AGRICULTURE SECRETARY CELEBRATES EARTH DAY
Agencies Help Farmers, Ranchers and Homeowners Conserve Natural Resources

MADISON, Wis., April 22, 2002-Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today celebrated Earth Day by promoting "conservation where you live" activities at a demonstration house at USDA's Forest Products Laboratory here. She was visiting Wisconsin as part of a three-state Earth Day celebration tour, which included West Virginia and Ohio where she announced $24.6 million for conservation projects.

"America's farmers and ranchers are the best stewards of the land and this Earth Day we are highlighting some of these successes," said Veneman. "These programs, many of which are partnerships with local communities, demonstrate the Bush Administration's strong commitment to protecting the environment."

In Madison, the USDA Forest Products Laboratory of the Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are working to exhibit conservation-minded home building techniques and environmentally friendly home landscaping techniques during Earth Week.

The Forest Service demonstration home showcases proper building practices, the latest in energy efficient appliances and "green building" technologies advocated by the leading building science experts. Other innovative technologies and products being used in this demonstration home include engineered wood products such as finger-jointed studs made from scrap wood and shingles made from recycled milk jugs and wood waste. The house will also be a center for continuing research on moisture intrusion and related problems such as mold.

The yard around the demonstration home is also a demonstration project - one that will show homeowners how to landscape their yards in an environmentally friendly way. These techniques are part of the Backyard Conservation project, a national effort led by USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The yard will include trees to reduce heating and cooling costs, help clean the air, add beauty and color, provide shelter from the wind and the sun, and add value to the home; xerophytic species (plants that are adapted to dry conditions), mulching, and adding water-retaining organic matter to the soil to reduce the amount of water used for irrigation; and shrubs and other plants to provide shelter and food for wildlife, such as birds, butterflies, beneficial insects and small animals.

"This demonstration project illustrates the innovative and environmentally friendly uses of agriculture and forestry projects," said Veneman. "Through projects like these, we can bring conservation techniques into the homes and backyards of America."

In addition to the events here, USDA officials are participating in Earth Day celebrations across the nation through events such as tree plantings, displays and activities to teach children about nature, recycling fairs, field trips for hands-on learning opportunities and clean-up projects.

On Friday, April 19, Veneman signed a $13.2 million Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) for the state of Ohio to enable farmers to restore lands near streams as well as provide water treatment costs. In West Virginia, she signed an $11 million CREP to help safeguard more than 4,000 fragile watershed acres in the state.

On Earth Day, Deputy Secretary Jim Moseley participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new USDA invasive species quarantine facility in Davie, Fla. The facility will be used for USDA's continuing efforts to find safe biological control agents to contain invasive weeds such as the melaleuca tree from Australia that now threatens the Everglades ecosystem in south Florida.

Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Mark Rey joined Colorado Governor Bill Owens, NRCS State Conservationist Allen Green and Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Don Amendt to honor Ellis Elementary School as Denver's Earth Day School of the Year for the efforts made to incorporate natural resources and environmental issues into the school curriculum.

Deputy Undersecretary for Rural Development Mike Neruda announced $108 million for 51 water and wastewater disposal system projects in 34 states. He made the announcement while touring sites in Louisiana.

USDA's Biobased Products Coordination Council hosted a Biobased and Renewable Energy Product Showcase at USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. The showcase promoted biobased products and featured leaders in the biobased product manufacturing industry and their products. Biobased products are those derived from plant and animal materials, such as agricultural commodities, crop residues and wood product wastes. Examples include lubricants, solvents and cleaners, inks, coatings, polymers and biofuels. USDA is encouraging federal agencies to use their vast purchasing power to support use of these products.

USDA uses biodiesel and ethanol in its vehicle fleets and is the first government agency to install a soy-urethane-backed carpeting in some of its offices. The carpet backing is made from a soy-based polyol, which replaces petroleum polyols typically used in carpet-backing applications. This polyol can also be used in other plastics applications, such as automotive interiors, mattresses and shoe soles.

For information on how USDA works to enhance the environment, go to http://www.usda.gov .

#