Gathering input to focus activities of future conservation programs is the point of a meeting today in Fulton.
A local working group is trying to identify area-resource concerns and provide input about program criteria to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
"We'll be taking comments into consideration," said Terry D. Hill, district conservationist for Callaway, Audrain and Boone counties.
The meeting will be at 10 a.m. today at the USDA's Fulton Service Center, 4549 Route H, Fulton.
"Any farmers, or anyone who wants to come, we're asking for their input in Callaway County," Hill said.
Topics will be discussed and ranked in order of importance, he added. Topics can include: soil erosion, water quality, wildlife, pesticides, and pasture and woodland management.
"We want to know what are the main concerns in Callaway County that we could address with our two programs," Hill said.
The working group is comprised of representatives from local, state and federal agencies with knowledge of natural resource concerns. The group will help prioritize selection criteria for NRCS' Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program. Other meetings will also be conducted in Audrain and Boone counties.
The meeting is open to the public. Final decision will be made by NRCS leaders.