Natural Resources Conservation Service known as the Soil Conservation Service, is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that provides technical assistance to farmers and other private landowners and managers. Its name was changed in 1994 during the presidency of Bill Clinton to reflect its broader mission, it is a small agency comprising about 12,000 employees. Its mission is to improve and conserve natural resources on private lands through a cooperative partnership with state and local agencies. While its primary focus has been agricultural lands, it has made many technical contributions to soil surveying and water quality improvement. One example is the Conservation Effects Assessment Project, set up to quantify the benefits of agricultural conservation efforts promoted and supported by programs in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. NRCS is the leading agency in this project; the agency was founded through the efforts of Hugh Hammond Bennett, a soil conservation pioneer who worked for the Department of Agriculture from 1903 to 1952.

Bennett's motivation was based on his knowledge of the detrimental effects of soil erosion and the impacts on U. S lands. On September 13, 1933, the Soil Erosion Service was formed in the Department of the Interior, with Bennett as chief; the service was transferred to the Department of Agriculture on March 23, 1935, was shortly thereafter combined with other USDA units to form the Soil Conservation Service by the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act of 1935. The Soil Conservation Service was in charge of 500 Civilian Conservation Corps camps between 1933 and 1942; the primary purpose of these camps was erosion control. Hugh Bennett continued as chief, a position he held until his retirement in 1952. On October 20, 1994, the agency was renamed to the Natural Resources Conservation Service as part of the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994. NRCS offers financial assistance to farmers and ranchers; the financial assistance is authorized by the Farm Bill, a law, renewed every five years.

The 2014 Farm Bill consolidated 23 programs into 15. NRCS offers these services to private land owners, conservation districts and other types of organizations. NRCS collects and shares information on the nation's soil, water and plants; the Conservation Title of the Farm Bill provides the funding to agricultural producers, a conservation plan must be included. All of these programs are voluntary; the main programs include: The purpose of EQIP is to provide assistance to landowners to help them improve their soil and related natural resources, including grazing lands and wildlife habitat. Conservation Stewardship Program CSP is targeted to producers who maintain a higher level of environmental stewardship. Regional Conservation Partnership Program RCPP consolidated four programs from the prior 2008 Farm Bill, it aims at more watershed scale projects, rather than individual farms and ranches. Agricultural Conservation Easement Program ACEP was another consolidation effort of the 2014 Farm Bill, which includes the former Grasslands Reserve Program and Ranch Lands Protection Program, Wetlands Reserve Program.

ACEP includes technical and financial help to maintain or improve land for agriculture or environmental benefits. Landowners volunteer to protect forests in 30 or 10 year contracts; this program hands assisting funds to participants. The objectives of HFRP are to: Promote the recovery of endangered and threatened species under the Endangered Species Act Improve plant and animal biodiversity Enhance carbon sequestration Serves 10 states in the Midwest United States in helping to reduce Nitrate levels in soil due to runoff from fertilized farmland; the project began in 2010 and focused on the Mississippi Basin area. The main goal of the project is to implement better methods of managing water drainage from agricultural uses, in place of letting the water drain as it had done in the past. In October 2011, The National "Managing Water, Harvesting Results" Summit was held to promote the drainage techniques used in hopes of people adopting them nationwide. Includes water supply forecasts and the Surface Water Supply Index for Alaska and other Western states.

NRCS agents collect data from snowpack and mountain sites to predict spring runoff and summer streamflow amounts. These predictions are used in decision making for agriculture, wildlife management and development, several other areas; these predictions are available within the first 5 days of each month from January to June. Is a blanket program which involves conservation efforts on soil and water conservation, as well as management of agricultural wastes and general longterm sustainability. NRCS and related agencies work with landowners, communities, or developers to protect the environment. Serve to guide people to comply with acts such as the Highly Erodible Land and Conservation Compliance Provisions acts; the CTA can cover projects by state and federal governments. Is a program to assist gulf bordering states improve water quality and use sustainable methods of farming and other industry; the program will deliver up to 50 million dollars over 2011-2013 to apply these sustainable methods, as well as wildlife habitat management systems that do not hinder agricultural productivity, prevent future over use of water resources to protect native endangered speci

Stephen Thomas was an architect who practiced in Charleston, South Carolina for about 27 years. He was born in Charleston to Stephen and Agnes C. Thomas on October 13, 1892. After attending grade school in Charleston, he attended the Georgia School of Technology and the Alabama Polytechnic Institute, he served in both World War I and World War II. After having worked at the offices of other architects, Thomas opened his own firm in 1932. Among his notable projects were the Robert Mills Manor along Beaufain Street, the John Wesley Methodist Church, the A. Burnet Rhett School, his residential projects were Colonial Revival houses including the Stephen Thomas House at 3 Shaftsbury Lane. W. Blanchard House at 30 Pendleton St.. E. Trouche House at 88 South Battery, he died on July 13, 1949, at his home at 49 Gadsden Street, South Carolina

Foxdale is a small village in the heart of the Isle of Man. The village falls within the sheading of Glenfaba. Politically it is part of the constituency of Glenfaba & Peel and is represented in Tynwald and the House of Keys by Ray Harmer MHK and Geoffrey Boot MHK; the village is served by Patrick Parish Commissioners. The village has a heritage centre, run voluntarily. In the 19th century there were 13 mines and workings in the area of Foxdale, which included five mines working the Foxdale shear; the mines yielded a rich output of lead ore and silver. In time, the mines came under the ownership of the Isle of Man Mining Company who operated the mines until their closure in 1911; the mines ceased operation after many incidents including a member of the Lalor smith family dying inside as caused by sulphur dioxide poisoning from the air. Today, the most prominent feature in the village is the Victoria Clock Tower and paid for by the Isle of Man Mining Company. Designed by Foxdale mine engineer John Nicholls the structure is 40 ft in height and is visible across the valley.

The Dedication Ceremony took place on Thursday 16 May 1901 and was an occasion of immense civic pride for the village of Foxdale. The village has a football club, Foxdale A. F. C., re-established in 1991. The club has three teams including the combination team and the veterans' team. In 2011, they fielded an Under 21s team for the Cowell Cup. Foxdale's only pub has a pool darts team. William Kitto Queen Victoria Memorial, Foxdale Isle of Man Foxdale community website Foxdale Primary School http://www.thefoxdalerailway.co.uk