Pleasanton, TEXAS, July 12, 2012- The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Atascosa Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the Local Working Group invite the public to their annual Conservation Stakeholder’s Meeting at 7pm on August 7, 2012 at the Evergreen Underground Water Conservation District located at 110 Wyoming Blvd, Pleasanton, TX 78064.

Each year, the Local Working Group hosts a public meeting to determine the resource concerns and needs of the area and how to best address those needs. The NRCS and their local conservation partner, the Atascosa SWCD, provide agriculture producers with professional consultation and financial assistance through Farm Bill conservation programs to apply conservation practices on their land that address soil erosion and health, water quality and quantity issues, as well as wildlife habitat. The Local Working Group includes community agricultural producers, owners/operators of nonindustrial private forest land, professionals representing agricultural and natural resource interests, and individuals representing a variety of disciplines in the soil, water, wetland, plant, forestry, and wildlife sciences who are familiar with agricultural and natural resource issues

All landowners and land managers in Atascosa County are encouraged to attend and participate in this meeting. This open discussion public meeting will focus on identifying area natural resource concerns that can be addressed using conservation programs and activities.

“Effective conservation stems from a locally led process,” says Natalie Wolff, NRCS District Conservationist for Atascosa County. “The Atascosa County NRCS office operates on the concept that local residents’ best understand local issues and are the key to solving problems.

“Our Conservation Stakeholders Meeting gives everyone the opportunity to decide how the assistance from the NRCS and Farm Bill funds can be most beneficial for our community,” adds Wolff.

Through the Atascosa SWCD, the Local Working Group will provide recommendations to the NRCS District Conservationist on local natural resource priorities and criteria for conservation activities and programs planning for the upcoming fiscal year. These issues will be especially important in decisions made for financial assistance when implementing the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). This program is administered by the NRCS and provides incentive payments for the installation of several conservation practices on eligible participant’s land. The information gathered from these meetings will be used to help carry out the EQIP and other programs in 2013.

While the NRCS brings the technical expertise and Farm Bill funding to the table, the goods and services are delivered through the local SWCD board. SWCDs are local units of government made up of five members elected by the public. Their office is usually co-located with the NRCS office. Members of SWCD Boards are actively engaged in farming and ranching.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced that they will hold their annual Locally Led Conservation Meeting and Local Work Group Meeting at 1 p.m., Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at the LSU Agriculture Center, Rosepine Research Station located on Highway 171 just north of Rosepine.

These meetings provide landowners, agencies, organizations and any other interested individuals the opportunity to help identify natural resource concerns within the parish and how to help direct technical and financial assistance decisions that your local NRCS and SWCD make throughout the year when implementing conservation programs.

The Locally Led Conservation Meeting provides landowners, agencies, organizations and any other interested individuals the opportunity to help identify natural resource concerns within the Calcasieu Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). The Calcasieu SWCD includes Vernon and Beauregard parishes. At this meeting, individuals will be able to voice concerns, provide comments and help to identify conservation issues. The public is encouraged to attend and participate in the meeting.

Following the Locally Led Conservation Meeting, the Local Work Group Meeting will be held. At this meeting the resource issues identified from the first meeting will be prioritized. This meeting will be chaired by the Calcasieu SWCD.

The issues identified and prioritized in these two meetings will be used to help direct technical and financial assistance decisions that your local NRCS and SWCD make throughout the year. These issues will be especially important in decisions made for financial assistance when implementing the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).This program is administered by the NRCS and provides cost share and incentive payments for the installation of several conservation practices on eligible participant’s land. The information gathered from these meetings will be used to help carry out the EQIP and other programs in 2012.

Both meetings are scheduled to end by 2:00 pm.

For more information contact your local NRCS office at 337-239-2193.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced that they will hold their annual Locally Led Conservation Meeting and Local Work Group Meeting at 1 p.m., Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at the LSU Agriculture Center, Rosepine Research Station located on Highway 171 just north of Rosepine.

These meetings provide landowners, agencies, organizations and any other interested individuals the opportunity to help identify natural resource concerns within the parish and how to help direct technical and financial assistance decisions that your local NRCS and SWCD make throughout the year when implementing conservation programs.

The Locally Led Conservation Meeting provides landowners, agencies, organizations and any other interested individuals the opportunity to help identify natural resource concerns within the Calcasieu Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). The Calcasieu SWCD includes Vernon and Beauregard parishes. At this meeting, individuals will be able to voice concerns, provide comments and help to identify conservation issues. The public is encouraged to attend and participate in the meeting.

Following the Locally Led Conservation Meeting, the Local Work Group Meeting will be held. At this meeting the resource issues identified from the first meeting will be prioritized. This meeting will be chaired by the Calcasieu SWCD.

The issues identified and prioritized in these two meetings will be used to help direct technical and finan- cial assistance decisions that your local NRCS and SWCD make throughout the year. These issues will be especially important in decisions made for financial assistance when implementing the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).This program is administered by the NRCS and provides cost share and incentive payments for the installation of several conservation practices on eligible participant’s land. The information gathered from these meetings will be used to help carry out the EQIP and other programs in 2012.

Both meetings are scheduled to end by 2:00 pm.

For more information contact your local NRCS office at 337-239-2193.

For more information, including eligibility requirements, call or visit the Pleasanton NRCS office in the USDA Service Center, 107 Wyoming Blvd, Pleasanton, TX 78064 at (830) 569-2232 ext 3. Other USDA County Service Center locations, meeting dates and program information can be found on the Texas NRCS Web site at www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov.