The Inside Scoop
New Hampshire
Summer 2006
Leadership Changes
On the National front…President Bush nominated and the Senate confirmed Bruce I. Knight to become the new USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. The Marketing and Regulatory Programs works on domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural products and ensures the health and care of animals and plants. Specifically, the Undersecretary has leadership responsibilities for: Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA). NRCS awaits the announcement of the next Chief. On the State front…George W. Cleek IV, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs in Wyoming has been selected as NH’s 10th State Conservationist. He earned a B.S. degree in Forestry from the University of Montana in 1987. His NRCS career started in Montana as a Soil Conservationist, moving up to a Range Conservationist, District Conservationist, Resource Conservationist and then on to a NRCS Partnership Liaison position with the Wyoming Department of Agriculture. During 2005 he served as Acting STC for Wyoming and most recently completed a detail to NHQ as a Senior Legislative Specialist. George, his wife Robin and their two daughters; Ashleigh (13) and Courtney (10) look forward to their move to New Hampshire. Early in July, State Conservationist Tessa Chadwick, accepted a position at NHQ as the Conservation Innovation Grants and Conservation Partnership Initiative Manager. A reception in her honor was held on Thursday, June 29th at the Durham State Office. Jacqueline Davis-Slay became NH’s “Acting” State Conservationist on July 9. She comes to us from the NRCS National Headquarters where she serves as the Watershed Survey and Planning Program Manager in the Conservation Planning and Technical Assistance Division. Prior to this appointment she worked in the Financial Assistance Program Division as a Program Analyst and has worked in various divisions providing leadership and development on policy, procedures and regulations for many programs. She earned a B.S and M.S. degree in Agricultural Economics from Alcorn State University. Since Jackie’s arrival she has been visiting field offices, district conservation offices, FRPP sites, attending meetings both statewide and nationally, and most recently Chaired the New Hampshire Food and Agriculture Council Meeting (FAC) in Concord.
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Thank You Students... So much work and so little time!
Keri Neal – Soil Conservationist – Conway Carlos Bislip – Engineering Aid – Durham Joseph LaValley – Engineering Aid – Durham Nathan Collins – Engineering Aid – Woodsville Anthony Weatherbee – Engineering Aid – Woodsville Joan Gonzalez – Engineering Aid – Woodsville Rachael Dube – Soil Conservation Aid – Woodsville Ian Rodger – Soil Conservationist – Concord Leo Smock-Randall – Soil Conservationist - Epping
NH NRCS Field Offices Get Ready for Friday the 13th
NRCS has announced a deadline of October 13, 2006 for receiving signed applications in order for applicants to be eligible for Farm Bill Program funding for fiscal year 2007. Although applications are accepted on a continuous basis for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) and the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), application ranking cutoff deadlines are announced periodically, and all applications received by that date are considered for funding. October 13, 2006 is the next application ranking cutoff deadline. Applications received after this date will not be considered for funding in fiscal year 2007 unless additional funds become available and another ranking cutoff date is announced.
What’s Inside...
Riparian Buffer Planting ...... 18th World Congress of Soil Science ...................
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Conservation District News .... 6 A few NRCS students enjoy a Fisher Cats game! RC&D News .......................... 8
Cinco de Mayo Celebration .... 8 Do you recognize anyone? .... 10 Mark Your Calendar ............... 11
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Riparian Forest Buffer Planting Along the Saco River, ME/NH
The Oxford County Soil and Water Conservation District, located in Oxford, Maine, in collaboration with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (Oxford, ME and Conway, NH Field Offices), US Forest Service (USFS), the Nature Conservancy’s Saco River Project, the Saco River Corridor Commission, and the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension recently completed a riparian forest buffer planting along the banks of the Saco River. Two thousand willow and dogwood trees from the Plant Materials Center in New York were planted at two sites along the river as part of a grant provided by the USFS to promote forest stewardship. The first site was at a farm in Fryeburg, ME and the second at property in East Conway, NH. The goals of the project include stabilizing the banks of the Saco River, improving the fish and wildlife habitat, and educating the public about the functions and importance of riparian forest buffers. This most recent planting is part of a maintenance phase of the project that is now in its fourth year of operation. Previous plantings with additional partners including the Maine and New Hampshire Farm Service Agencies, Carroll County Conservation District, and students from Fryeburg Academy in Fryeburg, ME and Bonny Eagle High School in Standish, ME helped establish much of the existing plant growth on both sites. As part of the grant project, both sites have been monitored on a yearly basis and replanting conducted where necessary. The nest of an American Bittern, a bird whose preferred habitat is a freshwater wetland with protective vegetative cover, was discovered within the area of the constructed riparian buffer during the last site review. Many of the project participants involved with the plantings have been Earth Team volunteers. Complementing the efforts of the volunteers, area businesses have provided assistance for the project. A sign designed by students from Pequawket Valley Alternative School in Fryeburg, ME will be put up along the river to inform visitors to the area about what has been accomplished along the River through these types of projects and how it relates to them and the environment. These students also participated in plantings during 2003, 2004 and 2005.
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18th World Congress of Soil Science Held in Pennsylvania
By Kathy Swain, MLRA Soil Survey Project Leader
I had the great pleasure of attending a portion of the 18th World Congress of Soil Science held in Philadelphia, PA, July 9-15. It was an excellent opportunity to meet new friends and catch up with old ones, broaden my scope of soil science to a worldwide perspective and bring home new ideas and techniques to apply here in my little box. The World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS) is organized by the International Union of Soil Science (IUSS) (http://www.iuss.org/) and the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA). The congress focused on multi-disciplinary soil science advances under the theme, “Frontiers of Soil Science: Technology and the Information Age.” The event was hailed by organizers as being a “unique convergence of the world’s leading professionals in soil science.” Of the 18 congresses, 8 have been held in Europe, five in the Americas, 3 in Asia, 1 in Australia and 1 in Africa. This 18th Congress is only the 3rd time it has been held in the United States; the first congress was held in Washington D.C. in 1927 and the 7th was held in Madison, WI in 1960. The next congress in 2010 will be in Brisbane, Australia. More than 2,500 soil scientists from more than 70 countries attended the 18th WCSS. The soil scientists are employed by universities, government, or industry as researchers, educators or professional practitioners. The purpose of the congress is to advance the soil science profession and industry. There were over 2,700 poster presentations, dozens of symposia, working sessions, and informative field trips. Don Keirstead, soil scientist and ground penetrating radar (GPR) specialist in Durham, participated in one of the field trips as a presenter. The field tour was titled “New Frontiers in Soil Survey” and visited a MLRA Soil Survey Project Office, viewing the methods and technologies that are being used to update and maintain soil surveys on a Land Resource Area basis. Demonstrations showed how Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the National Soil Information System (NASIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), computer Stereo Analysis of landforms and digital soil maps, Spatial Analysis and other technologies are being used to update and maintain soil survey maps and data. The field portions of this tour provided demonstrations of soil survey field data collection using methods that include soil property measurements, GPS, and non-invasive geophysical tools (Ground Penetrating Radar and Electro-Magnetic Induction) techniques.
(Continued on next page) Don Keirstead and Jim Doolittle answer questions from participants during a field trip.
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(Continued from previous page)
On a more personal note, as I was viewing the very large and impressive NRCS Soils exhibit with their hands-on web soil survey demonstrations, beautiful soil monoliths from different states, and large display, I noticed that NH was well represented. Don Keirstead, Jim Doolittle (NRCS Soil Scientist specializing in GPR and EMI from PA) and I are shown on the display using the GPR on a bog in Strafford County. The Congress was, indeed, an impressive display of the vibrancy of soil science around the world and its importance to our society. If you ever have the opportunity to attend any of these international meetings, please do so, your time will be well spent.
Kathy Swain with Kathy Swain, Jim Doolittle and Don Keirstead (upper left corner).
Soil Survey to Start in the White Mountain National Forest
Over this past year, the NRCS soils staff in New Hampshire has been working with US Forest Service staff in the White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) to develop a cooperative agreement that initiates a soil survey of the 798,700 acres representing the National Forest in New Hampshire and Maine. In addition to NRCS and the WMNF, this joint agreement will include the USFS Northeastern Research Station and Plymouth State University. All four partners in this agreement are very excited about supporting this effort that is proposed to start October 1, 2006. The aggressive 5-year plan to complete the soils mapping in the National Forest is being supported by the NRCS Federal Lands Initiative and the Federal Lands Advisory Group (FLAG). Their goal is to develop cooperative solutions for completion and update of soil and potential natural vegetation inventories of the Nation. This soil survey will be unlike any other; incorporating new technology and data collection strategy that will enable the synchronization of the NRCS National Soils Information System (NASIS) with the USFS Terrestrial Ecological Unit Inventory (TEUI) and Ecological Land Types as identified in the White Mountain National Forest. With final approvals and signatures, preliminary activities are scheduled to start this fall with a plan to accelerate mapping over the following years according to funding and staff availability. This soil survey represents the final leg of a long journey that started over 50 years ago, to complete the soil resource inventory for the entire state of New Hampshire.
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Conservation District News
On April 28 at the State House in Concord, Governor Lynch proclaimed 2006 as Natural Resources Conservation Year. In recognition of the 60th Anniversary of the NH Conservation Districts, NH Association of Conservation Districts and the State Conservation Committee the Governor presented a signed proclamation to the groups. Bob and Irma Goodrich, Mary and Charlie Currier from Rockingham County Conservation District; Kerry Rickrode and George Travers from Hillsborough County Conservation District; Michele Tremblay, Executive Director of the NHACD and the NH State Conservation Committee; Jeff White and Lynn Howell from the NRCS State Office attended. These groups have been working hand-in-hand with land users of New Hampshire to conserve our natural resources and create a healthy and productive land base for 60 years.
ENVIROTHON News
Southern New Hampshire University hosted the NH Envirothon on Thursday, May 18th. Once again, Herb Vadney coordinated this successful event for the fourteen high school teams who entered the contest. Peter Whitcomb, Karen Dudley and Mike Lynch from NRCS provided guidance to the students throughout the year and at the competition. Five students per team were tested in aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife and the special topic, “Water in a Changing Climate.” Keene High School took 1st place; Merrimack High School, 2nd place; and Hanover High School placed 3rd. As in every year, the top placing team is invited to attend the national event. Keene HS will represent New Hampshire this summer at the Canon Envirothon in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
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Sullivan County Conservation District has been granted $5,000 for workshops focusing on invasive aquatic plant control. The grant awarded by the Connecticut River Joint Commissions is given to projects that enhance natural, cultural and human resources in the Connecticut River Valley.
Coos County Conservation District and UNH Cooperative Extension recently held a “Grow Your Own Shiitake Mushrooms” workshop at the North Country Resource Center in Lancaster. Shiitake mushrooms have been cultivated for centuries in Asia. Shiitake are a popular source of protein in Japan and a diet staple in China and other Pacific Rim Countries. By 1970, Shiitakes were a one billion plus ag-export crop for Japan. Now in the US, California, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Minnesota are leaders in production. Growing Shiitake mushrooms is time consuming and requires physical stamina. Logs need to be carried out of the woods and stacked. Oak is often used but many other hardwoods, such as beech, white and yellow birch and red maple all can be used. A good size log is three to eight inches in diameter and three to four feet in length. About 30 – 40 holes need to be drilled in a diamond shaped pattern on the log. Next the logs need to be inoculated with spawn which is purchased from commercial suppliers. Each drilled hole is then filled with the spawn and then sealed with a coat of hot wax. After the logs have been inoculated they need to be stacked in either a criss-crossed crib position, a lean-to slope or in an X-pattern on the ground, in a shady, moist area. This is important for the logs to absorb moisture. This hands-on workshop with drilling demonstrations, inoculation procedures and waxing was available to those who registered for the workshop. At the end of the workshop pre-registrants loaded their logs into their vehicles and headed home to await the harvest.
Carroll County Conservation District, NRCS and Rural Development by the end of August will be in new office space at the Grindle Center in Conway. They will move into the location that Granite State College (formerly The College of Lifelong Learning) vacated. There’s lots of excitement in the air and many decisions to be made on arranging the furniture in this new improved spacious area.
2006 NACD Northeast Region Meeting in State College, Pennsylvania was well represented by New Hampshire. Kerry Rickrode (HCCD), Joan Richardson (CCCD), Mary and Charlie Currier (RCCD) and Lynn Howell made the 8 1/2 hour road trip without too many incidents! The meeting began with an afternoon bus tour of the Pennsylvania countryside with a stop at Penns Caves where the group enjoyed relief from the heat in a 52 degree cave for an hour guided boat tour, then it was on to stops along rivers and streams to historic mill sites. Leaders of the tour were professors from Franklin and Marshall College who have been doing research on the causes of, and solutions to, system-wide stream impairments that are applicable to all historic mill dam sites throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. Topics during the three day meeting included: Conservation Districts Policy Position for Future Conservation Programs; Building for Tomorrow: An Overview of Leadership and Professional Development with sessions on Director Development, Staff Development and Districts Helping Districts. Kerry Rickrode, President of the NH Conservation District Employee Association (CDEA) provided NH’s report on Conservation Districts and partnership activities within the state.
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North Country RC&D News
This year the North Country RC&D Area Council will launch a new project called Fuels for Schools. Modeled after similar projects initiated in several other states, Fuels for Schools helps public schools retrofit their current heating system or build new systems using a biomass fuel heating system. The project blends three goals. First is to help maintain a market for biomass wood chips. Harvesting wood chips in NH has been a proven method of improving NH’s forest resource base for over 20 years. Markets for wood chips have fluctuated greatly in recent years due to the closure of some independent wood fired power plants and the lessening demand for chips by the pulp and paper industry. A steady market for biomass wood chips can benefit NH landowners by helping make forest improvement efforts more cost effective. The second goal is to satisfy the universal desire of local schools to find the most economical ways to heat their schools. The third goal is to promote the utilization of renewable forms of energy.
Cinco de Mayo Celebrated
New Hampshire NRCS celebrated its 15th annual Cultural Awareness Day on May 5th with the Latino community in Manchester. This year’s event focused on the local and national challenges facing Latino communities. State Representative Hector Velez and members of the Latin American Center of Manchester coordinated the entire event which included speakers and an authentic Latino lunch. Over 50 NRCS employees and invited guests participated in an interactive celebration of Latino culture, music and food. The event was a tremendous success thanks to the passion of the organizers and presenters.
Southern NH RC&D News
Southern NH RC&D is placing wheel chair accessible garden planters at nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout southern NH. The planters were designed according to ADA standards by Sandy Sears, NRCS Civil Engineer Technician. The planters have been built by the Alvirne Building Trades Department at the Wilbur Palmer Technical High School in Hudson, with lumber from the Tom Estey Lumber Company in Londonderry. Potting soil, peat moss, and flowers were donated by Osborne’s Agway in Concord and Hooksett. The picture shows a planter being accepted by staff from Presidential Oaks in Concord. Inside Scoop Summer 2006
Bill Hoey prepares for the traditional pinata festivity which is held in certain Latin American countries.
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Conservation Innovation Grants A Project Update
New Hampshire NRCS through EQIP awarded grants to public and private entities and to individuals to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches through pilot projects and field trials. Proposals addressed concerns in the areas of water, soil, and atmospheric resources; grazing land and forest health; and wildlife habitat. One of the awardees was Dorn Cox from Lee. Dorn received $24,000 to construct and test a co-generation and fueling facility that overcomes common cold weather storage issues of biofuel and produces the heat and power needs for a working organic farm. Some of his project objectives included: • Eliminating the cost and environmental hazards of petroleum fuel storage, Linking co-generation storage to an existing farm-based production facility that produces a safe, clean renewable and economically viable off-road and heating fuel, which will supply fuel for the local agricultural community; and Creating a hands-on demonstration platform and educational materials
Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program (FRPP)
FRPP continues to be very successful in NH. This year $3.2 million was awarded to 12 conservation entities assisting in the acquisition of 15 easements protecting 709 acres of important farmland in New Hampshire. Since 1997, the NH NRCS has awarded over $15 million to acquire 6,366 acres of farmland. The program has leveraged $22.4 million in local matching funds and landowners have donated $3.6 million in bargain sales. The total easement value of the 6,366 acres amounts to over $41 million. This year the NRCS will be closing on the Daniel Webster farm in Franklin. The Daniel Webster farm is a true success story that required a consortium of many funding partners and much collaboration to save this historic farm (the birthplace of Statesman Daniel Webster) from imminent subdivision and development. Most importantly, this easement will permanently protect 162 acres of the finest agricultural soils in New England. Jackie Davis-Slay, Acting State Conservationist, had the opportunity to visit the Daniel Webster farm, kick her feet through the dark fertile soil, and meet with all of funding partners which include the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Program, the NH Department of Fish and Game, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, and the Trust for Public Land. The FRPP Program is contributing $500,000.00 toward the purchase of this easement.
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CIG is a grant competition for farmers, State or local governments or non-governmental organizations and others who have innovative ideas for addressing some of New Hampshire’s most pressing natural resource conservation needs. Projects may be from one to three years in length.
Acting State STC Jackie Davis-Slay and Noreen McDonald walking across a field at the Daniel Webster Farm.
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Do You Recognize Anyone?
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Alan Ammann Receives National Recognition
Alan Ammann, retired New Hampshire NRCS biologist, was recently awarded the prestigious 2006 National Wetlands Award for Conservation and Restoration. The awards ceremony honored six national wetland educators, scientists and conservationists of which Ammann was one. The event held on Capitol Hill at the Cannon Caucus Room of the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, DC, recognized Alan for his extraordinary dedication, innovation and excellence in wetlands conservation. The National Wetlands Awards Program is co-sponsored by the Environmental Law Institute, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Federal Highway Administration. Among Alan’s many publications, one in particular stands out. He initiated a multidisciplinary survey of tidal restrictions on the New Hampshire coast during the 1990s. This survey resulted in an NRCS publication, “Evaluation of Restorable Salt Marshes in New Hampshire” where more than 400 acres of degraded salt marshes were identified. This publication is still very much in demand in the Seacoast area. Upon his retirement from NRCS in January 2004 he immediately enrolled as an NRCS Earth Team volunteer. His work continues to cover projects at the state and local level. Alan is readily available to educate local communities about the value of wetlands.
Mark your Calendar...
USDA Privacy Basics Training On-Line Deadline ... September 15, 2006 Ag Fairs Belknap (Belmont) … August 12 – 13, 2006 Cornish …August 18 – 20, 2006 Lancaster …August 30 – September 4, 2006 Hopkinton (Contoocook) … August 31 – September 4, 2006 Hillsboro (New Boston) …September 8 – 10, 2006 Rochester…September 15 – 24, 2006 Deerfield…September 28 – October 1, 2006 Sandwich (Center Sandwich) October 7 – 9, 2006 NH Ag Day ... August 20, 2006 www.nhagday@aol.com Conservation Easement Monitoring Workshop August 24, 2006 Gilford High School Library 88 Alvah Wilson Road Gilford, NH Contact: Roger Hogan or Jan Hooper (BCCD)
ABC’s of Horse Management … August 28, 2006 Joppa Hill Road – Bedford 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Contact: Kerry Rickrode (673-2409 ext. 4) Pond Maintenance & Management Shop ... August 24, 2006 Carter Hill Orchard 73 Carter Hill Road - Concord Contact: Lisa Morin (223-6023) State Technical Committee Meeting ... August 29, 2006 NH Hospital Association - Concord 2006 Small and Beginning Farmers Conference ... November 17 - 18, 2006 Meredith Community Center - Meredith
Inside Scoop Summer 2006
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 2 Madbury Road Durham, NH 03824
USDA/NRCS is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Visit us at www.nh.nrcs.usda.gov Helping People Help the Land
Inside Scoop Summer 2006