  |
 |
 |
 |
About Us
News
Programs
Technical Resources
Partnerships
Contact Us |
   |
|
|
|
Current Developments - Spring 2009 NewsletterFrom the State Conservationist - Gary Kobylski“Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb.” - Winston Churchill It has been a great journey for me, especially over the last four years which I have spent as State Conservationist for Alabama. I have been given the opportunity to work with an outstanding staff that has continually impressed me during my time here. As you probably already know, this phase of my journey is very near its end and the next will begin with my retirement on April 3. I have enjoyed leading NRCS staff in promoting conservation and serving the citizens of Alabama. While I am sure to enjoy my retirement years, parting is still bittersweet. I have every faith that NRCS in Alabama will continue to excel as it has during my tenure. Good luck, and God bless! -Gary Kobylski Kobylski Receives Forest Stewardship AwardGary Kobylski was presented the 2008 Forest Stewardship Award for the East Region by the American Forest Foundation. This prestigious award recognizes NRCS state conservationists and their staff for outstanding technical and financial assistance to private forestland owners on forest conservation activities. Kobylski was honored at the National Association of Conservation Districts Meeting in New Orleans. Alabama SWCC Watershed Assessment OnlineProvided by the Alabama Soil & Water Conservation Committee, Montgomery, AL The watershed assessment covers all 707 watersheds in Alabama’s 67 counties and provides government agencies, private individuals, and political entities the ability to view watershed data in each county. NRCS and Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) partnered to develop the watershed study which details the affect of water quality by land activity. The report highlights 16 activities which include animal, crop, cultural, domestic, erosion, forestland, general, land usage, mined land, pasture land, public water, resource, soil, streams, urban, and wildlife, as well as other interest. “The assessment is the perfect example of how government agencies and the community can accomplish its goals by working together,” said Senator Kim Benefield of Woodland, Legislative Water Policy Committee Chair. “We can identify so many critical water issues with this information.” Funding for the watershed assessment was provided by a grant from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency to the Alabama Department of Environmental
Management (ADEM). ADEM contracted with the Alabama SWCC to administer the
program at the local level. The watershed statistics webpage data and maps were
constructed by the State’s Information Services Division. There are approximately 41,000 pages of data provided on the Alabama SWCC website with an average of over 600 pages of data for each of Alabama’s 67 counties. A map of Morgan County is currently available to view. The Alabama SWCC intends to provide a complete mapping system of each county this spring. SWCC Executive Director Steve Cauthen acknowledges that the reports were collected by the Alabama Association of Conservation Districts (AACD) and SWCDs which were submitted to the SWCC and ADEM. He also feels that the local districts should be commended for delivering the information and helping identify concerns for water quality issues in each area. “The Soil and Water Conservation Districts put a lot of time and energy in organizing and implementing the process,” said Cauthen, “I give them the credit for this assessment as technical experts and for their work to gather citizen input.” The watershed assessment can be found on the Alabama SWCC webpage at www.swcc.alabama.gov. The data and mapping information is located under the programs link. Staff and Friends Gather for State Conservationist’s Send OffStaff from the state office and friends gathered on March 3 to celebrate the 32 year career of Gary Kobylski. Attendees to the lunchtime event visited with Kobylski and were invited to share their thoughts on his tenure as State Conservationist and his career with NRCS. Several mementoes were presented to him, including a memory book compiled by NRCS staff. Morris Retires After More Than 37 Years with NRCSRonnie Northcutt with the Baldwin County SWCD presents DC Larry Morris with a plaque in appreciation of his service to the Baldwin County SWCD. Morris retired January 31. Small Ruminant Training SessionsBy Fay Garner, Public Affairs Assistant, NRCS,
Auburn, AL Dr. Ann Wells, a nationally respected veterinarian from Arkansas, who works with producers and educators across the country to develop sustainable animal health management plans, discussed the basics of meat goat production. She covered items such as health, nutrition, reproduction, physical needs, parasite management, browsing and grazing management for plant and animal health, and stocking rates in woodland and pasture. Jolley discussed fencing options and joined Dr. Wells, Hall, and Sandra Solaiman from Tuskegee University on the farm to inform the classes about goat body condition, and grazing management and plans. The training provided NRCS personnel additional resources and tools to assist landowners interested in the special emphasis programs, including incentives for limited resource, socially disadvantaged, small-scale, or beginning farmers or ranchers. NRCS, AFC, AACD, and SWCC Sign Memorandum of UnderstandingOn March 11, the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC), the AACD, the Alabama SWCC, and NRCS officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will provide more coordinated services to the state’s forest landowners. State Conservationist Gary Kobylski stated, “This MOU represents a concerted effort by the partners to deliver our services to the landowners of Alabama more efficiently and in a more timely manner. Landowners need our technical expertise and together we can make this a very positive experience.” Over 440,000 forest landowners control 79 percent of forestland in the state. These lands not only support the forest industry and contribute to the state’s economy, but also are an integral part of the quality of life for residents of the state. Increasing assistance to protect privately-owned forestlands benefits both the environment and community. Booker T. Washington Economic Development SummitBy Alice Love, Agricultural Outreach Liaison, NRCS, Auburn, AL Tuskegee University recently held the 13th Annual Booker T. Washington Economic Development Summit, at the Kellogg Conference Center in Tuskegee, Alabama. The theme was “Creating a Culture of Entrepreneurs.” Students from high schools, colleges, and universities across the area participated in the conference. The summit provided a variety of workshops and networking opportunities for attendees. The Southern States Energy Board hosted the Energy of the Future workshop. Their mission is to enhance the development and the quality of life in the South through innovations in energy and environmental policies, programs, and technologies. Discussions included carbon sequestration and energy issues facing 16 states and two territories that comprise the Southern Region: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, and West Virginia. The Emerging Green Markets roundtable discussion focused on developing
technologies and markets for biofuels, solar power, and alternative energy
sources. Farrah Gray, a self-made millionaire by the age of fourteen from the south side of Chicago, created the non-profit organization “The Farrah Gray Foundation,” which focuses on inner city community-based entrepreneurship education and provides scholarships and grant assistance to students from at-risk backgrounds to help them attend historically black colleges and universities. Larry Lee, Director of the Center for Rural Alabama, helped create the Wiregrass Leadership Institute, the state’s only regional leadership development program. He also frequently writes about rural issues for the Birmingham News. Daryl Williams, Director of Research and Policy at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, is also the CEO and National Executive Director of the Urban Entrepreneur Partnership Gulf Coast, Inc., which helped create jobs in devastated areas along the gulf coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Sumter/Marengo 2008 Water Festival Held on UWA CampusBy Michael Gunn, District Conservationist, NRCS, Livingston, AL Through careful planning and lots of hard work by the Sumter and Marengo County SWCDs, the Sumter/Marengo Water festival has grown to be a huge event that children and teachers have come to love. Before the event starts, fourth graders throughout both counties are asked to submit a drawing, which if chosen would be the theme for the event and be printed on the t-shirts that are given out to participants. The 2008 winner was Brooklyn Bryan, a student at Sumter Academy. The theme she chose for her drawing was “Fix That Leaky Faucet, Water Makes A Splash.” The t-shirt for each year’s winner is also framed and placed in the ALFA building on the campus of the University of West Alabama (UWA). As in the past, this year’s event took place on the campus of UWA. The support from UWA, the university president Dr. Richard Holland, and education department instructor Linda Paparella goes a long way in helping make this event possible. The university gives the event access to its facilities and the talents and abilities of its brightest students. Students from the UWA Department of Education majoring in elementary education were encouraged to volunteer for the event. This provides the water festival students with excellent instructors and our future teachers with valuable, hands-on experience. After each student rotates through a group of lessons, they are given a very special treat -- a magic and comedy show put on by Steve Trash of Concrete Dream, Inc. Trash performs magic tricks with garbage and teaches the students about everyone’s part in taking care of our environment. Planning for next year’s Water Festival is already under way. Sumter County SWCD DAC Mandee Carrier spends countless hours planning, and it pays off on a day when over 600 kids are given the chance to participate in activities which will make the future brighter for us all. Cottage House Strategic Planning MeetingBy Alice Love, Agricultural Outreach Liaison, Auburn, AL Roy and Barbara Shipman of Barbour
County have turned one of their dreams into reality through a place they own
called the Cottage House. They envisioned having a community and resource center
where youth and senior citizens could gather and participate in activities. Individuals at the Cottage House work with youth to improve academic skills, provide training opportunities, and enhance entrepreneurial skills. CAWACO RC&D Assists in Beginning Steps For Renovation ProjectThe Thorsby Historical Committee in Chilton County now has a master plan including an artistic painting for the renovation of the old elementary school in Thorsby. CAWACO RC&D provided a grant to assist with the services of a registered architect to study the cost and feasibility of restoring the school. The hope for the 10,000 square-foot facility is to convert it into a community center complete with several meeting rooms and a large auditorium. Pictured is Mayor Dearl Hilyer with representatives from CAWACO RC&D and members of the Thorsby Historical Committee. NRCS/SWCD Personnel Visit Covington County High SchoolsBy Patricia Gable, Education Specialist, Covington County SWCD, Andalusia, AL NRCS Soil Conservationist Josh Elliott and Patricia Gable, Covington County SWCD Education Specialist, visited ag classrooms at Andalusia and Opp High Schools. Elliot shared his experiences with the agriscience classes and encouraged the students to investigate agricultural careers. He discussed careers available with NRCS, explaining how his profession impacts lives in their community and throughout the country. Elliot also explained existing practices implemented by the landowners of Covington County. Gable provided each of the agriscience teachers in Covington County with notebooks on soil related topics. COTR Training in AuburnNRCS personnel from Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Missouri gathered in Auburn February 23-27 for a Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR) training course at the Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center. Sixth Annual Tri-State Farmer’s ForumBy Alice Love, Agricultural Outreach Liaison, NRCS, Auburn, AL On February 7, the Tri-State Farmer’s Forum 6th Annual Meeting was held at the Houston County Farm Center in Dothan. Several organizations and agency representatives were available to educate and enhance the more than 40 participant’s knowledge about federal, state, and local agricultural programs. Miles Robinson, Director of Alabama Small Farm Rural Economic Development Center at Tuskegee University, discussed the center’s function to develop partnerships to help farmers sustain farming operations. He also discussed the opportunity for producers to have on-farm research performed by university professors on projects relating to agriculture. Don Wambles, Director of the Alabama Farmers Market Authority, talked about the farmer’s market program, which began in 1999. Today, there are more than 100 markets in the state, and an additional nine counties have requested markets in their area. Alabama is the third largest state in the country with a Farmers Market Nutrition Program. Geneva County District Conservationist James Currington updated the participants on changes in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) as interpreted in the 2008 Farm Bill. A display was set up demonstrating successful conservation practices installed through Alabama NRCS EQIP funding. Conservation partners that contributed to the success of the event included the Farm Service Agency, AFC, Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES), NRCS in Florida, and many others. Currington Speaks to Farmers Conference About EQIPGeneva County District Conservationist James Currington spoke during a session of the 117th Annual Tuskegee Farmers Conference. Currington discussed EQIP programs and changes brought about by the 2008 Farm Bill. Choctaw County Holds Classroom in the ForestBy Michael Gunn, District Conservationist, NRCS, Livingston, AL The Choctaw County Forestry Planning Council held its first “Classroom in the Forest” educational workshop for students from Southern Choctaw High School. The two-day event started with classroom instruction from forestry consultant O. M. Benton; Jennifer Miller; Sue Thompson, ACES; and Gary Fortenberry, Choctaw County SWCD Supervisor. The second day of the” Classroom in the Forest” was held at Benton’s farm in
southwest Choctaw County. Students were rotated through several lesson stops
which taught them about stewardship of natural resources and components of
quality wildlife habitats. Walker County SWCD Arbor Day Event Featured on Birmingham TV StationThe Walker County SWCD used this year’s Arbor Day Celebration as an opportunity to teach Oakman High School students about conservation. The students were brought to the Reed Minerals’ Nicholas Surface Mine in Walker County to help plant trees as part of the reclamation efforts. WBRC Fox 6 out of Birmingham covered the event as part of the station’s Absolutely Alabama series. The news clip, Absolutely Alabama: Arbor Day, is available online through WBRC’s website: http://www.myfoxal.com/ Walker County SWCD Visit Elementary SchoolBy Katherine Patton, District Administrative Coordinator, Walker County SWCD, Jasper, AL Walker County NRCS District Technician Margaret Vandiver and SWCD District
Administrative Coordinator Katherine Patton attended a career day at Curry
Elementary School in Jasper. Walker County Woody Biomass WorkshopBy Katherine Patton, District Administrative Coordinator, Walker County SWCD, Jasper, AL On February 19, the Walker County SWCD hosted an informational workshop on woody biomass. Partners for the workshop were AFC, ACES, NRCS and the Walker County Forestry Planning Committee. The goal of the workshop was to provide information and business opportunities to landowners on Alabama’s largest renewable energy source. A grant from the Bradley Murphy Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Trust enabled the 100 participants to attend the workshop free-of-charge and earn three continuing education credits. NRCS Celebrates Black History MonthBy Matthew D. Collins, Communications Specialist, NRCS, Auburn, AL Dr. Paulette Patterson Dilworth was the guest speaker for the Black History Month commemoration at the NRCS office in Auburn. Dilworth, Auburn University Assistant Vice President for Access and Community Initiatives, spoke about the history of black farmers from the Reconstruction to the present day. Dilworth touched on the obstacles, struggles, progress, and successes of African-Americans in agriculture. “We appreciate Dr. Dilworth’s program not only for its insight into African-American history but for its retrospective on American agriculture,” said Zona Beaty, Assistant State Conservationist for Operations and Administration. “The two have a common background which those of us working in and around agriculture should never forget.” During her presentation, Dilworth mentioned how much of the information she quoted was available through USDA resources, such as the USDA National Agricultural Library (http://www.nalusda.gov/). Dilworth thanked the NRCS staff for their time and attendance and she thanked Herbert Ross for giving her the opportunity to discuss common ground of American agriculture and Black history. Herbert Ross, Black Special Emphasis Program Manager, presented Dr. Dilworth a Certificate of Appreciation for her presentation. Zona Beaty thanked Herbert for his hard work in coordinating the program and for organizing the luncheon that followed. National Wear Red DayOn February 6, 2009, Americans worldwide took women’s health to heart by wearing red to show their support for women’s heart disease awareness. NRCS employees were encouraged to wear red on National Wear Red Day to show their support for the event. Personnel NewsPromotions
Accessions
Reassignments
Retirements
In SympathyFred Morris Bass of Evergreen, AL, passed away on February 4, 2009. Bass retired in March 1994 as a Soil Conservation Technician out of the Evergreen FO. The home address of his wife, Patricia Thames Bass, is: 301 Travis Avenue Evergreen, Alabama 36401 Calendar Notes
Next IssueThe deadline for items for the next edition of Current Developments will be in May. Early submissions are encouraged and appreciated, and potential online success stories and news releases are welcome for submission anytime. The Communications, Marketing, and Outreach (CMO) staff may be contacted with questions or submissions by email at: AL-nrcs-publicinfo@one.usda.gov.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means 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 to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. |
|
|
|
Back to Top