- Nutrient And Pesticide Training Workshops
Nutrient and pesticide management are an integral part of most conservation management systems. Chemical and organic fertilizers, along with pesticides, are often identified resources. Each State needs to tailor specific actions for the management of these chemicals using the framework of SCS’s National Standards and Specifications for Nutrient and Pest Management.
To be prepared for this effort, a course for agrichemical water quality training was developed in two phases, which has been held monthly from December 1991 to March 1992 at SCS’s four National Technical Centers (NTC). The NTC’s are located in Portland, OR (West NTC), Ft. Worth, TX (South NTC), Lincoln, NE (Midwest NTC), and Chester, PA (Northeast NTC).
The purpose of Phase I training was to provide guidance on how to develop and implement nutrient and pest management components in conservation planning at the field office level. Phase I was a “Train-the-Trainer” approach State and NTC agronomists, environmental engineers, and other technical specialist involved in nutrient and pest management programs in SCS. Participants of Phase I training will deliver Phase II training on nutrient and pest management to State, area, and field office personnel. All guidance and planning documents and training materials developed during Phase I training will be provided to the participants to assist them in organizing and developing their Phase II State level training.
- Coordinator To Work In Great Lakes
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Soil Conservation Service (SCS) has assigned a nonpoint source expert to coordinate its water quality activities in the eight Great Lakes states. Duties include working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), state water quality agencies, and local officials on remedial action plans for 43 identified area of concern and lakewide management plans for the drainage basins of the five Great Lakes.
The SCS Great Lakes coordinator will also provide technical leadership to SCS staff assigned to state water quality agencies. For more information contact Harvey Mack, SCS, at 720-1871.
- Program To Identify Areas Prone To Problems
The national water quality technology development staff of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Soil Conservation Service is working with the USDA Economic Research Service and the National Center for Resource Innovations to produce a document that identifies areas in the United States that have the potential for ground water contamination from agricultural chemicals. A Geographic Information System was used to apply National Resource Inventory sample points, soils data, and a pesticide-use data base to a vulnerability model.
Limited copies will be available in June 1992. For more information call George Rohaley, SCS, 720-5405.
Harry C. Mussman
Chairman, USDA Working Group on Water Quality
Published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
Working Group on Water Quality, Fred Swader, Executive Secretary
