CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY URGED TO ATTEND

Conservation programs to be highlighted

SACRAMENTO- A series of 11 federal workshops to be held in California will focus on conservation programs funded by the 2002 farm bill. The first workshop is scheduled for November 20 in Lincoln, with workshops to follow on November 21 in Colusa and November 22 in Anderson. The series will continue into mid-December.

“This is an excellent opportunity for California farmers and ranchers,” said CDFA Secretary William (Bill) J. Lyons, Jr. “I urge our agricultural community to come out and learn about the possibilities created through this USDA program.”

Existing conservation programs include the Environmental Quality Incentives Program; the Wetlands Reserve Program; the Farmland Protection Program; and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program. Two additional programs will be introduced in 2003: The Conservation Security Program and the Grasslands Reserve Program. More information is available at www.nrcs.usda.gov.

The workshop schedule is as follows:

November 20-Del Webb Sun City, 965 Orchard Creek Lane, Lincoln, CA-6:30 p.m.

November 21-Colusa Indian Community Center, 3740 Highway 45, Colusa, CA-9 a.m.

November 22-RCD Conference Room, 6270 Parallel Road, Anderson, CA-1 p.m.

November 25-Salinas Community Center, 940 N. Main Street, Salinas, CA-2 p.m.

November 26-BLM Building, Barstow, CA-1 p.m.

December 2-Lassen Community College, Creative Arts Music Room, Susanville, CA-2 p.m.

December 3-Clovis Memorial Building, 453 Hughes Avenue, Clovis, CA-9 a.m.

December 4-UC Extension Auditorium, 420 S. Wilson Way, Stockton, CA-3 p.m.

December 9-San Diego Farm Bureau 1617 East Valley Parkway, Escondido, CA-1 p.m.

December 10-El Centro, CA (TBA)

December 11-Camarillo Airport Freedom Center, 515 Eubanks, Camarillo, CA-9 a.m.

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