Inside Scoop March 2004

Throughout the country NRCS has

been providing a venue for interested farmers

and landowners to voice their opinions on the

proposed rule of the Conservation Security

Program (CSP). Forty citizens met at the

Civic Center in Augusta, Maine for the northeast session. Pictured above is State Conservationist Richard

Babcock discussing

CSP with a Maine landowner.

Public comments

were limited to 5 minutes

per speaker during the 3-

hour session. The

listening panel consisted

of Joyce

Swartzendruber, Maine

The Inside Scoop

February 2004

NRCS State Conservationist; Merlin Bartz,

USDA Special Assistant to the Undersecretary

for Natural Resources and the Environment,

Washington, DC; Carole Jett, NRCS Associate

Deputy Chief for Programs, Washington,

DC; Richard Swenson, East Region Conservationist, NRCS, Beltsville, Maryland; and

David

Lavway,

USDA,

Farm

Service

Agency,

State

Executive

Director,

Bangor,

Maine.

The proposed rule was published

in the Federal Register on January

2, 2004. Public written comments

are due by March 2, 2004 to David

McKay, NRCS Conservation

Operations Division, P.O. Box

2890, Washington, DC 20013 or

email david.mckay@usda.gov.

Conservation Security Program (CSP)

Regional Listening Session Held in Maine

John Hodsdon from

Belknap County provided

comments to the panel.

New Hampshire
Inside Scoop March 2004

State Conservationist’s Corner News from the Field

Dedication of the

Restored Riverbank

at Fort #4 Charlestown, NH

On November 14, a group assembled

along the Connecticut River at Fort #4 in

Charlestown, NH to celebrate the project

completion at one of twenty-seven priority

sites selected for restoration by county

conservation districts. Wendy Ward, soil

conservation technician, guided the group

on a tour along the streambank viewing the

newly installed riparian buffer that included

more than 600 native shrubs and trees

anchoring the soils above the riverbank.

NRCS’ Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program

(WHIP) provided funding for 465 shrubs

which included winterberry, holly, arrowwood

viburnum, speckled alder, bayberry, summer-sweet, grey stem dogwood, blackhaw

viburnum and silky dogwood for bank stabilization. Further stabilization included 20

pounds of wildlife seed mix, a combination

of grasses, sedges and wildlflowers and 260

live stakes of Streamco willow and silky

dogwood at the waters edge.

NHMA Showcases Safety

The New Hampshire Municipal Association (NHMA) conducted a daylong safetytraining program for public works officials this

past fall at a reclaimed gravel pit in Bow. In

addition to sessions conducted by equipment

dealers, a number of associations and other

groups conducted lectures and demonstrations.

Mike Lynch, District Conservationist for

Merrimack and Hillsborough Counties and

Merrimack County Conservation District Manager Lisa Morin provided information on gravel

pit restoration.

2

What’s Inside the Scoop? Page

News from the Field..................... 2

News from RC&Ds...................... 3

Nutrient Management Planning

Training Session........................... 5

Cultural Awareness Day............... 6

NH Farm and Forest Expo........... 7

Congratulations!........................... 8

Believe it or not, spring is just

around the corner and with it another

field season. We have our program

allocations and we are right in the

middle of applications and ranking to

provide contracts to our clients.

Once again it will be hectic

since we need to have our financial

assistance dollars obligated by the

beginning of May. I have no doubt

that will be accomplished. Like last

year, because of your efforts, it is

possible that we will be able to

secure more funding in various

programs.

 I appreciate all of your efforts.

You are making a positive impact on

the well being of the land in New

Hampshire.

RICHARD D. BABCOCK
Inside Scoop March 2004

Southern NH RC&D

Annual Meeting

The annual meeting took place at

Checkers Restaurant at the Alvirne High

School in Hudson. This restaurant is one of

several facilities at the school, with others

being a bank and gift shop that are run by

the students and supervised by the teaching

staff. Alvirne High School also has an operating farm, which was supervised by the

Southern NH RC&D Chairman, Webb

Palmer, until his retirement from teaching

two years ago. Special guests of the

evening included NRCS State Conservationist Richard Babcock and his wife, Bette,

Matt Leahy, project director for Senator Judd

Gregg, and Chairman Emeritus

Don Ferren.

Southern NH RC&D Coordinator

Lindsay Carter and Don Ferren

North Country RC&D Update

The following individuals are the newly

elected officers for the North Country RC&D:

Joan Turley of Rumney, Chair; Freda Swan of

Lyme, Vice-Chair and Adam Tatem of

Holderness, Secretary/Treasurer. NCRC&D is

looking to fill some board vacancies in Belknap,

Carroll, Coos and Grafton counties. If you know

of someone that you think may be interested in

the mission of NCRC&D, please pass their name

on to Rick DeMark.

Upcoming Events

March 9, 2004

NCRC&D Board Meeting

March 13, 2004

Spring Meeting of the New England Association

of RC&D Councils

Portland, Maine

March 26-27, 2004

1st Annual Northern New England Small and

 Beginner Farmer Conference. Go to

www.beginnerfarmers.org for details.

April 12 -13, 2004

FastTrac Business Planning Seminar

Contact NCRC&D for details

October 28 - 30, 2004

New England Association of

RC&Ds Fall Conference

Portsmouth, NH

News from the RC&Ds

3
Inside Scoop March 2004

Funds Awarded to Towns in Southern NH for Dry Hydrants

The New Hampshire Rural Fire Protection Initiative (NH RFPI), a project directed by

the Southern NH Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council, has awarded

the towns of Newport, Durham and Washington, a total of $5,300 for the installation of a dry

hydrant. Funding for the projects has come from the US Forest Service through the NH

State Forester’s Office.

This initiative is designed to provide rural communities with technical and financial

assistance to improve their water supply capability for firefighting. Technical assistance is

provided with water supply planning, GPS mapping of water supply sites, water supply site

evaluation, dry hydrant and fire pond design and assistance with state wetlands permit

processing.

More News from the RC&Ds

Town of Durham Presentation

Town of Newport Presentation

District Conservationist Scott Heckman and

landowner Audrey Rhodes pose next to the

dry hydrant in the town of Washington.

4
Inside Scoop March 2004

New Hampshire NRCS Soil Conservationists Brave

-50 Degree Windchill Factor to Learn about

Nutrient Management Planning

By Heidi Smith

It was -28 degrees when I left my house very early Wednesday morning 1/14/04 to

drive to Burlington, VT for the Nutrient Management Planning Training. Heading north and

passing a teenager waiting for her bus in the dark and without a hat (!) I thought about all of

the people who have to work outside in this cold. Everything just takes longer to do when it

is cold like this. On Tuesday, a farmer had called to cancel an appointment to meet about a

nutrient management plan due to the cold and its after-effects making his morning chores

stretch into evening chores. “No problem,” I said, speaking from inside my heated office.

“We’ll set it up for sometime next week.”

Back to the training. This well organized two-day training was hosted by VT NRCS

and the University of Vermont Extension. It touched on the basics of soil fertility, the nitrogen and phosphorous cycle, the 590 Nutrient Management Practice Standard, the specifics

of soil and manure sampling, manure spreading equipment calibration, and use of Arcview

to create resource maps. An informative session on buffers and setbacks was given by Kip

Potter, VT NRCS and an interesting new computer program (AFO-Pro) designed to write

nutrient management plans was unveiled. It was designed by NRCS in South Carolina.

Vermont NRCS is going to use it, but most other states are not.

It was interesting to hear about Vermont’s nutrient management law, called Accepted

Agricultural Practices. This law incorporates a winter spreading ban and Large Farm Operation permitting, similar to AFO-CAFO. Vermont also uses a different Phosphorous Index

than New Hampshire does, because the soil testing done at the UVM lab uses a different

test than the UNH lab does. This creates some extra work for us in NH, as a P Index had

to be developed just for us. This work has been done, although Tom Buob, UNH Extension,

mentioned that it needs revising, and the revision is being held up by the problems we are

experiencing with RUSLE II.

Out of the 60 attendees, most were VT NRCS and about a dozen were Vermont

Technical Service Providers (TSPs).

5

Special Observances

Coming Up

March -- Women’s History Month

April 18 -24 National Volunteer Week

May -- Asian/Pacific AmericanHeritage Month
Inside Scoop March 2004

Every year on the day following Martin

Luther King’s Birthday, New Hampshire NRCS

celebrates “Cultural Awareness Day.” This year

marked the twelfth consecutive year that the NH

NRCS employees recognized the diversity of

their cultures through speakers and food.

The program this year included two

guest speakers. The first, Kathleen Bates, is an

active member and chair of the NH Developmental Disabilities Council and a mentor with the

“Take Charge Program.” Through this program

she provides support to teenagers with cerebral

palsy.

Our second speaker, Lwo Hsieh was

born in China. At the age of

2, he moved with his family

to Taiwan and at 24 he

entered the University of

New Hampshire to study

computer science. Lwo is

now a US citizen and is

currently employed by the

Farm Service Agency at the

USDA Service Center in

Epping, as a program

assistant.

Kudos to the New Hampshire

NRCS Civil Rights Committee for

sponsoring this popular event.

Lwo with Brooke Stubbs

Sandy Sears (L) presenting Kim

McCracken the Chef’s Hat Award.

Roy Thompson with Kathy Bates

For our famous pot-luck luncheon, all

employees are encouraged to bring an ethnic

appetizer, soup, bread, entree or dessert to

share with others. Prior to lunch judges are

selected to award certificates in many categories. This year’s culinary extravaganza winners

were: spiciest, Steve Hundley; most original,

Mike Harrington; most colorful, Roy Thompson;

most decadent, Janet Boduch; most unusual,

Heidi Smith; most creative, Bill Hoey; most

savory, Sandy Sears and the prestigious, “Chef’s

Hat Award,” went to Kim McCracken. This feast

is incredible and gets better each year.

6

 Cultural Awareness Day
Inside Scoop March 2004

Black History Month

Celebrated in February

NRCS Chief Bruce Knight has asked all

NRCS employees to reflect on the accomplishments and contributions that African-Americans

have made to our Nation, our workforce in the

United States, and throughout the world. Black

History Month is more than just a celebration

honoring the achievements of African-Americans. It is the understanding of African-American culture, customs, heritage, and how we use

those traits to enhance the conservation of

natural resources.

The theme for 2004 is “Brown vs. Board

of Education” 50th Anniversary (May 17, 1954).

During the month of February there will be many

Black History celebrations. You are encouraged

to participate in as many events as possible.

Our Black Special Emphasis Program

Manager is Roy Thompson. If you have any

questions please contact Roy at 868-7581

ext. 118.

NH Farm and Forest Expo

“New Hampshire’s Greatest

Winter Fair”

February 6-7, 2004

As is the tradition, the weather for the

Farm and Forest Expo was predictable. It

was a snowy weekend. But that didn’t keep

everyone away, many came to see what this

year’s theme “NH Farms and Forests: Our

Heritage, Our Future was all about. The

following pictures were taken at the NHACD,

RC&D and NRCS booths:

7

Jess Bailey providing

information to an

interested customer.

Michele Tremblay at the

NHACD booth.

Bob Scheirer playing “RC&D

Jeopardy” with contestant.
Inside Scoop March 2004

...To Alan Ammann for his recent

retirement from NRCS after

25+ years of federal service

...To Kim Saufley who has been

converted to permanent full-time

status

...To Brooke Stubbs who has been

converted from student trainee

status to permanent full-time

... To Roy Thompson promoted to GS-12

...To Kim Saufley a time-off award for

her extra efforts in putting together

exhibits and materials for the NH

Farm and Forest Expo

Boy Scout Troop 154, in Durham, recently presented Gerald Lang the Damon L.

Spencer award. Gerry received the award in

recognition of more than 15 years of service to

the Troop as Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop Committee Chair and Troop Committee member.

This award was created in honor of

Damon, a young scout in the Troop, who was

killed by an intoxicated driver in the 1970’s. His

parents became very active in state politics and

local issues to help organize both MADD and

SADD and were also instrumental in getting the

drunken driving laws changed to what we have

today. The award recognizes adults in the troop

who have given their time and skills to help the

youth of the community become better citizens

of the community. Gerald is the latest of six

adults who have been given this award since it

was created in the late ‘70s.

The National Conservation District

Employee Association presented Mary Currier,

Executive Director, Rockingham County Conservation

District

(RCCD),

with the

Conservation District

Professional

Recognition

Award at

the 58th

Annual

Meeting of

the National

Association

of Conservation Districts (NACD) in Waikoloa,

on the Big Island of Hawai’i.

Mary has been employed by the RCCD

for 26 years. She exhibits a true dedication to

natural resources conservation and district

development, and has always demonstrated

great initiative and resourcefulness in developing district capacity with innovative programs

and in finding or raising funds necessary to carry

them out.

Congratulations!

Mary has held the office of President for

three terms in the state district employee association. She has helped to write and adopt

bylaws, adopt a code of ethics, complete a

strategic plan, and write an annual plan of work.

Mary has been a representative from NH to the

Northeast regional employee association as well

as holding each office within the regional association.

8

Patti Komeski recipient of the 2003 NRCS Extra

Mile Award for multifacted abilities, expeditious

assistance, and kindness.
Inside Scoop March 2004

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the

basis of race, color national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and

marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who

require alternative mans 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 326W, Whitten

Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice

and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

March 2 State Technical Committee Meeting, Concord

March 3 New England Mentoring Committee, Durham

March 4-5 NACD NE Leadership Meeting, Portsmouth

March 15-17 NACD Legislative Conference, Washington, DC

March 17-18 National Leadership Team Meeting, DC

March 26-27 Northern New England Small & Beginning

Farmers Conference, Waterville Valley

April 14 Grafton County Conservation District Annual Meeting

April 21 Hillsborough County Conservation District Annual Meeting

May 11-12 East Region State Conservationists Meeting, Beltsville

May 12 Civil Rights Committee Meeting

May 19 QSAT Meeting, Concord

Important Dates to Remember:

9

National Volunteer Week

April 18-24, 2004

Earth Team Volunteers -- Planting the Seeds of Tomorrow