Chief Arlen L. Lancaster Speaks to NRCS Employees at SWCS Conference

Submitted by Peg Reese

While in Florida attending the International Soil and Water Conservation Society Conference, LaRae Baker and I were able to meet the NRCS Chief, Arlen L. Lancaster, and hear him speak twice.

During the Opening Session, Lancaster shared three priorities:

• Continue to prepare ourselves as an Agency and as a conservation community to meet new challenges. Details maybe found in the NRCS Strategic Plan, Human Capital Strategic Plan, the five-year investment plan for technology, Conservation Innovation Grants, and the five-year vision for CEAP. NRCS is also expanding “partnerships as a force multiplier.”
• Make conservation easier for landowners. Ensure that landowners have timely and authoritative information about our programs, that eligibility and requirements are easily understood, and that the application process is as user-friendly as possible. The Chief has asked for an adaptive management approach to our standards wherein we continue to recognize that while NRCS must have quality criteria, we are designing for our customers. We need to find more standards that are affordable and more easily implemented.
• Demonstrate the benefits of conservation through accountability, transparency, and good stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

Chief Lancaster reported that the Secretary’s Farm Bill proposals would increase conservation funding by $7.8 billion over 10 years, simplify and consolidate programs, support emerging priorities, and direct benefits to beginning farmers and ranchers and socially disadvantaged producers. The proposal suggests that 10% of Farm Bill conservation funding be dedicated to beginning producers.

During the SWCS meeting, he agreed to address all the NRCS employees at an early morning meeting. While his carefully constructed opening session speech gave a good overview of the direction he is steering the agency, his unscripted presentation resonated with me more. I came away with an increased appreciation of his understanding and respect for NRCS’s mission and employees.

Chief Lancaster began by telling us that during the past year he has had many conversations with farmers and partners who tell him that NRCS has a tremendous reputation. “All I hear are complements about the dedication and knowledge of NRCS employees,” Lancaster said. “Farmers trust us. They have confidence in our data because it is backed by science. But also, because of the relationship we have with them.”

The Chief has seen data that shows how effective conservation technical assistance is and how important it is to landowners. He recognizes that much of the conservation is done on private lands without Farm Bill dollars.

Professional development is important. Lancaster encouraged us to continue participating in professional organizations such as SWCS and to take advantage of details to broaden knowledge and experience.

Our workload is heavy and we can’t do it alone. Chief Lancaster encourages NRCS employees to recruit and use Earth Team Volunteers. “Earth Team is part of our delivery system.”

Thanking us for our service and dedication, Lancaster said “No other agency has done more to make real change on the ground.” He reminded us that “Going out to the farm is the most important part of your job. Go do good things.”

Shaking Chief Lancaster’s hand and hearing his extemporaneous presentation are only two of the things that made attending the SWCS meeting rewarding. I like to go to the meetings because they are always a broadening experience and sometimes influential to my career. Attending the international SWCS conference enables me to hear interesting ideas, meet new people, and catch up with old friends. This year I had an opportunity to reconnect with Ed Wright, a former Soil Scientist and District Conservationist in West Virginia. Currently, Ed works with water boards in Florida. He just bought a new house and is considering retirement.

I encourage my NRCS colleagues to consider attending an international SWCS meeting. The 2008 conference is scheduled for July 26-30, 200 in Tucson, AZ. In 2009, the conference will be held in Dearborn, MI.

In closing, I’d like to thank State Conservationists Kevin Wickey for granting approval to LaRae Baker and me to attend the International Soil and Water Conservation Society meeting.

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