NEWS RELEASE 

United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Box 33124
100 East B Street
Casper, Wyoming  82601

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:   Cheryl Grapes, (307) 233-6762

Focus for the 2008 Farm Bill

CASPER - October 9, 2009 - Thirty members of Wyoming’s State Technical Committee came together on October 7 to offer suggestions to the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in administering programs under the new 2008 Farm Bill.

State Technical Committees serve in an advisory capacity to the NRCS state conservationist in each state for implementing the natural resources conservation provisions of Farm Bill legislation. 

“We are very fortunate in Wyoming as our State Technical Committee brings us recommendations from diverse groups including farmers and ranchers, conservation districts, agricultural organizations, environmental groups, Tribes, and federal, state and local governments,” said Xavier Montoya, State Conservationist. “This diversity in perspectives allows us to make sound decisions and maximize the use of program funds in the state. The composition of our membership represents the natural resource conservation needs and goals of Wyoming as a whole.”

Following a summary of how private landowners implemented nearly $22 million in Farm Bill funding during fiscal year 2009, members saw first-hand an example of benefits to watersheds in Big Horn, Hot Springs and Washakie counties.

Rory Karhu, NRCS District Conservationist in Worland, presented results of the ongoing efforts to eradicate Russian olive and Salt Cedar in the Big Horn Basin. This successful project, initiated in the Gooseberry Creek watershed in 2002, has expanded and now includes Shell Creek, Cottonwood Creek, the Greybull River and the Shoshone River.  Partnership support has been vital to the project, which restores native vegetation to these critical riparian areas. Karhu noted that several other Wyoming counties have similar efforts underway.

“We depend on this group to help ensure we are addressing all of the issues across the state,” said Montoya. “Our members are strongly encouraged to identify emerging or existing natural resource concerns to NRCS.”

The potential for increased funding for 2010 Farm Bill programs led to a challenge to the group to provide the NRCS with new ideas for 2010 program funding that would provide the most benefit to Wyoming. Possible examples included opportunities to work with agricultural producers on public lands to benefit private lands; targeting program dollars to large geographic areas to effect a change similar to the Russian olive and Salt Cedar removal in the Big Horn Basin; and large-scale, stream restoration projects. Wyoming NRCS continues to work with local partners to assist landowners address a variety of natural resource needs.

For more information about State Technical Committees, please refer to the State Technical Committee Web site http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/StateTech/.

-End-

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.