A new TV feature is available on the USDA FTP site. The new TV feature can also be seen on USDA's YouTube channel and seen and downloaded as a video podcast.
FTP Download instructions:
The host: ftp://ocbmtcmedia.
User name: usdanews
Password: Newscontent1
Filename for TV Feature: GOMI feature
The new file is in QuickTime Movie (H.264 ), MPEG 4, MPEG2 and HDV.
YouTube: http://www.youtube.
video podcast: http://itunes.apple.
RSS feed: http://downtoearth.usda.
Please email bob.ellison@usda.gov if you have problems or suggestions.
Also, use this free ftp client if you have problems.
http://filezilla-project.org/
FEATURE - FIVE STATE USDA INITIATIVE WILL HELP IMPROVE ECOSYSTEM HEALTH OF GULF COAST
INTRO: U-S-D-A's Natural Resources Conservation Service is launching a water and wildlife conservation effort along the Gulf Coast of the United States. The USDA's Bob Ellison has more. (1:32)
A NEW INITIATIVE FROM THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE WILL HELP PRODUCERS PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT BY IMPROVING WATER QUALITY. GOMI (GO-MEE), OR THE GULF OF MEXICO INITIATIVE, WILL HELP PRODUCERS IN FIVE STATES LIMIT NUTRIENT AND PESTICIDE RUNOFF.
Will Blackwell, USDA NRCS District Conservationist: The goal of the GOMI is to improve the water quality as it drains off the land before it gets into the rivers, before it gets into the bays and estuaries.
TEXAS RANCHER DALLAS FORD PLANS TO USE GOMI ASSISTANCE TO BUILD FENCES TO KEEP HIS CATTLE OUT OF LOCAL STREAM SYSTEMS.
Dallas Ford, Refugio Co., TX: The cattle will be on the land, the proper ranch itself and get their water from there and not be in the creek, which they do go into it now and I would like to stop them from doing that.
AT THE GOMI ANNOUNCEMENT, AN N-R-C-S OFFICIAL SAID STAFF WILL WORK WITH LANDOWNERS TO DEVELOP PLANS AND GET FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS TO PUT CONSERVATION PRACTICES IN PLACE.
Salvador Salinas, USDA NRCS Texas State Conservationist: In some areas a lot of what is going on is we are having a lot of nutrient and pesticide erosion into those river systems and as a result that impacts the wildlife and fish habitat. We hope that by implementing the conservation programs that over a period of time that we will begin to see some possible affects with regard to water quality.
GOMI WILL DELIVER UP TO FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS IN COST-SHARE ASSISTANCE OVER THREE YEARS IN SIXTEEN PRIORITY WATERSHEDS. FOR THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE I'M BOB ELLISON.
