

#########################################################################

                          FIELD DATA RECORDERS

I had a couple of requests to send out the information that I received
concerning field data recorders. I received information from three states
who have purchased equipment. They are as follows:

1. The MLRA update office in Carbondale, Illinois is using a Palm Pilot
recorder manufactured by 3COM. It costs between $400-$500. Sam Indorante,
the Project Leader, has developed a program using "Pendragon Forms" to
enter mini profile descriptions and transects. The Palm Pilot can be
placed in a cradle, which enables it to transfer data to and from the
office PC.  Sam has written a set of instructions for using the Palm
Pilot in soil surveys. He can be reached at the Carbondale NRCS office
at Sam.Indorante@il.nrcs.usda.gov. The web site for the Palm Pilot
manufacturer is http://www.3COM.com.

The downside to the Palm Pilot is that it is not capable of running the
PEDON program.

2. Iowa has purchased four MC5-MAPPERs from CMT. They plan to test them
this summer. The MC5 has a PC interface for transfering data, and also
plugs into a GPS system. I spoke with Dale Ceolla at the Des Moines
state office, and he has some ideas of their capability. An MC5-MAPPER
cost about $1,900 at the government rate.  The web site is
http://www.cmtinc.com.

3. Montana has purchased a Hammerhead from Walkabout Computers. They are
basically lap tops ruggedized for field use.  They can run Windows 95
and MS office 97. With this software they are capable of running the PDP
program for windows written by Tom Reinsch at the NSSL. Montana is
testing this program in the Flathead County Area soil survey project
office.  The downside to the Hammerhead is that it cost about $7,500. 
Also, the PDP program for windows from Tom Reinsch is not an official
release.  Wade Bott, SDQS in Bozeman, can give you more information if
you are interested.

What I am looking for is a field data recorder that can be used to enter
profile descriptions into the PEDON program in the field. These
descptions could then be downloaded directly into the office PC.  Ellis
Benham at the NSSL is an excellent source for information on the
hardware needed. Basically that is a field data recorder that is capable
of running Windows 95 and MS Office 97. We also need an official release
of PEDON for Windows.  Ellis recommends not getting the color screen
display for outdoor use. It does not compete with sunlight very well. A
monochrome display will work best, and is cheaper.

Another recommendation I received is to get a demonstration from the
company before you purchase any equipment.  That may save you from
buying hardware that may not be suited to operating the PEDON program.

If anyone has more up-to-date information on field data recorders that
will operate PEDON let me know.

From: Richard Tummons <mnnet!moso1.mo.nrcs.usda.gov!richt>

#########################################################################

                           SOIL TAXONOMY NOTES

For those of you needing a summary of recent changes to Soil Taxonomy,
MLRA Region 15 has provided a summary in their newsletter:

Most of you, by now, have received the latest edition of the "Keys to
Soil Taxonomy."  If you've had a chance to browse through it, you will
have noticed quite a number of changes and improvements.  The most
obvious changes are the larger format and colorful cover.  For those of
you who haven't taken time to review the new "Keys," I'm presenting an
overview of some of the significant recent revisions.  Not all of the
revisions I've listed are new to this edition, but they are worthy of
mention because we're still working on the classification changes these
revisions have brought about.

-- Starting from the top

Gelisols - a new order for soils with permafrost.  This addition doesn't
do much to us here in the Deep South.

Alfisols - the suborder Boralfs is gone; Cryalfs is in.  This shouldn't
affect our workload much in MO-15.

Histosols - the great groups in the suborders Folists and Saprists were
extensively revised.  These revisions will affect the classification of
a number of Histosols in the MO-15 region.

Folists - Borofolists, Medifolists, and Tropofolists are out;
Cryofolists, Torrofolists, Udifolists, and Ustifolists are in.

Saprists - Borosaprists, Medisaprists, and Troposaprists are out;
Haplosaprists are in.  Cryosaprists, Sulfosaprists, and Sulfisaprists
were retained from the old taxa.

Inceptisols - major surgery occurred here.  These revisions will affect
the classification of many soils in the MO-15 region.  Three of the four
suborders, Ochrepts, Plaggepts, Umbrepts, in the old taxa are out, five
new suborders, Anthrepts, Cryepts, Udepts, Ustepts, and Xerepts, are in.
Aquepts were retained from the old taxa.

-- Other significant revisions, several of these appeared in the 7th
edition.

The Bor suborders and great groups and the trop great groups and
subgroups are eliminated in the new edition.  Frigid and iso soil
temperature regimes are delegated at the family level.

The term normal years is introduced.  It replaces the terms, most years
and 6 out of 10 years, which were used previously in "Soil Taxonomy."
Normal years is defined as plus or minus one standard deviation of the
long-term (30 years or more) mean annual precipitation.

The folistic epipedon is added.   See the "Keys" for the definition.

The cambic horizon is revised. See the "Keys" for the definition.  The
most significant change that will affect the classification of soils in
the MO-15 region is that for soils with aquic conditions, a regular
decrease in organic carbon is no longer required for a cambic horizon.
This may affect the classification of some of the poorly drained
Fluvaquents used in our region.

The terms densic materials and densic contact are added in the 7th
edition.  Densic materials are relatively unaltered earthy materials,
such as till, volcanic mudflows, and some mine spoils that have a rupture
resistance class of noncemented.  See the "Keys" for a complete
definition.

The term paralithic materials is added in the 7th edition.  These are
relatively unaltered materials that have a rupture resistance class of
extremely weakly cemented to moderately cemented.  Commonly, these
materials are partially weathered bedrock or weakly consolidated bedrock,
such as sandstone, siltstone, and shale.

The term lamella was defined in the 7th edition.  Lamellic subgroups were
introduced and the Psammentic subgroups were split between those with
lamellae (Lamellic subgroups) and those with sandy argillic horizons
(Psammentic subgroups).

-- Revisions resulting from the ICCOMFAM recommendations in the 7th
edition

Family classification - all of the components of the Family, with the
exception of the contrasting particle-size classes, have been arranged in
the form of a key.

Mineralogy classes - many changes were made to the mineralogy classes. 
The most obvious change was a correction that changed montmorillonitic to
smectitic.  Also, the definition was clarified to require only more
smectite than any other single kind of clay mineral.

Cation Exchange Activity Classes were added.  Ratios of fine-earth CEC at
pH 7 to percent clay are used to define classes of CEC activity.

-- New suffixes

j - accumulation of jarosite
jj - evidence of cryoturbation
ff - dry permafrost
W - Water (added to the list of master horizons)

-- World Wide Web sites

Keys to Soil Taxonomy, seventh edition, 1996 -
     http://www.statlab.iastate.edu:80/soils/keytax

Keys to Soil Taxonomy, eighth edition, 1998 -
   http://www.statlab.iastate.edu:80/soils/keytax/
                                           KeystoSoilTaxonomy1998.pdf

Soil Taxonomy, revised chapters -
   http://www.statlab.iastate.edu/soils/soiltax

The material I've presented is derived from information received from Dr.
Bob Ahrens, National Leader for Soil Taxonomy, NSSC, Lincoln, Nebraska.
I listed some of the most significant changes you'll find in this edition
of the "Keys" and a number from the7th edition (1996).  I did not try to
address all of the many revisions and additions at the subgroup level.
Some of these may be significant in your area.

By George Martin, Soil Data Quality Specialist, Auburn, AL

#########################################################################

                      CONCEPTS IN DATA MAPUNIT DESIGN

We should do our best in describing what is actually inside the
lines that we put on maps.  NSSH guidelines on naming map units based on
composition of similar, dissimilar, limiting, non-limiting, contrasting,
very contrasting provide some guidance. 

We need to describe, as best we can, what is in the field.  And we do that,
in large part, by the way we define the data mapunit.  The DMU needs to be
designed to be as accurate as possible over as large an area as possible.
It would be great if the same DMU could be used over entire MLRAs.

"I was neutral on this at first, but after seeing data and
knowing the people doing the mapping (trustworthy people making good
decisions), I personally see no problem with telling it like it is."
(Marc Crouch <marc.crouch@va.usda.gov>)

From: JOHN C. DOLL, Soil Data Quality Specialist
mailto:john.doll@in.nrcs.usda.gov

#########################################################################

Last month, the following x3780 files were sent to offices having SSSD:

   x3780.404frig     on Nov 01     ( 7 updated OSDs) @

@ Sent to offices using soils in the frigid soil temperature regime.
* Sent to offices using soils in the mesic soil temperature regime.
# Sent to all offices.	

The above x3780s contained the following updated Official Series 
Descriptions, which can also be obtained at:
       http://www.statlab.iastate.edu/cgi-bin/osd/osdname.cgi
 
     frigid
denomie...lara...neconish...noseum...peshtigo...tourtillot...wayka

     mesic

#########################################################################

     ACTIVITY SCHEDULE (through January 15--subject to change)

MLRA DATE      ACTIVITY                     LOCATION          MO 10 STAFF
---- --------- ---------------------------- ----------------- -----------
 90  Dec 07    Menominee Manuscript Review  Eau Claire        Jahnke
                                                              Walker
 93  Dec 01-02 NW 10 Meeting                Park Falls        Jahnke
                                                              McCloskey
 93  Dec 13-14 NASIS "one-on-one" training  Duluth            Giencke
 93  Dec 13-15 NASIS DMU Workshop           Ontonagon         Jahnke
102A Dec 06-07 Steering Committee Meeting   Brookings         Giencke
102A Dec 08-09 Map Compilation Training     Marshall          Walker
                                                              Giencke
103  Jan 10-14 Steering Committee Meeting   St. Peter         Giencke
all  Dec 07-09 NASIS Introductory Training  St. Paul          Handler
all  Dec 14-15 Project Leaders Meeting      Champaign         McCloskey
all  Dec 14-16 NASIS Introductory Training  St. Paul          DesLauriers
all  Jan 03-07 NASIS Introductory Training  St. Paul          Handler
all  Jan 10-14 NASIS Introductory Training  St. Paul          DesLauriers

#########################################################################

     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.

                         *     *     *     *     *

Please submit your articles at least five days before the end of the
month for inclusion in the following month's newsletter. Otherwise it
will appear the following month. Occasionally, due to other workload
demands, it may be an additional month before the article appears.
Generally, articles are inserted in the order they are received.

Articles in an electronic format can be submitted to:
jfh@mn.nrcs.usda.gov.  It is best if electronic articles are prepared in
a "text only" format.

Articles in a paper format can be sent or faxed to:
   John Handler
   MLRA Region 10 Office
   USDA - NRCS
   375 Jackson Street - Suite 600
   St. Paul, Minnesota  55101-1854
   FAX: 1-651-602-7914

                        *     *     *     *     *

Previous month's copies of this newsletter are available at:
   http://www.mn.nrcs.usda.gov/mo10/mo10.html

#########################################################################