2003 Georgia 2003 Georgia

Annual Report Annual Report
Stephens Federal Building, 355 E. Hancock Avenue, Athens, GA 30601

(706) 546-2272 or www.ga.nrcs.usda.gov

Dear Georgians,

I am pleased to present to you this report on private lands conservation in the state of Georgia. The past

year was an exciting one for conservation of our natural resources. New farm bill programs helped

spread conservation to many new customers for the first time. 

Increased funding in EQIP afforded the opportunity to address agricultural water issues in South

Georgia. Producers received cost-share incentives to improve the efficiency of their pivot irrigation systems and to develop Irrigation Water Management Plans. The Technical Service Provider effort enabled

Georgia to expand its partnership. This resulted in increased technical assistance on our private lands. 

The conservation partnership plays a critically important role and is essential in the successful implementation of Georgia’s conservation programs. Members include the Georgia Association of

Conservation Districts, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Soil and Water

Conservation Commission, Georgia Department of Agriculture and many other local, state, and federal

agencies.

This annual report highlights the successes of the conservation partnership, but none of the work could

be done without the voluntary commitment of Georgia’s private lands citizens. They are the ones who

take the first step in protecting our lands and waters for future generations. Without their willingness to

take care of the soil and water they manage, our environment would gradually deteriorate. 

I commend the conservation partnership and the citizens of Georgia for their accomplishments and

commitment in ensuring that future generations enjoy a quality environment.

Program Summary

This annual report covers one fiscal year, from Oct. 1, 2002

to Sept. 30, 2003. 

Conservation Outlook in Georgia

Georgia has over 28 million acres of agricultural land, with

4.6 million acres in cropland, 2.8 million acres in grasslands,

and 21.2 million acres in forest. The major crops grown are cotton, soybeans, peanuts, corn, wheat, tobacco, grain sorghum,

and vegetables. The most extensive agricultural erosion problems occur on cropland, with over 3 million acres requiring

some form of conservation treatment. About 440,900 of these

acres are considered to be highly erodible.

Farm and Ranchlands Protection Program

FY-2003 was Georgia’s second year to utilize FRPP funds

in protecting Georgia farms. The program provides matching

funds to State, Tribal, or local governments and non-governmental organizations to purchase conservation easements or

other interests in land. 

Three landowners were able to participate this year, protecting 342 acres in Walker and Oconee Counties. A total of

$1.1 million in FRPP funds were obligated. One of the protected farms belongs to the McCartys of Walker County. 

Jim and Teresa McCarty’s Chickamauga farm has been in

the family since 1832. “My mama and my grandmama picked

cotton on that farm,” McCarty said. 

At the turn of the century, the family stopped growing cotton and turned to vegetables that they sold in trucks--”truck

farming” as Jim McCarty calls it. Today, the farm is home to

between 35 and 100 head of cattle.

Through the years, tough times have occurred. “There were

times we didn’t think we’d hang in there and keep it,” Jim said.

The McCarty’s live in a two-story, 10-room farmhouse built in

1880. The

house is

solid after

all these

years--a

feat Jim

attributes

to the

wood

being

soaked in

linseed oil.

It cost

$2,400 to

build at

that time.

In

recent

years, the

expansion

of the city of Chickamauga has created a serious threat. Half a

dozen subdivisions now surround the property. “There just

aren’t any farms around here,” said Jim.

That’s why when the Georgia Land Trust, together with the

Natural Resources Conservation Service, told him about the

new Farm and Ranchlands Protection Program, he signed up

right away.

“By putting it in the Georgia Land Trust, it enables my

children and my children’s children to keep it.” Jim said. 

NRCS Mission

To provide leadership in a partnership

effort to help people

conserve, maintain,

and improve our natural resources and environment

NRCS Vision

A productive nation in

harmony with a 

quality environment

Leonard Jordan

State Conservationist

The McCarty Homestead

Built in 1880, this 2-story farmhouse is the current

residence of Jim and Teresa McCarty. Jim attributes

its livability to the fact that the wood was treated

with linseed oil that caused the wood to “petrify

instead of rot.”
Program Summary

This annual report covers one fiscal year, from Oct. 1, 2002

to Sept. 30, 2003. 

Conservation Outlook in Georgia

Georgia has over 28 million acres of agricultural land, with

4.6 million acres in cropland, 2.8 million acres in grasslands,

and 21.2 million acres in forest. The major crops grown are cotton, soybeans, peanuts, corn, wheat, tobacco, grain sorghum,

and vegetables. The most extensive agricultural erosion problems occur on cropland, with over 3 million acres requiring

some form of conservation treatment. About 440,900 of these

acres are considered to be highly erodible.

Farm and Ranchlands Protection Program

FY-2003 was Georgia’s second year to utilize FRPP funds

in protecting Georgia farms. The program provides matching

funds to State, Tribal, or local governments and non-governmental organizations to purchase conservation easements or

other interests in land. 

Three landowners were able to participate this year, protecting 342 acres in

Walker and Oconee Counties. A total of

$1.1 million in FRPP funds were obligated. One of the protected farms belongs to

the McCartys of Walker County. 

Jim and Teresa McCarty’s

Chickamauga farm has been in the family

since 1832. “My mama and my grandmama picked cotton on that farm,” McCarty

said. 

At the turn of the century, the family

stopped growing cotton and turned to vegetables that they sold in trucks--”truck farming” as Jim

McCarty calls it. Today, the farm is home to between 35 and

100 head of cattle.

Through the years, tough times have occurred. “There were

times we didn’t think we’d hang in there and keep it,” Jim said.

The McCarty’s live in a two-story, 10-room farmhouse built in

1880. The house is solid after all these years--a feat Jim attributes to the wood being soaked in linseed oil. It cost $2,400 to

build at that time.

In recent years, the expansion of the city of Chickamauga

has created a serious threat. Half a dozen subdivisions now surround the property. “There just aren’t any farms around here,”

said Jim.

That’s why when the Georgia Land Trust, together with the

Natural Resources Conservation Service, told him about the

new Farm and Ranchlands Protection Program, he signed up

right away.

“By putting it in the Georgia Land Trust, it enables my

children and my children’s children to keep it.” Jim said. 

E-Government

Landowners and others wanting to do business with the

government can now do it online. The United States

Department of Agriculture implemented a new electronic

process October 21, 2003. 

A customer can now register for access to eGov applications by visiting http://www.eauth.egov.usda.gov When registered, the customer will need to visit their local service center

and have their identity verified by presenting one of four forms

of id; State Drivers License; State issued identification card; US

passport or a Military ID. 

The service center staff will then be able to activate the

account and provide the customer will access to many current

and future eGov applications.

Technical Service Providers

2003 was the beginning of the new Technical Service

Provider program in Georgia. In support of this undertaking, a

new web-based self-certification was introduced and 54 private

consultants became Technical Service Providers. 

Fifty-six Georgia producers were selected and funded to

utilize the program. Some 28,000 acres will receive technical

assistance from Technical Service Providers for a period of

three years.

Twelve Soil and Water Conservation Districts partnered

with NRCS using the Technical Service Provider Program. This

resulted in additional staff being added to District Offices to

assist in program delivery for the 2003 Farm Bill. The Georgia

Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division

employed a biologist through the program.

Conservation Security Program

This new conservation program seeks to reward farmers

that are practicing sound resource management on their farms

for the benefits these efforts provide by improving soil, water,

air, plant, and animal resources throughout the state. 

Participants will contract to carry out a 5-year conservation

plan that

identifies the

conservation

practice(s)

they will

implement

each year of

the contract.

An annual

per acre

CSP payment will be

made based

on the cash

rent value of

the land plus

the cost of maintaining the conservation practices. A draft rule

has been released for public comment.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program

Georgia wrote 720 contracts totalling over $10 million in

cost-share dollars this year. Special efforts were made to assist

livestock producers in addressing their animal waste problems.

More than 60 percent of EQIP funds were directed to livestock

problems. 

This was Georgia’s first year in assisting producers with

water conservation efforts in the southern part of the state. 65

producers received cost-share assistance to retrofit irrigation

systems from high pressure to low pressure. This included the

development of an Irrigation Water Management Plan for producers to follow. The 2003 EQIP program also provided assistance to 6 limited resource producers to address resource concerns on their farms. 

Paul Brown, Technical Service Provider

Yellow River #14 Structure

This Gwinnett County structure was completed in

2003.
National Resources Inventory

In 2003, 1587 Primary Sample Units (PSUs) were inventoried by Georgia NRCS employees. Current-year, low-altitude

photography is the basis for all NRI remote-sensing activities.

Data is electronically recorded and transmitted to the

Statistical Laboratory at Iowa State University (ISU). At ISU,

data from the nation is reviewed, edited and stored. NRCS utilizes its Online Analysis System program to analyze NRI data

based on a variety of factors selected by the user. 

The program contains data for survey years 1982, 1987,

1992 and 1997. Data can be viewed at the national, regional,

state and sub-state levels. Georgia NRCS established a centralized NRI data collection site in Athens in 2003. A full-time staff

will collect data for the state and expand the utilization of the

NRI data. 

Watershed Program

Georgia has 146 dams that are classified as “high hazard,”

meaning that there is a potential loss of life if they fail. About

$85 million will be needed to upgrade these structures to protect

downstream populations and ensure compliance with current

dam safety legislation. 

NRCS project dams annually provide $17 million in benefits to local communities by providing flood protection, waterbased recreation, municipal water supply, and other water uses. 

To date, Georgia has received $4.7 million in construction

cost-share funds to help communities with rehabilitating aging

flood control dams this past year. The money will be used to

upgrade dams in the Yellow River Resource Conservation &

Development Project Area located in Gwinnett County. The federal dollars will cover 65 percent of the construction cost-share

funds and the local sponsors will provide the remaining 35 percent.

Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative

The NRCS and the Georgia Grazing Lands Conservation

Coalition (GGLCC) continue to encourage forage and livestock

producers to adopt practices that promote the efficient use of

their grazing land resources, while conserving soil and protecting water quality. 

The GGLCC practice demonstration project, which is funded with the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) congressional earmark, is a producer developed cost-share program

designed to demonstrate innovative practices on existing forage

and livestock operations. 

Several producers involved in the project applied practices

well beyond the allowed funding; demonstrating that a little seed

money encourages producers to address many farm-related

resource concerns. To date, $929,000 of Georgia’s GLCI

Congressional Earmark has been used for practice demonstration

on producer farms.

Plant Materials

In 2003, the Jimmy Carter PMC released ‘Highlander’

Eastern Gamagrass and ‘Kinchafoonee’ Virginia Wildrye native

grasses for the Southeast. 

Iuka eastern gamagrass is the best adapted variety commercially available for the Southeast. Evaluation plantings in

Georgia, such as the demonstration planting at Fort Valley State

University, show good seedling vigor and growth the first year

of establishment.

Soil Survey

In Georgia, 129 counties have published soil surveys; 12

counties have completed soil surveys that are in the process of

being published; 10 are presently being surveyed and 3 counties

have been updated. 

In FY-2003, 455,271 acres were surveyed for a cumulative

total of 35,741,465 acres, or 94 percent of the state. NRCS soil

scientists have updated 2,408,374 of Georgia’s 35 million acres.

During the year, the team digitized 10 soil survey areas for

SSURGO (Soil Survey Geographic Database). There are now 31

soil survey areas (52 counties) with a SSURGO database.

Wetlands Reserve Program

Georgia has 12,000 acres enrolled in WRP at a cost of $2.2

million. Ten new projects were funded in 2003, adding 1,950

new acres to the program. 

These sites were in Jenkins, Seminole, Decatur, Clay,

Mitchell, Baker, Candler, Atkinson, and Bryan Counties. While

the average size restoration was smaller in acreage, there was

more diversity in the sites. Three sites are located along rivers,

three in upland depressions and three adjacent to existing WRP

sites. 

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program

Georgia received $265,000 in WHIP funds for this year. 16

individual and 11 special projects were approved for funding.

Prescribed burning, riparian buffers and native grass plantings

were the primary wildlife practices funded. The 11 special projects were received from 10 Georgia SWCD’s and one RC&D

area.

River Basin Program

In 2003, over 425 individuals and organizations were assisted through the River Basin Program. NRCS also assisted clients

and partners in the preparation and submission of grant applications totaling $1,734,013 for conservation activities throughout

the state. 

Floodplain management studies provide information and

assistance to local and state entities so they can implement programs for reducing existing and potential flood damages. Eleven

floodplain management studies have been completed to date. A

floodplain management study for Banks County is currently

underway.

RC&D

The RC&D Council Program in Georgia consists of 11

Council areas comprising 127 of Georgia’s 159 counties. RC&D

programs provide assistance to the people in their Council areas

by helping them plan and implement projects in their communities that will make their communities better places to live and

work. 

The governing bodies of the Councils are made up of volunteers from within the Council areas. 

The Natural Resource Conservation Service provides technical and administrative support through NRCS personnel including a full-time coordinator.
Solar Powered Weather Stations

Limestone Valley RC&D Council received a $21,000 grant from the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority to purchase

solar-powered weather stations for school systems in an 11-county service area. 

The stations are designed to measure eight real-time weather parameters and are beneficial in providing hands-on meteorological

and science learning experiences for students. 

Regional Enhanced 911 System Comes to Tattnall, Long, and McIntosh Counties

Coastal Georgia RC&D has begun preparation on the $500,000 OneGeorgia Grant, which would pay 100% of all the E911 for

all startup equipment and services for a regional enhanced 911 (E911) system for Tattnall, McIntosh and Long Counties. 

Only 3 other regional projects reached this point and all 3 were funded. This will be the first led by an RC&D Council.