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United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
9173 W. Barnes Dr., Suite C
Boise, Idaho 83709
 
For More Information:

Jeff Burwell, 208/378-5700
Terry Sprague, 208/378-5690
 

Jeff Burwell Begins Duties as Idaho's Tenth State Conservationist

Boise, ID, June 18, 2008— Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced that Jeff Burwell will serve as the State Conservationist in Idaho, providing overall leadership for agencies operations state wide.  Mr. Burwell began his duties June 23.

"I am committed to continue the high level of technical assistance provided to our producers by all the NRCS employees in Idaho," Burwell said.  "We must continue to improve our tools and technology to better serve our ranchers and farmers with new and innovative ways to solve their conservation challenges."

Mr. Burwell comes to Idaho from Colorado where for the last seven years he worked for NRCS as the State Resource Conservationist.

Jeff graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Range and Forest Management.  Shortly after graduation, he joined NRCS as a Range Conservationist working in Greeley, Colorado.  After that, Mr. Burwell was promoted to District Conservationist, and worked in four different locations throughout Colorado.  He also served as the NRCS Liaison to the Society for Range Management, where he developed the Rangeland Management Professional Certification Program.

In 2007, Mr. Burwell served as the Acting State Conservationist in both Nevada and Montana, where he worked on several issues significant to the western states; such as critical sage grouse habitat and strategies to mitigate resource degradation from wildfires and invasive plant species.

For the next few months, Mr. Burwell will be touring Idaho meeting with state and local conservation partners and NRCS field staff discussing the critical resource conservation issues and opportunities in the state.  He will also start preparing to roll out the next generation of conservation programs in the new Farm Bill.

"The 2008 Farm Bill expands and increases our Nation's high level of commitment to conserve and protect our natural resources," Burwell said.  "Our conservation portfolio includes conservation technical assistance, financial assistance, easement programs, community and watershed development, and grant programs."

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