Agriculture Leadership in Louisiana Celebrate Milestone in Conservation
Baton Rouge, April 22, 2010—Kevin Norton, State Conservationist for USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Louisiana, joined state agriculture leaders at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, formerly known as the Soil Conservation Service.
Before a crowd of legislators and soil and water conservation district supervisors, Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, DVM, recognized the anniversary of the Natural Resources Conservation Service and proclaimed April 25-May 2, 2010, as Conservation Week in Louisiana.
"75 years ago, during one of the bleakest times in America’s agricultural history, national leaders established the Soil Conservation Service to help save America’s soil,” said Strain. “America was losing thousands of tons of topsoil as a result of relentless dust storms caused by years of catastrophic drought conditions and poor farming practices—and action had to be taken to save our country’s farmlands. "
Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, DVM, presents Kevin Norton, State Conservationist of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Louisiana with Conservation Week proclamation. The pair are flanked by: (left to right) Dr. Ernest Girouard, President of the Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts; Brad Spicer, Assistant Commissioner-Soil and Water, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry; Commissioner Strain; Kevin Norton; Earl Garber, 2nd Vice President of the National Association of Conservation Districts; and Randell Fletcher, Chair of the Louisiana Soil and Water Conservation Commission.
Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, DVM, signs proclamation declaring the week of April 25-May 2, 2010, as Conservation Week in Louisiana.
The Soil Conservation Service was established in 1935 to carry out a continuing program of soil and water conservation on America's privately owned farms, ranches, and forest lands. Working with local soil and water conservation districts, the Soil Conservation Service helped land owners solve erosion problems and improve soil quality.
The historic partnership between state and federal agencies in Louisiana is a key factor in achieving conservation success in Louisiana. In 1938, three years after the establishment of the Soil Conservation Service, the Louisiana Legislature established the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee and authorized it to work with local farmers to establish local conservation districts.
“Today’s Natural Resources Conservation Service continues to work with soil and water conservation districts to help private land owners conserve our country’s natural resources," said Norton. “Our team of professional conservationists address such issues as water quality, water quantity for agriculture, declining soil quality, forest health, forage quality, pesticide resistance, coastal erosion, habitat fragmentation and loss—just to name a few. "
During Conservation Week ceremonies at the State Capitol on April 22, 2010, Congressman Anh “Joseph” Cao, represented by Deputy Chief of Staff Rosalind Peychaud, presented the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service a certificate from the U.S. House of Representatives recognizing the agency’s 75th Anniversary and recognizing the celebration of Conservation Week in Louisiana.
The Louisiana House of Representatives enrolled House Resolution 31 to recognize April 25 through May 1, 2010, as Conservation Stewardship Week in Louisiana. This resolution was introduced by Representative Andy Anders to raise awareness of all past and future efforts to protect and conserve our soil, water, and related natural resources.