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A Partner in Conservation Since 1935

Photo of dust storm The Natural Resources Conservation Service marked its 70th anniversary on April 27, 2005. The anniversary theme is A Partner in Conservation Since 1935. Hugh Hammond Bennett led the soil conservation movement in the United States in the 1920s and 1930s. He urged the nation to address the "national menace" of soil erosion in response to the devastation of the Dust Bowl, and created a new federal agency and served as its first chief.

As noted by a contemporary, Bennett "combined science with showmanship" to convince the country that soil erosion was a serious problem that merited national attention. When a dust storm from the Great Plains moved over Washington, D.C., Bennett was testifying before a Congressional committee on the bill that would create the Soil Conservation Service. He knew the storm was coming and used it to dramatically demonstrate the need for soil conservation.

Congress decided to take action. On April 27, 1935 the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) was established in the Department of Agriculture to help landowners carry out soil conservation practices. The SCS’ name changed to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to reflect its efforts to conserve natural resources in 1994. The Conservation Milestones Fact Sheet has more important dates in conservation.

Quotes

Photo of Hugh Bennett Out of the long list of nature’s gifts to man, none is perhaps so utterly essential to human life as soil.

Too many people have lost sight of the fact that productive soil is essential to the production of food.

These quotes from Hugh Hammond Bennett are as relevant today as they were when he spoke them more than a half century ago. More quotes may be found at:
https://my.nrcs.usda.gov/PortalStatic/70th_Anniversary/Hugh_Bennett_Quotes.pdf

Video
A 4:58 minute video and DVD, called A Partner in Conservation, is available. Contact Carol Lagodich if you’d like to borrow a copy. It may also be seen on your computer screen by going to http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/seventiethannv.html

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