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<br />~ <br />~ <br />~ <br />~ <br /> <br />Foreword <br /> <br />The American agricultural system is unparalleled in its <br />capability to produce food and tiber. Agricultural production, <br />by its very nature, however, involves movement of soil and <br />water and the growing and harvesting of plant material, all of <br />which may affect water quality and quantity. Many farmers <br />view their role toward the natural resources they manage <br />from the standpoint of stewardship of the land. Stewardship. <br />however, requires knowledge about environmental problems, <br />such as ground- and surface-water contamination, and the <br />adoption of practices that preserve long-term soil productivity <br />and water quality. <br /> <br />The effective treatment of nonpoint source ground-water and <br />surface-water pollution in agricultural America requires the <br />timely delivery of educational materials, conservation <br />technology. and financial assistance. The U.S. Department of <br />Agriculture (USDA) strongly encourages voluntary actions to <br />improve or enhance water quality and quantity and to <br />conserve surface and ground water. USDA has an <br />established network of technical specialists and educators <br />and an institutional framework to assist land users through <br />local soil and water conservation districts and other local <br />groups with soil and water resource problems. <br /> <br />USDA's Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service <br />(ASCS), Extension Service (ES), and Soil Conservation <br /> <br />Service (SCS) have the field delivery systems and networks <br />to meet these requirements. These agencies are staffed with <br />professionals who are experienced in water quality and <br />quantity resource management. <br /> <br />Educational, technical, and financial assistance procedures <br />will be implemented through the ASCS-ES-SCS Education <br />and Technical Assistance (E&TA) process as authorized by <br />law and defined in the President's Water Ouality Initiative. <br />The principal objective of this initiative is,to provide farmers, <br />ranchers, and foresters with the educational, technical, and <br />financial means to respond voluntarily and independently to <br />onfarm environmental concerns and'related State water <br />quality requirements. <br /> <br />KEITH D. BJERKE <br />Administrator <br />Agricultural <br />Stabilization and <br />Conservation Service <br /> <br />MYRON D. JOHNSRUD <br />Administrator <br />Extension Service <br /> <br />WILSON SCALING <br />Chiet <br />Soil Conservation Service <br />