Thank you all for the warm welcome I’ve received since returning to Alabama. I am grateful for the opportunity to work in this state and with the Alabama NRCS staff again.

Since April, I have traveled over 20,000 miles meeting with NRCS staff, conservation partners, and federal, state, and local agencies. I am extremely proud of the conservation efforts of the NRCS staff and conservation partnership. The work you do is visible throughout the state.

FY-2009 was a very challenging year with the implementation of the 2008 Farm Bill. However, each of you rose to the challenge by obligating an astronomical amount in contracts and easements: AWEP-$1.58M, CSP-$2M, EQIP-$12.3M, FRPP-$540K, GRP-$768K, WHIP-.2M, WRP-$20.2M, EWP-$3.2M, EWP Downed Timber/Debris Removal-$3.3M, Floodplain Easements-$2.3M, and Watershed Operations-$430K.

Thanks to all of you for the work you do on the landscape.