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From The State Conservationist - Gary Kobylski

Fall 2007

Celebrating Native AmericanHeritage Month

Natural Resources Conservation Service(NRCS) celebrates American Indian Heritage Monthin November. A painting by an American Indian Tribeartist is chosen each year to be featured on theposter. The poster is designed and distributed by aspart of the American Indian Heritage Monthcelebration.

The artist that painted the 2007 poster is LaDonSmith of Boswell, Oklahoma.

LaDon Stated “ I amproud to be of Choctawdescent and happy to bepart of a contest thatreflects a subject veryimportant to me and hasmeaning to all of us.There must be acombined effort by all tohelp preserve and protectour natural resources forothers who will follow us.”

What an interesting year we have had helpinglandowners put conservation on the ground. Evenwith the continuing drought and the severeconditions farmers have had to endure, we havebeen able to assist many. As we reflect on FiscalYear 2007, I want to thank each of you for yourtremendous efforts in helping implement the manyconservation practices that we strive to do eachday. Through the dedication and hard work of all ofour employees, partners, and volunteers, weexceeded ALL of our performance goals in FiscalYear 2007. Alabama has always been a leaderand I commend you for the work you are doing.

Last year, we obligated over $31 million forthe Emergency Watershed Protection Program(EWP). EWP allowed us to help many localentities and landowners affected by HurricaneKatrina. This year we successfully implemented$17 million of this EWP work. Over 23 miles ofchannels were cleared and 200,800 tons of debrisand downed timber removed. We also obligated

over $12.3 million for the Environmental QualityIncentives Program (EQIP) which resulted in1,263 contracts.

Fiscal Year 2008 promises to be a challengingyear with budget cuts and implementation of thenew Farm Bill. We still do not have a budget andare working under a Continuing Resolution untilNovember 16. In all probability this will beextended.

As you look back on the manyaccomplishments of NRCS during the past year,there is much work to be done. Do take time inthis season of Thanksgiving to reflect on thecountless contributions your expertise anddedication make to the citizens of Alabama. Welive in a great state and we have much to bethankful for. Each of us at the State Office looksforward to working with you in the upcoming yearahead.

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Land Judging Contests

Land judging contests are important tools to helpyoung people connect to the land. Land judging isdesigned to help students learn more about land,difference in soils and their capabilities, methods ofsoil conservation and improvement, treatments tohelp in obtaining higher production, and selection ofsuitable home sites.

Four separate sites are judged: cropland,pastureland, forestland, and home site. For each ofthe areas, students are given soil tests; informationfor ph, phosphorus, and potassium; and the numberof problems, practices, and land uses. After theteams receive the ground rules, they have fifteenminutes to judge each site.

First and second place winners at the countylevel compete in the district event, and the districtwinners compete in the state finals.

The champion state team will represent Alabamain the International Event in Oklahoma City,Oklahoma, in the spring.

Lamar and Fayette Counties Land JudgingBy April Hill, DC, NRCS, Fayette, AL

Fayette and Lamar Counties held their annualland judging contest on September 25. Studentsfrom three high schools in Fayette County and twofrom Lamar County attended the event. It was a hotday, but it did not discourage the students as theyvisited the four pits that had been dug for the contest.

From Fayette County, Berry High School camein first place, Hubbertville High School second place,

and Fayette HighSchool thirdplace. FromLamar County,Sulligent HighSchool came infirst place andLamar CountyHigh Schoolsecond place.

LauderdaleCountyBy Brenda Hand, DAC,SWCD, Florence, AL

Whites Farmwas the location forthe annual landjudging contest inLauderdale Countyin October. TheLauderdale CountySWCD/NRCShosted the event.

Four high schools participated: LauderdaleCounty, Lexington, Rogers, and Florence FreshmanCenter.

Florence Freshman Center captured first place,Lauderdale County placed second, and Lexingtonwas third. It was a great educational opportunity forall the students.

Cullman County Hosts County andDistrict EventsBy Johnny Granthem, Public Relations Specialist, CullmanCounty SWCD

During October, the Cullman County SWCD/NRCS sponsored the Cullman County and the NorthDistrict FFA land judging contests.

The Cullman County contest was heldOctober 4 on the Brian Kress farm. Four teamscompeted: Holly Pond, West Point, Hanceville HighSchools and Cullman Middle School.

The Holly Pond High FFA team won first place,Hanceville High second, Cullman Middle third, andWest Point High fourth.

Seventeen teams from the 20-county FFANorth District met at the St. Bernard Farm onOctober 30 for the land judging competition. Thedistrict winner was the Speake High School team,Falkville High School was second, Winfield Highschool third, and Colbert Heights High School placedfourth. These four teams will compete at the statelevel.

Participants have 15 minutes tocomplete score cards for thefour sites.

Students complete score cards atthe land judging contest in Fayette

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Highlighting Conservation Education

North Alabama State Fair FeaturesConservationBy Brenda Hand, DAC, SWCD, Florence, AL

Personnel from the Lauderdale and ColbertCounties SWCD/NRCS set up a joint informationbooth at the North Alabama State Fair.

During the week-long event in lateSeptember, information was distributed onbackyard conservation, buffers, and web soilsurvey. Coloring books and bookmarks wereavailable for the younger fair-goers. Many of thedistributed handouts were in English as well asSpanish.

In an effort to personally address allquestions, the booth was manned each night byNRCS/SWCD personnel.

The Lauderdale County SWCD donated abird feeder that was given away by drawing afterthe event. Mr. and Mrs. Bill Davis, from SprucePine, won the feeder.

Limited Resource Farmer DisplayBy Merry Buford, DC, NRCS, Oneonta, Alabama

The Blount County SWCD/NRCS held apublic meeting to review the WatershedAssessment conducted by Danny Williams (retiredNRCS employee).

A display showed conservation programs andpractices that are implemented in Blount County.The display also showed special opportunitiessuch as the Small Scale Farm Initiative and the319 Dry Creek Watershed Grant Project.

The Small Scale Farmer display(centerpiece of the exhibit) is available for use byAlabama field offices. Contact Fay Garner inPublic Affairs Section of the State Office(334-887-4506).

The Backyard Conservation display was thecenterpiece of the Lauderdale and Colbert CountiesSWCD/NRCS joint information booth at the NorthAlabama State Fair.

The Oneonta Field Office used the Small ScaleFarmer display as the centerpiece of their WatershedAssessment information exhibit.

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Lee County SWCD/NRCS Sets Up Display AtThe County FairBy Anne Miller, DAC, SWCD, Lee County, AL

The Lee County Fair attracts an assortment ofindividuals and provided an ideal opportunity for theLee County SWCD to educate the general publicabout the services available from the local districtoffice.

Earth Team Volunteers partnered with LeeCounty NRCS/SWCD to decorate and staff a booth atthe fair.

This year’s theme for the booth was “HelpingPeople Help the Land through Education andAssistance.”

The booth included material relative to NRCSconservation programs and technical assistanceavailable to landowners. The booth also provided ashowcase of the conservation efforts going on in LeeCounty. The booth contained pictures andinformation about Earth Day celebrations with localschools and the 4th Annual Lee County WaterFestival.

The booth provided an opportunity for studentsto share their conservation experiences.

Over 18,000 people attended the Lee CountyFair. Adults and children alike found items of interestat the fair booth.

RC&D Grant Helps Improve ReadingProgramBy April Hill, DC, NRCS, Fayette, AL

The Hubbertville School officials in FayetteCounty knew that their students did not read at thesame level. The school needed reading materials ina broad range of levels. A grant from theTombigbee RC&D Council provided funds forschool officials to purchase different levels ofreading materials for students K-6th grade. Thematerials included a set of 432 non-fiction booksand 271 fiction books to be used in small groupreading lessons.

When children are successful readers, theybecome excited about reading and will increasetheir fluency and comprehensive skills.

Hubbertville School can now provide studentswith reading material appropriate to their individualreading level, in a variety of subjects.

As an Alabama Reading Initiative School,Hubbertville’s goal is 100 percent mastery of gradelevel reading. The material purchased with thisRC&D grant will allow them to push toward thatgoal.

Hubbertville School recieves RC&D grant for readingmaterials. (l-r) Assistant Principal Jason Bourland,Reading Coach Stella Fisher, Fayette County DC AprilHill, and Principal Tim Dunavant.

Ben Burton, Lee County Farm Bill TechnicalAssistant and Lee County Earth Team Volunteerassisted with the Lee County Fair booth.

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Bibb County Soil Survey Complete

By Jerome Langlinais, MLRA Project Leader, MLRA SoilSurvey Office, Tuscaloosa, AL

A “Last Acre Ceremony” was held onOctober 16, 2007, to celebrate the conclusion of themapping of soils in Bibb County, Alabama. Thecelebration was held at the Park in the Six MileCommunity. Various state and federal agenciesparticipated. The event was coordinated by theNRCS MLRA in Auburn, Alabama, and the BibbCounty NRCS/SWCD.

Charles Love, State Soil Scientist from theNRCS MLRA office in Auburn, explained the benefitsof the soil survey. “A soil survey is an acre-by-acreinventory of the soil resource. It is developed by aprofessional soil scientist who covers the land on foot,examines the soil in detail, and classifies it accordingto a national system of soil taxonomy. The location ofeach kind of soil is plotted on aerial photographs.Each soil is then interpreted or translated in regard tohow it will respond when subjected to various usesand management. Soon, the soil survey will also beavailable via the Web Soil Survey giving access atyour finger tips,” said Love.

For many years, soil surveys have been used byfarmers to determine the capability of the soil tosupport certain kinds of crops, and for installing soiland water conservation systems. Surveys are still ofextreme value for these uses. In more recent years,however, the value of soil survey information has

l-r: NRCS ASTC-Central TeamCharlie Ramsey; NRCS DC KentMcCray, Tuscaloosa; Dan James,Bibb Co. District Supervisor, Sec/Treas; Jerome Langlinais, MLRAProject Leader, Tuscaloosa SS;Bibb Co. District Supervisor BillieRagland; Bibb Co. DistrictSupervisor/Vice Chairman JoeOwings; SS Project LeaderLawrence McGhee, Tuscaloosa;State Representative Cam Ward;Bibb Co. District Supervisor/Chairperson LaRue Burt; DistrictSupervisor Don Harmon; and MOLeader/NRCS State Soil ScientistCharles Love, Auburn.

been realized by manynonagricultural users.Engineers, appraisers,realtors, foresters, andcity officials have cometo value soil data tomake responsibledecisions when selectingsites for housing,highways, airports,schools, factories, parks,cemeteries, recreationalareas, and other uses.

State Representa-tive Cam Wardparticipated in the eventand said, “We are verypleased with the productof a soil survey for BibbCounty. The soil data is very valuable to the citizensof Bibb County and is information that we haveneeded for many years. We appreciate the leader-ship NRCS has made in making this data available toBibb County landowners.”

USDA-NRCS provides free technical assistanceto help people conserve, maintain, and improvenatural resources and the environment. Alabamalandowners have access to NRCS technicalassistance through a local county office.

A golden augur waspresented to LaRueBert, the Bibb CountyDistrict Chairman, tomark the Last AcreCeremony.

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Fence Demonstration Held in Fayette CountyBy April Hill, DC, NRCS, Fayette, AL

Fayette County NRCS/SWCD hosted a FenceDemonstration at the farm of local landowners, Mr.and Mrs. Grady Peoples. The demonstration helpedto educate small farmers on the proper techniques offence building. Attendees and volunteers got hands-on experience in fence building.

Demonstrations - Workshops - Field Days

Volunteer Jimmy Robertshand-digs a fence post hole.

The demonstration started with some technicalinformation and a talk about the NRCS standard onfence building. NRCS personnel then demonstratedhow to complete braces, the proper spacing, howdeep the post should be in the ground, and on whichside of the post to place the wire.

The participants gleaned valuable informationthat they can carry back to their own farm and initiate.

Mr. Peoples sits on tractor while demonstration attendee guidesthe auger while digging a fence hole.

Fayette County Watershed Assessment

Fayette County held a watershed assessmentpublic meeting in September to present assessment

results, receive public inputon their concerns,incorporate these into theassessment, developpriorities for watersheds,and program delivery for thedistrict. Also discussed wasa future strategy toaccomplish naturalresources conservation inthe county.

A concerned group of people attended the meeting. l-rNRCS DC April Hill, NRCS Soil Con Tech Jimmy Butler,Mayor of Belk Ronald Waldrop, Fayette Co. FSAExecutive Director Cindy Owens, Fayette Co. DACMargaret Brown, Fayette Co. ACES Joan Weaver,Commissioner Rodolphus (Sonny) Cotton, DistrictSupervisor Kay Roberts, Mayor of Berry and DistrictSupervisor Roy Dobbs, and District Chairman of FayetteCo. SWCD Richard Galloway.

DAC Margaret Browngives an overview of thewatershed assessment.

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Alabama Sheep And Meat Goat ProducersAssociation Attend Oklahoma WorkshopBy Eddie B. May, DC, NRCS, Talladega, Al

I had a great opportunity to travel to LangstonUniversity in Oklahoma in September with elevenother Alabamians to participate in a Goat BreedingWorkshop and a tour of the school’s GoatResearch facilities. The workshop was sponsoredby the Alabama A&M University Small FarmsResearch Center.

The three-day workshop focused on goatmanagement, principles of goat nutrition, breedingand selection, herd health, external parasites, goatbudgets, control of internal parasites, and a hands-on goat insemination class and demonstration. Allof the participants performed the inseminationprocess on at least one goat.

Our host for the event was Terry Gipson,Interim Goat Specialist. Lionel Dawson, goatspecialist from Oklahoma State University Collegeof Veterinary Medicine, spoke on the health andmaintenance of small ruminants. Les Hutchens ofReproduction Enterprises, Inc. headed theinsemination workshop.

Each participant came back home with tonsof information in handouts as well as practicaltraining and experience.

Eddie May (r) gets hands-on experience in goatinsemination at the Goat Breeding Workshop inOklahoma.

Randolph County Young Farmers Field DayBy Susan Baldwin, DAC, SWCD, Wedowee, AL

In April, the Randolph County Young Farmersheld a Farm Field Day at the Wedowee Kiwanis Parkfor over 400 fourth graders from throughout thecounty. The students visited stations featuringdifferent farm animals, honeybees, tractor equipment,youth loan information presented by FSA, and naturalresources information presented by county NRCS/SWCD staff. Randolph County participants includedSWCD Supervisors Dean Wysner and WayneHuddleston, DAC Susan Baldwin, and NRCSTechnician Scotty Noles. (con’t page 8)

Randolph County SWCD Supervisor Dean Wysner, MasonWysner, and SWCD DAC Susan Baldwin view a pre-sentation using the Enviroscape model at the field day.

At the Young Farmers Field Day, students gatheredaround hit and miss engine (a type of four-strokeinternal combustion engine commonly used in theearly 1900s) and a corn sheller as Mr. Baindemonstrates how they operate.

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(con’t from page 7)

Using the Enviroscope, (a landscape model thatshows what can happen to soil when using poorconservation practices) Scotty Noles demonstratedsome improper conservation practices. He usedexamples of the farmer plowing and spreadingfertilizer too close to the water, and people changingoil and cutting grass and not properly disposing of it.Then Scotty demonstrated the proper conservationpractices that keep chemicals from entering streamsand water. “Water is necessary for life, and watereducation is vital to maintaining our water resources”is the message that was given to the students duringthe day at the Young Farmers Field Day.

Red Water Blues Field Daysby John Harris, DC, NRCS, Autaugaville, AL

Over 130 attendees spent the day in Prattville atone of three Red Water Blues Field Days this year.Participants were able to attend the QualifiedCredentialed Inspector School followed by a bus tourof a “HomePlace” development. Four stops werevisited where storm water products were displayed byseven vendors from two states.

After lunch, technical presentations were givenon erosion control practices and products.

The two other field days were held in Cullmanand Spanish Fort with a similar number of attendees.Red Water Blues field days are sponsored by theAlabama Soil and Water Conservation Committeeand partners including NRCS and local SWCDs.

Venders displayed and demonstrated erosioncontrol products and practices at the Red WaterBlues field day.

Preventing a Potential Dam FailureBy Judy Hill, ASTC-FO North, and Jeff Allred, Res Engineer,NRCS, Decatur, AL

Quick action by a host of local partners averteda potential failure of a watershed dam in MarionCounty recently. Little New River Site #2, located onBostick Creek, completed in 1960, is one of theoldest watershed dams in Alabama. Its primarypurpose is for flood protection and prevention.

The condition of the reservoir was compared tothat of July 2006, when annual mowing maintenancewas completed. At that time, the pool level was verylow and the riser was several feet above the waterlevel, but in April 2007, the riser was underwater.Spring rains were minimal, but the reservoir was up tothe crest of the emergency spillway, as much as20 feet above normal. Jeff Allred, NRCS Engineer,surmised that something was clogging the riser.

The Marion County Commission installed asiphon pipe and began drawing down the reservoir sothat the riser could be inspected. The drainageprocess was very slow. A 6-inch rain in August againfilled the pool to more than eight feet above the riser.

Marion County NRCS DC Wade Hill helpedsecure two 10-inch irrigation pumps, in addition to two6-inch pumps the county had rented. The pumps ran24/7 until September when the water finally recededbelow the riser and it could be inspected.

The Marion County SWCD hired a contractor toremove the blockage from within the riser and areworking with a local contractor to install a new trashrack, a cover for the riser access, and repair thevalve.

No single agency could have solved this problemalone. Thanks to the efforts of local partners - theMarion County Commission, NRCS, and the MarionCounty SWCD – a potential crisis was averted.

Bob Burleson, County Commissioner (background) andNRCS DC Wade Hill assemble intake for a 10-inch pump.

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By Alice Love, Soil Consvst, NRCS, Auburn, AL

In October 2004, I was selected to serve on theNational Civil Rights Committee (NCRC) through anationwide application process to find candidates toserve in six different categories on the committee. Mythree-year term expired in September 2007. I cannotgive justice to how this experience has enlightened myknowledge of Civil Rights from a national perspective.

During my term on the committee, I had theopportunity to work with two NRCS StateConservationists (Rosendo Trevino III; former NCRCChair, and Joyce Swartzendruber, Present NCRCChair) and two USDA-NRCS Chief’s (Bruce Knight,former Chief and Arlen Lancaster, present Chief).They all were a joy to serve under.

I also had the opportunity to work with severalNational NRCS Office divisions regarding Civil Rightsissues or concerns submitted to the committee. Theywere always willing to assist the committee. In myopinion, they demonstrate good customer service totheir internal customers (NCRC members).

NCRC meetings are held at various locations andare supported through a National Budget Allocation.This gives the committee an opportunity to visit withNRCS offices throughout the country to observe

Love Completes Term on “National Civil Rights Committee”

conservation methods used in different states towardCivil Rights in USDA-NRCS program delivery, etc.

My most memorable visits were in the states ofMontana and Maine. In Montana, I gained exposure byworking with tribes and addressing their conservationneeds. Water resources were a very high concern inmany areas in Montana. We visited a reservation thathad just completed an EQIP dam project.

During my last meeting in Maine, I learned aboutwild blueberry farming. I must say, from my obser-vation, this is a labor intense crop. We met a smallscale organic wild blueberry farmer and large scalewild blueberry farmer and learned about the harvestingand marketing process of wild blueberries. Maine isnumber one worldwide in wild blueberry production.

The committee received invitations from stateNRCS offices willing to serve as hosts during one ofthe four NCRC meetings held each year. To serve asa host state, a letter (from State Conservationist or withtheir concurrence) must be submitted to the NCRCChair.

Information about the NCRC activities is on themy.NRCS website under Employee Resources.

I recommend that if you have an interest inserving on the NCRC, to apply as vacancies comeavailable. (It is mandatory that an applicant be of thespecific vacancy category.) Please do not getdiscouraged if you are not selected on your first try. Iwasn’t! I feel my determination and persistenceeventually presented me with the opportunity to serve.I will forever cherish the opportunity and knowledgegained through this colateral assignment.

Above (l-r): NRCS DCDavid Garcelon,Washington County,Maine; ProjectRepresentative of thePassamaquoddy TribeBlueberry Irrigation;and Phuc Vu (NCRCAsian American/ PacificIslander). Right: wildblueberries in field.

NCRC and Advisors with the Maine CR Committee.

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Mrs. Buttram’s summer daycare class came out to lenda hand in planting the plants.

By Annette Spivey, Soil Consvt Tech, NRCS, Alex City, AL

NRCS, the Coosa County SWCD, the LowerCoosa River Clean Water Partnership, and the CoosaValley RC&D gave a hand in a different way to helpcontrol soil erosion at the Central Elementary andMiddle School in Coosa County.

I had several hats to wear for the Rain GardenProject, I just didn’t know how many, as I sold theidea of a “Rain Garden” to the Superintendent of theCoosa County School System. The project wasinitiated to solve an erosion problem that had existedfor several years at the school in Hanover. Becausethe drought was on everyone’s mind this summer,when discussing the project the question was asked,“Is it going to make it rain?”

No, it did not make it rain! However, it turned outto be a great project and worked very well when itfinally did rain this summer.

A topographic survey and soils investigation wascompleted on the proposed area by Bob Beaty,Resource Soil Scientist and myself. The schools hadtwo areas where roof runoff was causing erosion atthe back of the buildings.

To establish the garden, we dug a hole 3 feetdeep and replaced the soil with a mixture of 1/3 sand,1/3 soil, and 1/3 mulch until it measured 12 inches

deep. Then we put in a 4-inch perforated pipe that isconnected to an underground drain. The pipe wascovered with the mixture until the hole was filled. Themixture will allow runoff to settle in the rain garden for alonger period of time before the excess runs into thedrain pipe. The area was then mulched and plantedwith native plants that tolerate moisture and full sun.

Even though the main purpose of the garden is tocontrol erosion, filter out pollutants, and be aestheticallypleasing, it will also be used by science and mathclasses to study drainage, slopes, native plants, andlandscaping.

A special “thank you” goes to Tommy Futral,ACES/Tallapoosa County, for helping get the projectstarted, and to the Coosa County Highway andEngineering Department for the use of their equipmentand expertise! Also thanks to the extra helping handsfrom the Middle Tallapoosa River Clean WaterPartnership, Coosa County Forestry Commission, andMrs. Buttram’s class. Funding was provided through aCoosa Valley RC&D Grant through the Lower CoosaRiver Clean Water Partnership.

If you’re interested in installing a rain garden, we’llbe glad to offer our information or technical assistanceon site evaluation and layout, plants, materials, andcost.

Rain Garden Installed At Coosa County School

Before theproject.

After the RainGarden projectwascompleted.

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Jackson County Archeological Site Explored

In July, I supervised eight Earth Team (ET)Volunteers in testing an archeological site on the PaintRock River in Jackson County. A few months earlier,the site was discovered in a grass strip adjacent to afield road and cotton fields during a cultural resourcessurvey for a proposed streambank stabilization.

Diagnostic artifacts such as a fluted Clovis (spear)point, was found, making this Paleo-Indian sitepotentially eligible for the National Register of HistoricPlaces (NRHP). The Paleo-Indian is the earliestrecognized period of occupation in Alabama. Thehighly mobile Paleo inhabited the southeastern UnitedStates between 12,000 and 10,000 years ago.

The ET Volunteers accumulated 96 hoursmapping Site JA1104, taking elevations, placing pinsalong three transects at 10 meter intervals in theproject area, excavating shovel tests, and conductingcontrolled surface collections at the site. Ten shoveltests were excavated within the project constructionlimits, or where ground-disturbing activities wouldoccur.

The results of the testing procedure indicated nointact cultural strata so the stabilization project couldproceed as planned. Portions of the site outside theproject area were not tested; the remaining portion ofthe site is still considered eligible for the NRHP.

Cultural Resources News

Hooked on the Alabama River

On a beautiful Saturday in September, theAlabama River Clean Water Partnership hosted“Hooked on the Alabama River” a festival to promotethe Alabama River — the most spectacular naturalresource in our region. The Riverfront Amphitheatre indowntown Montgomery was a perfect place to holdthe event.

Booths were set up by numerous environmentalgroups and agencies. I set up a booth and theMontgomery County NRCS/SWCD set up a boothstaffed by DC April Jones and DAC Alice Ward. Wetalked about the environment and archaeology tohundreds of participants, including recentlytransferred personnel from Maxwell Air Force Base,and even a few “Katrina” transplants.

The World Wildlife Fund, the Mid-South RC&DCouncil, the Alabama Department of EnvironmentalManagement (ADEM), Montgomery Water Works,and many other sponsors, helped make the day verysuccessful.

Volunteers John Richburg, ASTC-FO West (r) digswhile his son, Jason, screens soil for artifacts.

Thirty oversizedfiberglass fishinglures, decorated bylocal artists andsponsored by areaorganizations, wereon display.

Paglionedisplayedarcheologicalartifacts and otheritems in a booth.

A cultural resources assessment report wassubmitted to the Alabama Historical Commission forreview and comment and a special appendix of thereport was produced for each volunteer to documenttheir efforts to protect our environment and ournational heritage – archaeological sites!

By Teresa Paglione, Cultural Resources Specialist, NRCS, Auburn, AL

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By J. M. Dangler, NRCS, GA State Agronomist; and BenMoore, NRCS, AL State Agronomist

The Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition (Expo) inMoultrie, Georgia, gives producers the opportunity toobtain information about the latest agriculturalequipment, research, and technology. This year’sevent, held in October, was the 30th anniversary ofthe Expo. Once again, Georgia and Alabama NRCSparticipated in this “premier farm show in the world”as part of the Team Conservation Tillage group.

The Team Conservation Tillage group alsoincludes representatives of Auburn University, threeunits of USDA-ARS, and The University of Georgia’sCollege of Engineering Science AgP2 Program. TheGeorgia Conservation Tillage Alliance and theAlabama and Georgia Chapters of the Soil and WaterConservation Society were also involved.

Information provided by the team includedimplementing conservation tillage, applying theeconomics of conservation tillage in peanuts andother crops, capturing carbon by soil organic matter,improving soil quality, and reducing compaction andusing cover crops.

Several new pieces of conservation equipmentwere on display. This year, there was ademonstration about using peanuts for biofuel andinformation about how crops produced underconservation tillage increase the efficiency of wateruse. Another demonstration allowed producers tosee how soil loss is affected by the presence or the

Conservation Tillage at the Sunbelt Agricultural Expo

absence of a cover crop during the rainfall eventstypically experienced in the southeast.

The Team Conservation Tillage tent was locatedalong the main pedestrian thoroughfare of thefairgrounds,within sight of amajor equipmentmanufacturerwho displayed a$590,000 cottonpicker with anon-board modulebuilder thatpermits con-tinuous harvestof the crop. Theteam memberswatched the dailyparade ofantique tractors. “Conservation tillage is as relevanttoday in cropping systems as it was decades agowhen this antique equipment was used”, said BenMoore, Alabama State Agronomist, as he watched theantique tractor parade.

The Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition is a familyevent and there is something of interest to all familes,not just farm families. Many vendors sold products orinformed people in all walks of life. There were also anumber of vendors selling hot dogs and funnel cakes!

This is an exciting, informative, and fun event.Make plans to attend next year - October 14-16, 2008.

The Team Conservation Tillage tent attracted manyvisitors at the 30th Annual Sunbelt Expo.

An attraction for the Conservation Tillage Team was ademonstration about using peanuts for biofuel.

Exhibits in the tent made availableinformation on a variety of subjects.

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Personnel

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, politicalbeliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of programinformation (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, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call(202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer

Retirees Honored

The West Team employees andsome state office employeeshonored Roland Perry (r), DC inLivingston, on September 25 with aretirement reception during theTeam Meeting. Roland retired onOctober 3.

Julie Best (r), Public Affairs Specialistin the State Office, retired August 31.A reception was held in the StateOffice on August 21. She and herhusband, Roger, have moved intotheir new home in Tennessee.

Rhoda Kerr (front), Soil ConsvTech in the Opelika Field Office,was honored with a receptionon September 24. She retiredOctober 3 after 30 years ofservice.

Accessions

Joshua Elliott, Soil Consvst, Andalusia, ALDaniel Goins, Soil Consvst, Athens, ALTammy Hussey, Area Admin Coord (East Team), Troy, ALLee Stanfield, Procurement Tech, Auburn, AL

Promotions

Jeff Allred, Res Engr, Decatur, ALDuane Andrews, Soil Consv Tech, Linden, ALRichard Collier, RC&D Coord, Ozark, AL to Assistant State

Conservationist (FO), East Team, Troy, ALMatt Copeland, Soil Consv Tech, Hamilton, ALRandall East, Res Engr, Grove Hill, ALShirley Hall-Cole, Budget Analyst, Auburn, ALWade Hill, Soil Consvst, Moulton, AL to District Consvst,

Hamilton, ALRandy Martin, Res Engr, Ozark, ALLinda McGraw, Area Admin Coord, Columbiana, ALJoe Norris, Cartographic Tech, Auburn, AL to Geographer,

Auburn, ALStephon Thomas, Soil Scientist (Landscape Analyst) (GIS

Specialist), Tuscaloosa, AL

Timothy Williams, Res Engr, Guntersville, AL

Reassignments

Zachry Adams, Soil Consvst, Cullman, AL to Soil Consvst,Geneva, AL

Amy Bernauer, Agricultural Engr, Tuscaloosa, AL toAgricultural Engr, Auburn, AL

Jamie Carpenter, Soil Consvst, Athens, AL to Soil Consvst,Moulton, AL

Matt Copeland, Soil Consv Tech, Hamilton, AL to SoilConsvst, Cullman, AL

Anne Cross, Soil Consvst, Guntersville, AL to Soil Con,Rainsville, AL

Don Nelson, Soil Consvst, Jackson, AL to Clayton, ALHeidi Richards, RC&D Coord, Oxford, AL to RC&D Coord,

Birmingham, AL

Retirements

Julie Best, Public Affairs Specialist, Auburn, ALRhoda Kerr, Soil Consv Tech, Opelika, ALRoland Perry, District Consvst, Livingston, AL