The following request for comments was sent to all NRCS State Soil Scientists for distribution by Phillip Owens, Chair, Future Directions Committee, 2007 National NCSS Conference. NSCSS members are encouraged to comment and to attend the Conference.
This year at the National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference (June 3-8 in Madison WI http://soils.usda.gov/partnerships/ncss/conferences/2007_national/), an emphasis will be placed on advanced planning for the future of Soil Survey. Below, we have listed the official mission of the soil survey. Specifically, the law directs the Soil Survey Program of the
1. Make an inventory of the soil resources of the
2. Keep the soil survey relevant to ever-changing needs;
3. Interpret the information and make it available in a useful form; and
4. Promote the soil survey and provide technical assistance in its use for a wide range of community planning and resource development issues related to non-farm and farm uses.
These four functions are the core mission of the soil survey program. In addition to these four core functions, the NRCS has a unique responsibility to lead the Federal part of the National Cooperative Soil Survey. Thus, the Soil Survey Division has a fifth mission function separate from, but related to the core functions of the Soil Survey Program.
The Future Directions of Soil Survey committee is charged with stimulating thought and discussion about how the soil survey will change to meet the emerging needs of new and existing stakeholders. This is an important task as the initial mapping is nearing completion and the soil survey will move in new directions. We all recognize the value of soil survey and would like to see it continue to be the source of accurate data distribution and interpretation data that can be easily used to make land-use and management decisions. The charges of the committee are:
- Review Report from 2006 North Central Region Committee on Future Direction of Soil Survey. Gather recommendations from past national and regional committee reports for material on this subject.
- Invite members of NCSS to produce white papers for discussion and possible presentation in the Future of Soil Survey Forum in conference.
- What are the reasons that students do not apply for federal jobs when they are made available?
- Explore options for electronic or internet clearinghouse that improves information flow on positions, student applicants, scholarships, grants, and contacts within NCSS.
- Promote internships and career intern program in federal government to provide more opportunities for high school and college age students to consider soil science as a career.
This committee would like to get as much input as possible to help provide guidance as soil survey moves into a new phase. Thus, the committee is requesting any input you may have on the future direction of soil survey and particular issues and data gaps that might be addressed. We are requesting a document that is two pages or less with your thoughts and ideas on the future directions. These papers will be listed on a website and will be citable. We will also like to have less formal suggestions (such as bulleted text) if you have a time limitation. If you choose to not have your suggestions published, indicate that to the committee in the e-mail and we will use the comments in the final report, but do so anonymously.
Additionally, we would like you to forward this request to your field staff and have them submit their thoughts separately. We feel that field personnel may have a perspective that we may overlook. Also, if you know of consultants who could provide a different perspective, please pass this request on to them.
All of the submissions will be reviewed and included as part of our committee report. We may ask some of you who will be attending the National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference in
Please send your suggestions to prowens@purdue.edu by
All the Best,
Phillip R. Owens
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Agronomy
Purdue University
