Switchgrass windbreaks planted on Hardy County poultry farm

In an effort to improve air quality and to better cycle nutrients, Hardy County poultry producer Tom VanMeter is planting tall grass windbreaks near two of his poultry house exhaust fans.

“Planting tall grass windbreaks is an innovative conservation practice that will help West Virginia poultry growers as they strive to meet Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load  requirements on nutrients and sediment,” stated Carla Hardy, Watershed Program Coordinator, West Virginia Conservation Agency, Moorefield, West Virginia.

...More Info

USDA-NRCS Earth Team Volunteer Program
Volunteers: A Vital Part of the Natural Resources Conservation Service

Join the Earth Team!

The Earth Team is a volunteer branch of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). We help people conserve, improve, and sustain our natural resources and environment.

You can be an Earth Team Volunteer and help protect soil, water, air, plants, and wildlife in your community. 

...More Info

Deckers Creek Water Quality Project Shows Results

During the past decade, the Preston and Monongalia County Commission, the Monongahela Conservation District, the State Conservation Committee, the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection (DEP) Office of Abandoned Mine Lands and Reclamation, the Division of Natural Resources, and the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) have cooperated to develop and implement a plan to decrease the impact of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) on scenic Deckers Creek. The Friends of Deckers Creek also cooperated in the effort to identify acid seepages draining to Deckers Creek and its tributaries. A plan was published in September 2000 which identified 89 acid seeps and grouped the 44 most toxic seeps into 13 abandoned mine projects.

The DEP and NRCS share responsibility for administrating construction of the 13 sites selected during planning.

. . .More Info

West Virginia State Technical Committee Meeting

The public is invited to attend a meeting of the West Virginia State Technical Committee for the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. The meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 in room 200 at 1550 Earl Core Road in Morgantown, WV. Topics include Farm Bill Programs.

Persons with disabilities who require special accommodations and/or alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) associated with this meeting should contact Charlotte Elliot-Friend at 304-284-4247 at least two weeks prior to the meeting with his/her specific request.