Message from Ron Hilliard

NRCS is increasing public awareness of how agriculture is doing its part to protect water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. We are stressing the benefits of on-farm conservation efforts, the advantages of moving toward a watershed approach, and the need for cooperative conservation to achieve water quality improvements in the Bay and elsewhere.

Like all of the Bay States, West Virginia has been actively involved in pollution reduction programs for over twenty years. NRCS gets conservation done on the ground. Farm Bill programs, including Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Farm and Ranchland Protection Program,  (FRPP), Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), and FSA’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program CREP have outstanding success stories. These programs are designed to help people help the land.

NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants awarded West Virginia University more than $1 million for three projects to help farmers and other business owners improve the state’s water quality while they conserve energy dollars. Our specialists will work closely with WVU, private businesses, and other members of the network as they develop and test projects to improve the Potomac Watershed and, ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay.

As representatives of West Virginia NRCS, we need to communicate what we are doing to make positive impacts on the Bay. We can provide consistent, accurate information to landowners, stakeholders, and decision makers.

The Chesapeake Bay is America's largest estuary. It is almost 200 miles long and from 3 to roughly 30 miles wide. The Bay Watershed includes six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and West Virginia. West Virginia is a headwaters partner. Fourteen percent (14%) of West Virginia drains into the Potomac River and on to the Chesapeake Bay. WV also has James River headwaters area.

I want you all to know that I appreciate the cooperation, hard work and dedication you are showing to achieving the goals established for West Virginia NRCS. The application of conservation practices is an important step in implementing the new NRCS Strategic Plan.

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