NRCS to honor volunteers during recognition week

Lincoln - USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is celebrating National Volunteer Week April 15-21 by honoring Earth Team volunteers and expressing appreciation for their dedicated service and commitment to conservation. The Earth Team is NRCS' volunteer work force. Nationally, in fiscal year 2011, 22,000 Earth Team volunteers donated 435,653 hours of service, totaling $9.3 million in value.  NRCS State Conservationist Craig Derickson said Earth Team volunteers are making an environmental impact in Nebraska. Last year, 1,221 volunteers donated over 17,000 hours in Nebraska.

Created in 1985, the Earth Team program offers many opportunities to individuals over the age of 14 interested in helping improve the Nation's natural resources. Earth Team volunteers help NRCS conservationists offer private landowners conservation technical assistance to teaching and generating awareness about conservation through the use of community projects. More than a half-million Earth Team volunteers have donated $336 million worth of time in helping NRCS with its conservation mission since 1985.  "The NRCS theme for this year puts it best," said Derickson. "We are Celebrating Earth Team Volunteers in Action.' Earth Team volunteers allow us to stretch available resources and help us put additional conservation practices on the ground. Their volunteer efforts help us improve the environment for everyone."

To learn more about the Earth Team Volunteer Program, go online to www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/people/volunteers or by calling (888) 526-3227.