P.O. Box 364868 ‐ San Juan, PR 00936‐4868 ‐ 787.766.5206 ‐ www.pr.nrcs.usda.gov TheThe CaribCaribbbeanean

March 2013 March is Women’s History Month! Volume 2, Issue 5 NRCS Area Hosts AcƟng Deputy Chief Jordan Director’s Corner missioner, Dr. Louis E. Petersen, Jr., to discuss This time of year is partnerships to improve agriculture and con- certainly a very serve natural resources in the USVI. unique one. As we look forward to the Mr. Jordan then traveled to , where spring season by he viewed the premier of the ‘NRCS: Provid­ planting our gardens, ϐixing our SOIL ing Conservation in the Caribbean’ video. backyards, or simply dusting off the Making his way west, Mr. Jordan visited with BBQ grill, we continue adding partners and coffee growers in the Rıo Loco ́ achievements to our long list of watershed, and toured conservation imple- accomplishments. Congrats to all! mentation sites in Guánica and the Cabo Rojo During February we participated in Salt Flats WRP site. He also joined NRCS-CB many wonderful outreach events: staff and 30 businesses at the University of celebrating Black History Month in Puerto Rico-Mayagu ̈ ez Agricultural Sciences partnership with APHIS, attending WATER Career Fair, where over 150 students viewed “5 Días Con Nuestra Tierra,” and our NRCS exhibit and learned about the Path- participating in the USVI Agricul- ways program and careers with NRCS. NRCS ture Food & F air. We also inaugu- staff encouraged students to apply for jobs; rated the ϐirst NRCS Caribbean Area described how the agency works with farmers, People’s Garden in Mayagü ez, and NRCS‐CB Director, Edwin Almodóvar; ranchers, communities and individuals to pro- we hosted our Acting Associate Oeste SWCD President, Jenny SanƟago; tect natural resources; and showed how to Chief for Conservation, Mr. Leonard and NRCS AcƟng Deputy Chief, Leonard Jordan. Many of you had the oppor- Jordan, inaugurate the first NRCS Peo‐ apply for Pathways positions on the USAJobs website. tunity to visit w ith Leonard while AIR ple’s Garden in the Caribbean Area. we showed him the Caribbean is- The NRCS Caribbean Area (CB) To highlight Mr. Jordan’s trip, NRCS inaugurat- lands, and shared the accomplish- proudly hosted a visit by Acting ed our ϐirst People’s Garden in the Caribbean ments we’ve had over the past few Deputy Chief, Leonard Jordan, Area at the Tropical Agriculture Research Sta- years with him. from February 25-28. During the tion (TARS) in Mayagü ez. The Mayagü ez Peo- Lastly, congratulations to all the week, Deputy Chief Jordan and ple’s Garden is a collaborative effort between NRCS Caribbean Women on their NRCS-CB Director, Edwin Al- NRCS, UPR Mayagü ez, TARS, the UPR Agricul- Women’s Heritage Month celebra- modóvar, v isited various sites tural Experiment Station, UPR Cooperative tion. Y ou t ruly a re key players on throughout the C aribbean Area. Extension Service, UPR Sea Grant, the Oeste our Caribbean Team! Their ϐirst stop was St. Thomas to Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD), Yours in Conservation, meet with EPA to discuss coral Casa Belén, and Mayagü ezanos Pro Salud y reef conservation and NRCS’ role Ambiente. Project partners donated all the Edwin Almodóvar, Director in the Caribbean. While there, Mr. materials and supplies to build this beautiful USDA-NRCS Caribbean Area Jordan and Director Almodóvar garden. Compliments to our NRCS Mayagü ez Field Ofϐice, Ecological Sciences and Soil Sci- also met with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Field Supervisor, Edwin ences Division staff for organizing a wonderful Inside this Issue: NRCS Caribbean Area Hosts AcƟng Muñ iz, and VI Agriculture Com- event with our partners and co-workers. 1 Deputy Chief Jordan ANIMALS Director’s Corner 1

NRCS Caribbean Area Celebrates Black History Month NRCS Caribbean Area Celebrates Black 1, Caribbean Area Black History. The History Month 3 event was held at Mercedita Airport in Mayagüez Staff ParƟcipate in “5 Días con 2, Ponce, PR, on February 27, 2013. Nuestra Tierra” 3 Endangered Species Surveyed on St. 2 One event highlight was a presentation Croix about Black History in the U.S. Virgin NRCS Reaches Out to Students at PUCPR 2 Islands delivered by NRCS Caribbean Job Fair HUMANS Area Black Emphasis Program Manag- Meet the Corozal Field Office 3 er (BEPM), Rudy G. O’Reilly, Jr. Paint- Organic 101: Strengthening Organic ings, ethnic music and other Afro- Integrity through Increased Residue 3 Antillean art were also exhibited, TesƟng Rudy G. O’Reilly, Jr., NRCS‐CB BEPM, discusses along with artistic appearances. Apply Now for Caribbean Area USVI Black History with USDA staff in Ponce. 4 ConservaƟon InnovaƟon Grants The following is an excerpt from Mr. As part of USDA’s National Black His- O’Reilly’s presentation: New Videos Highlight Natural Resources 4 tory Month celebration, the NRCS Civil NRCS Women Agronomists Receive Rights Advisory Committee (CRAC) col- 4 ENERGY (Continued on page 3) RecogniƟon laborated with APHIS to celebrate our AcƟviƟes & Events 4 Page 2 The Caribbean Mayagüez Staff ParƟcipate in “5 Días con Nuestra Tierra” NRCS Reaches Out to Students at continued with a week of exhibits and presen- PUCPR Job Fair tations from local artisans, farmers, govern- NRCS joined the cadre of companies and ment agencies and musicians. agencies promoting career opportunities The NRCS Team presented two exhibits to at the Pontiϐical Catholic University of promote USDA programs and services and Puerto Rico (PUCPR)/Puerto Rico Depart- ensure that our assistance is ac cessible to all ment of Labor Job Fair earlier this month. our customers, with emphasis on reaching Over 100 students visited the N RCS ex- beginning, underserved and socially- hibit to learn about our agency’s passion disadvantaged farmers and landowners. for conservation. NRCS staff explained NRCS Mayagüez staff (L‐R: Samuel Rios, Mario The ϐirst booth, “ Conservation: Our Purpose, how the agency works side by side with Rodríguez, Andrés Aponte, Zulma García, Edwin Our Passion,” described the agency’s mission farmers, ranchers, communities and other Más, Esperanza Avilés, Manuel Matos & Rolando individuals and groups to protect natural Collazo) parƟcipate in “5 Días Con Nuestra Tierra.” and vision, and promoted our technical ser- vices. A broad range of publications were resources on private land. University of Puerto Rico-Mayagü ez distributed to visitors at this booth. NRCS staff described student internship (UPRM) students celebrated the 36th annu- (Continued on page 3) opportunities through the Pathways Pro- al “5 Días con Nuestra Tierra” agricultural Soil ScienƟst, Manuel Matos (below, center), de‐ gram to both students and college gradu- and educational fair from March 12-16. “5 scribes soil profile characterisƟcs to students. ates. These programs are tailored to re- Días” is visited by people from all over cruit, hire, develop, and retain students Puerto Rico, making it one of the island’s and recent graduates. most important agric ultural fairs. NRCS- CB staff from the Mayagü ez Field Ofϐice NRCS staff also encouraged students to (FO), Ecological Sciences and Soils Divi- apply for jobs and internships with NRCS sions, the State Ofϐice and the CRAC, along while in college or graduate school. The with Earth Team Volunteers, participated agency offers internships for degree- in this event. seeking undergraduate and graduate stu- dents studying agricultural and natural “5 Días” began with a parade of exhibitors resources related ϐields such as plant marching across the UPRM campus, and pathology, agronomy, range science, soil science, forestry, ecology, botany, biology, civil and agricultural engineering. Endangered Plant Species Surveyed on St. Croix Through this program, students can fur- ther their education while also learning ulis concluded that two of the B. vahlii pop- from NRCS professionals in their ϐields. ulations have more individuals over a greater spatial extent than previously be- NRCS also presented the Earth Team vol- lieved. They estimated the C. melanocarpa unteer program. Earth Team offers excit- population at 200 individuals rather than ing opportunities for students seeking the current estimate of 100 individuals. unpaid conservation work. Students can However, the C. melanocarpa population fulϐill their school’s community s ervice was deemed to be at a high risk of wildϐire requirements, earn academic credit, serve and encroaching agricultural development. an unpaid internship, get resume-building Assessing the environmental threat of a growing Sadly, before the report could be pub- work experience or simply help the envi- head cut from surface erosion in the vicinity of an lished, a wildϐire raced through the center ronment as a volunteer. endangered plant populaƟon in St. Croix, USVI. of the C. melanocarpa population. This NRCS staff attend career fairs nationwide data will help ecologists determine if any Ecologists at Geograp hic Consulting LLC have to recruit students. For details o n NRCS plants were lost and how many, or if the recently completed a rapid assessment of two employment, internship and volunteer fast-moving ϐire only burned grass. federally endangered plant species on St. opportunities, please contact NRCS Civil Croix, USVI. There are three po pulations of For a copy of the report, please visit Geo- Rights Advisory Committee Chair, Mario Buxus vahlii and a single population of graphic Consulting’s web site at: Rodrı́guez, at 787-831-3464, x.116 or melanocarpa in St. Croix. Both www.geographiconsulting.com. Their pub- [email protected]. plants are also found in Puerto Rico. For mal lications page also contains informative surveys of these plant populations had never documents on endangered species, threats been conducted. from invasive species, and the Virgin Is - lands’ ecology. The rapid assessment used highly accurate GPS units to record height and basal stem LeŌ: Catesbaea melanocarpa, Right: Buxus vahlii. diameter of individual plants. Their phenolo- gy, general health and the presence of seed- lings in the understory was also recorded, along with associated plant species and per- PUCPR students visit with Job Fair exhibitors. ceived threats. Brian Daley and Jennifer Vali- Volume 2, Issue 5 Page 3 Meet the Corozal Field Office NRCS Caribbean Area Celebrates The NRCS Corozal Field Ofϐice (FO) serves the peo- Black History Month

ple of Aibonito, B arranquitas, Bayamó n, Comerı ́o, (Continued from page 1) Co rozal, Dorado, Naranjito, Orocovis, Toa Alta & “The national theme this year is At the Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. They are located at 29 San Crossroads of Freedom and Equality; Ramón St., Suite 2, in Corozal, P R. The Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington. It has been 50 The team of Israel Vega (Acting District Conserva- years since Martin Luther King’s I Have a tionist) and Freddie Rivera (Soil Conservationist) Dream speech, and 150 years since Presi- provide conservation assistance to the Cibuco and dent Abraham Lincoln signed the Emanci­ Torrecilla Soil and Water Conservation Districts. pation Proclamation.” They bring a wealth of experience in the specialized areas of soil science, soil microbiology, agricultural “In the U.S. Virgin Islands, our history is a Corozal Soil ConservaƟonist, Freddie Rivera waste management, natural resource management, little different—it has been 165 years since (right), demonstrates surveying techniques to biology, botany, engineerin g, water and energy con- our emancipation on July 3, 1848. That’s local students. servation and conservation education. 15 years earlier than slavery was abolished in the United States. It would be another Currently, the NRCS Corozal FO is preparing conservation plans for EQIP program contracts 30 years, in 1878, when the “Fire Burn” and providing conservation techn ical assistance (CTA) to help farmers implement planned revolt began on St. Croix. This rebellion practices for new crop plantings and pastures. The most frequently requested practices was led by four women who demanded an include contour farming, minimum tillage, pasture planting, brush management, hillside end to the unfair labor practices the people ditches and waste management for hog and poultry operations. Call us at 787-859-2880 or of the, then Danish, Virgin Islands experi- visit our ofϐice for information or assistance in conserving our natural resources! enced since being declared ‘Free.’ It is in- teresting to note that only the people of St. Croix were involved in both of these events.” Mayagüez Staff ParƟcipate in “5 Días con Nuestra Tierra” (Continued from page 2) “So, as we march on in 2013 and bring an end to this year’s “Black History Month,” let The second booth, “Web Soil Survey and Soil Diversity,” featured the soils of Puerto Rico us not forget where we come from and how and the USVI, and displayed proϐiles of the 10 soil survey orders found on Puerto Rico. Stu- far we have come.” dents learned about soil div ersity, and were encouraged to construct their own soil mini- For details on Black History Mo nth, visit proϐiles using cards with different-colored soil sa mp les. The T eam held live Web Soil Survey www.africanamericanhistorymonth.gov; tutorials to show students how s oils information can be retrieved using this interactive tool. visit www.pr.nrcs.usda.gov/about/ NRCS also exhibited current and historic conservation documents and materials at the Civil_Rights/index.html for details about UPRM Library as part of the “5 Días” celebration. For details on NRCS-CB programs and the Caribbean Area Civil Rights A dvisory services, please visit www.pr.nrcs.usda.gov. Committee.

Organic 101: Strengthening Organic Integrity Through Increased Residue TesƟng On January 1, 2013, the USDA National Or- prohibited substances or methods (prohibited trade between ganic Program (NOP) began a strengthened pesticides, antibiotics, s ynthetic hormones or three of the largest residue testing program to help increase genetic engineering). Certifying agents can use organic markets in consumer conϐidence in the $32 billion or- test results to identify and address i nstances in the world. USDA is ganic industry w orldwide. Consumers pur- which organic products may have unintentional- in discussions to chase organic products expecting that they ly come in contact with prohibited substances. consider similar maintain their o rganic integrity from farm arrangements with other foreign gov- The NOP provided certifying agents with re- to market, and USDA is commi tted to meet- ernments, creating new markets and sources to help them comply with the new resi- ing these expectations. This program will jobs for organic farmers and businesses. due testing program. Certiϐiers test residue provide additional veriϐication that organic farmers are following the rules and not us- when they are concerned that a farm or busi- The new periodic residue testing pro- ness has used a prohibited substance or method. gram will discourage mislabeling and ing prohibited substances. Some testing will be random, while other testing facilitate our oversight of USDA organic USDA organic certifying agents will now test will be risk-based. Since there will be wide vari- products around the world. Periodic products from at least ϐive percent of the ety in how organic operations are selected and residue testing is an important tool t o organic farms and businesses that they cer- which tests are conducted, test results will no t protect the integrity of USDA organic tify each year. While testing has always been be used to make broad conclusions about a spe- products around the world. To ϐind out a part of organic product oversight, the new ciϐic commodity or category of products. more about residue testing and the Na- program speciϐies a minimum amount of tional Organic Program, visit The strengthened testing program also increas- testing that must occur. www.ams.usda.gov/NOP. es conϐidence in the integrity of USDA organic This testing will help certifying agents iden - products among international t rade partners. Reprinted from the USDA Organic 101 tify and take enforcement action against The U.S. currently has trade partnerships with blog series that explores USDA’s organic farms and businesses that intentionally use the European Union and Canada, streamlining regulations, posted by Miles McEvoy, Apply Now for Caribbean Area ConservaƟon InnovaƟon Grants New Videos Highlight Natural USDA-NRCS is ground conservation, including pilot pro- Resources seeking proposals jects and ϐield demonstrations. from Puerto Rico The University of Puerto Rico Sea Grant Pro ‐

and US Virgin Is- The Caribbean Area NRCS will have ap- gram invites the public to view a new video proximately $1 20,000 available in FY lands for the 2013 on their YouTube channel called “Buffer 2013 to be distributed among the selected Conservation Inno- Zones in Río Loco Watershed & Guánica projects, and the maximum award vation G rants Bay.” Learn about the design and implemen ‐ amount for any p roject will not exceed taƟon of buffer zones as an agricultural prac‐ (CIG). CIG stimulates the development and $30,000. Applications will be a ccepted Ɵce that also helps conserve our marine and adoption of innovative conservation ap- from eligible government agencies, non- coastal resources. To view the video, visit proaches and technolog ies. A pplications will governmental o rganizations or individu - www.youtube.com/watch? be awarded on a competitive basis. als for projects between 1 and 3 years in v=qO8SM4RosyQ&list=UU83zZurmP8H44Oto CIG projects are expected to lead to the trans- duration. Appl ications must be re- KVfpmqA&index= 1. fer of conservation technologies, manage- ceived by NRCS before 4:30 p.m. on The “Let’s Talk About Soil” animated film tells ment systems, and innovative approaches April 22, 2013. NRCS will announce the reality of soil resources around the world, into NRCS policy, technical manuals, guides, selected proposal applications by June 14, covering the issues of degradaƟon, urbaniza ‐ and references, or to the private sector. CIG 2013. Late applications will not be consid- Ɵon, land grabbing and overexploitaƟon; the does not fund research projects. CIG is used ered. For details, please contact Jaime film offers opƟons to make the way we man‐ to apply or demonstrate new and or previously Valentı́n at 787-766-5206 x121 or age our soils more sustainable. Visit: hƩp:// proven technology with a new approach. CIG [email protected] or visit t.co/uVX15Xe5 to view the film. For details, funds projects targeting innovative, on-the- www.pr.nrcs.usda.gov. visit globalsoilweek.org.

NRCS Women Agronomists Receive RecogniƟon AcƟviƟes & Events ENTSC Webinar: IntegraƟng Livestock into a Cropping System for For this event, NRCS nominated two Sustainability and Soil Health, April 2, 3:00—4:00 p.m. female employees who have Bache- ENTSC Webinar: Climate Change Beliefs, Perceived Risk, and Support lor Degrees in Agronomy and many for AdaptaƟon and MiƟgaƟon among Corn Belt Farmers: Preliminary years of work experience applying Survey Results, April 9, 2:00—3:00 p.m. agronomic principles in the ϐield. ENTSC Webinar: Ecological Site DescripƟons as Decision Support Tools The honorees are Sonia N. Burgos- for Habitat RestoraƟon, April 16, 2:00—3:00 p.m. Colón, Soil Conservationist from 2013 St. Croix Eco Fair & LiƩer Stomp, April 17‐18, 9:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m., St. George Village Botanical Garden Caguas Field Ofϐice, and Ileana M. Army Earth Day ExposiƟon 2013, April 19, 9:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m., Fort Curbelo-López, Natural Resources Buchanan Community Club, Building 660, Fort Buchanan, PR Specialist & Toolkit Coordinator El Yunque Cleanup Day, April 20, registraƟon starts at 7:30 a.m. in the from Arecibo Field Ofϐice. Rain Forest Visitor Center parking lot, El Yunque, PR Eng. Lydia E. Collazo-De Jesú s, Fed- ENTSC Webinar: Cover Crop Mixes: Geƫng the Cover Crop You Want, April 24, 2:00—3:00 p.m. NRCS‐CB Eng. Lydia E. Collazo, FWPM; Ileana eral Women’s Program Manager ENTSC Webinar: Exploring the Environmental and Economic Opportu‐ Curbelo, TC; Dr. Myrna Comas, PR Secretary of (FWPM) spoke on behalf of NRCS Agriculture; and Sonia Burgos‐SC at the CAPR niƟes and Challenges of Cover Crops, May 7, 2:00—3:00 p.m. Director, Agro. Edwin Almodo ́var, Women Agronomists Awards Ceremony. ENTSC Webinar: Outreach: What Social Factors “Sell” Landowners on and presented a recognition plaque the Use of Agroforestry PracƟces?, May 8, 2:00—3:00 p.m. On March 8, 2013, NRCS female staff to each employee. Ms. Burgos and ENTSC Webinar: RestoraƟon and Management of Temporary Wet‐ participated in Puerto Rico’s College of Ms. Curbelo also had the opportuni- lands, May 21, 2:00—3:00 p.m. Agronomists (CAPR) annual event to ty to salute and share with Agro. St. Croix Reef Jam, May 26, 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., Rhythm’s at Rain‐ recognize female agronomists working Myrna Comas, PhD, Puerto Rico bow Beach, St. Croix in private industry, academia, and local Secretary of Agriculture. Dr. Comas ENTSC Webinar: Planning and Design of Stream Crossings, May 29, and federal government agencies. The received a special recognition from 2:00—3:00 p.m. ceremony was held at La Guardarraya the CAPR for being the ϐirst female ENTSC Webinar: Orchard Floor Management in Organic Systems, June 4, 3:00—4:00 p.m. Restaurant in Yauco, PR, as part of the Agronomist appointed to the Puerto National Women’s Celebration Day. ENTSC Webinar: ConservaƟon Buffers: Sink or Source Habitats for Fish Rico Governor’s Board. ‐Wildlife?, June 11, 2:00—3:00 p.m.

We’re on the Web! Editorial Board: USDA‐NRCS Caribbean Area  Edwin Almodóvar, State ConservaƟonist 654 Muñ oz Rivera Ave., Suite 604  Nilda González, AdministraƟve Assistant Hato Rey, PR 0 0918-4123  Ismael Matos, NRI Specialist Phone: 787-766-5206  Faye Williams, Soil ConservaƟon Technician www.pr.nrcs.usda.gov  Fax: 787-766-5987 Julie Wright, Editor, Program Analyst

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