New NRCS Office to Serve Agricultural Producers in the Navajo Aneth Chapter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact information:
Ron Francis,  (801) 524-4557

A cooperative agreement between the Aneth Chapter of the Navajo Nation and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will establish a new service office and improve natural resource conservation services to agricultural producers in southeastern San Juan County. Prior to the March 7 signing ceremony at Tribal headquarters in Window Rock, NRCS customers would travel to Monticello, Shiprock or some other distant USDA service center.

Under the agreement the Aneth Chapter will provide office space at the Chapter House and the Utah and Arizona NRCS will provide equipment and technical staff support. The goals of the agreement are to implement a coordinated resource management plan for the Chapter, to install conservation practices and provide education and information that will improve the health and productivity of the land.

NRCS is a technical agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was established in 1935 to carry out a continuing program of soil and water conservation. Many of the agency’s conservation programs are funded by Congress under the current 2002 Farm Bill and are made available on a voluntary, cost-share basis.

The Navajo Nation, through its Natural Resources Department and Chapter organization, works with NRCS to provide local leadership in a partnership effort to help conserve, maintain and improve natural resources on Tribal lands.

The officials at the cooperative agreement signing ceremony in Window Rock were David Felfred, Navajo Nation Council Delegate for the Aneth, Red Mesa and Mexican Water areas; Wilbur Capitn, Community Service Coordinator for the Aneth Chapter; Andrew Tso, Executive Staff Assistant for the Office of the President and Vice President of the Navajo Nation; Sylvia Gillen, Utah NRCS State Conservationist; and David McKay, Arizona NRCS State Conservationist.

Don Andrews, NRCS District Conservationist in the Monticello Field Office, will supervise the new soil conservation technician who will shortly be hired to staff the new Aneth Office. NRCS State Conservationist Sylvia Gillen noted that the agency will seek job candidates from the local area who have a good working knowledge of agricultural and natural resource issue. She anticipates the official job announcement will be made within the next two weeks.

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The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people
conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment.

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