MLRA REGION 10 NEWSLETTER--JUNE 1, 1999 SOIL SURVEY CENTENNIAL ACTIVITIES ON EARTH DAY IN WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 20-24, 1999 by Thomas C. Jackson About thirty-four soil scientists and other Earth Team Volunteers were selected to represent the National Soil Survey Centennial at the Earth Day activities in Washington, D.C., April 20-24, 1999. In recognition of the Centennial of the National Cooperative Soil Survey (1899-1999), each state in the U.S. was represented by their selected "State Soil". Fifty-four soil Monoliths from each state, including Washington, D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands were on display to the public. Soil Scientists assisted with the displays and soil monoliths, and were available to answer questions from the public. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman was on hand to view the soil monoliths and displays. Some comments received from the public were, "I didn't know soils were so different", and "What an educational experience this is". The comments were relational with the theme "America's Soil Diversity" displayed with the soil monoliths. NRCS Chief Pearlie Reed met with the Volunteer soil scientists to affirm his support for our work in soil survey and the recognition of the Soil Survey Centennial. Listed below are the States and their State Soil: Alabama --- Bama (established by legislation 4/97) Alaska --- Tanana Arizona --- Casa Grande Arkansas --- Stuttgart (established by legislation 3/97) California -- San Joaquin (established by legislation 7/97) Colorada --- Seitz Connecticut - Windsor Delawar --- Greenwich Florida --- Myakka (established by legislation 5/89) Georgia --- Tifton Hawaii --- Hilo Idaho --- Rexburg Illinois --- Drummer Indiana --- Miami Iowa --- Tama Kansas --- Harne (established by legislation 4/90) Kentucky --- Cride (established by legislation 4/90) Louisiana --- Ruston Maine --- Chesuncook Maryland --- Sassafras Massachusetts Paxton (established by legislation 5/91) Michigan --- Kalkaska (established by legislation 12/90) Minnesota --- Lester Mississippi - Natchez Missouri --- Menfro Montana --- Scobey Nebraska --- Holdrege (established by legislation 6/79) Nevada --- Orovada New Hampshire Marlow New Jersey -- Downer New Mexico -- Penistaj New York --- Honeoye North Carolina Cecil North Dakata Williams Ohio --- Miamian Oklahoma --- Port (established by legislation 4/87) Oregon --- Jory Pennsyvania - Hazelton Rhode Island Narragansett South Carolina Bohicket South Dakota Houdek (established by legislation 2/90) Tennessee --- Dickson Texas --- Houston Black Utah --- Taylorsflat Vermont --- Tunbridge (established by legislation 3/85) Virginia --- Pamunkey Washington -- Tokul West Virginia Monongahela (established by legislation 4/97) Wisconsin --- Antigo (established by legislation 9/83) Wyoming --- Forkwood Representative Soils Guam --- Guam Puerto Rico - Bayamon Virgin Islands Victory Washington DC Udorthent Listed below were some of the soil exhibits: Soil Monoliths Soil Tunnel Soil Profile Table Soil Explorer Demo Mineralogy Display Particle Size Demo Soil Crayon Demo Centennial Display Micromorphology Slide Presentation Soil Data Quality Misc. Displays-soil survey publications Aerial Photos Map Display Showcase of soil scientists *H.H. Bennet *Milton Whiten *Guy D. Smith *Charles E. Kellogg Soil Order Posters Ground Penetration Radar Soil Probe Truck ######################################################################### CHANGES TO THE NATIONAL SOIL SURVEY HANDBOOK Draft changes to Part 655 of the National Soil Survey Handbook include standards for Order 1 soil surveys. These changes are available at http://www.statlab.iastate.edu/soils/nssh under "Proposed Changes". A paper copy can be obtained from Rhonda at the MO 10 Office. ######################################################################### NASIS PRINTING SETUP IN PROJECT OFFICES Here's the stuff I need to set up Nasis printing to remote offices using compression. This will work in any office with a Unixware machine, whether you are connecting thru PPP and LanWan, and whether you use the Unixware console or a networked PC (with Hummingbrid or something). On the Unixware machine, you need to: A) Create a file called /etc/hosts.equiv and add a line like the following to the file: mlra10.mn.nrcs.usda.gov If the file already exists, just add this line to whatever is already there. B) Set permissions on /etc/hosts.equiv with the commands: chown root:sys /etc/hosts.equiv chmod 644 /etc/hosts.equiv Then, you need to send me the following information: 1) Name of the printer on your Unixware machine. This is not the brand or model, it is the name the printer has in Unix. 2) IP address of your Unixware machine. I'm normally naming your printer [on the HP machine in St. Paul] after the name of your office. So, I'll also need something to name the printer. Typically I've been using the uname of your Unixware machine or the domain name of your site. So, to the above two things add: 3) Uname or Domain name your Site. Once I have this information (numbers 1, 2, and 3) and you have done the work on your machine (steps A and B), I'll set up the printer and send a print job to you from here. The print job will say something like "Printer test from mlra10". If you email me the info, I'll send you an email back when I've sent the job to make sure it works. Of course, you'll still need to set the printer up in Nasis. From: Rich Dougherty, MN IT staff ######################################################################### MY ACHING BACK Lynn DesLauriers, Soil Specialist Region 10 MLRA Office I am sure that most soil scientists can identify with the title of this article. There are few things that can cause more frustration to a soil scientist than debilitating back pain. I worked as field soil scientist for twenty years. The first fifteen years I worked virtually pain free. When I reached my mid thirties however, I started to encounter periods when my back would spasm for as long as four or five days. I first tried chiropractors and found that their treatment provided some relief, but only temporarily. Since that time I have used medical physicians and most recently a osteopathic physician. Osteopathic physicians specialize in the structural integrity of the body (bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons) and the relation of these to other ailments in the body. The osteopathic physician will do many of the manipulations of the body that a chiropractor will do and they also prescribe muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory drugs. I found that this doctor helped me a great deal, but the effects were still not permanent and I would have problems with lower back pain about two to three times a year. Back pain is also more difficult to overcome as a person grows older since muscles tend to recover and heal at a much slower rate. I would like to stress at this point that my back pain has always been due to the straining of the lower (extensor) muscles of my back. Some people have back problems that are related to spinal problems that are more serious and require surgery. I have been fortunate not to have encountered these types of problems. The last time my back started to spasm was about a year and a half ago. I again went to the osteopath for treatment. After some discussion he categorized my back pain as chronic and referred me to a back and neck clinic for treatment. He told me that this clinic would treat my back problems using physical therapy and exercise. When I went to the back and neck clinic for the first time, I was interviewed by the resident physician about my back problems and he put me though some tests to determine that my back problems were not related to spinal problems. I then viewed a video on back pain, the causes of back pain, and how to protect your back no matter what your activity. I was then assigned to a therapist to begin my lower back exercises on machines designed to strengthen the extensor muscles in my lower back. The therapy sessions lasted for about ten weeks. When I started I was only able to lift resistance of about 60 ft/lb. This suprised me since I exercise regularly, but the exercises I have done to maintain fitness, such as biking, skiing, and running did little to strengthen my lower back muscles. At the end of ten weeks I was able to lift about 130 ft/lb. Upon completion of the therapy I was given a back exerciser that can be used to maintain my lower back strength. It is a rubber cord that attaches to a door and you stretch it to work out the lower back. It can also be used for a variety of other exercises. It is light and easily fits into my suitcase when I am away from home. The results of this therapy and lower back maintenance are that for the first time in fifteen years, I have been pain free. I also try to be more careful about my posture and how I use by back. I highly recommend this type of therapy for anyone who has chronic back problems. You will probably need to be referred by your family physician to this type of clinic. Most health insurance plans will pay for a specified amount of physical therapy. Lynn DesLauriers Soil Data Quality Specialist (Manu. and Interp) NRCS ######################################################################### BOO-SHOO! (HELLO) FROM THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE MAP FINISHING TEAM Contributed by Tom Neuenfeldt The Center for Excellence in soil map finishing continues to provide job opportunities to students at the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College and perform map finishing prior to digitizing. Eight students, Pam Crittenden (NRCS cartographic aide) and Tom Neuenfeldt (NRCS soil scientist) are working on the soil map overlays for Watonwan County [MN]. The soil line and symbol work for Watonwan County was completed in December. The next project is in the Eastern half of Marshall County [MN]. The students are doing the first step in the quality control process by checking each other's work. Through this process they catch and correct common errors. Crittenden assists the students with this part of the quality control process and Neuenfeldt checks all maps in a second quality control check and returns the maps to the students for correction. Quality Assurance is the responsibility of the Region 10 MO in St. Paul. Visitors are always welcome at the Center. Those who are traveling through Cloquet should stop by to see what is going on and add their names to the guest book. ######################################################################### SOIL QUALITY TEST KIT GUIDE DEBUTS NATIONWIDE Initial supplies of the soil quality test kit guide are being distributed to various NRCS offices nationwide. The two-part document is designed for use by NRCS field staffs, conservation districts, producers, and other agricultural professionals. The instruction section describes procedures for 12 on-farm tests of the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil. The tests can provide immediate results for comparing the effects of management systems on soil quality, monitoring soil quality over time, and comparing problem and non-problem areas. The interpretation section gives information for evaluating the results of each test, primarily for agricultural uses. The guide was developed by the NRCS Soil Quality Institute in partnership with the Agricultural Research Service and the National Soil Survey Center. It was field tested by NRCS State and field staffs in each region. From: NRCS This Week ######################################################################### NRCS SOIL SCIENTISTS HONORED BY TWO PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS NRCS employees recently received honors from two professional organizations. John Kimble, a research soil scientist at the National Soil Survey Center, received the International Soil Science Award from the American Society of Agronomy for outstanding international service. Maurice J. Mausbach, Deputy Chief for Soil Survey and Resource Assessment, received the honor of Fellow from the Soil Science Society of America. Dr. Mausbach was elected Fellow by other active members from a pool of only 3 percent of the active members of the society. From: NRCS This Week ######################################################################### INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SOIL RESOURCES: INVENTORY, ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATIONS FOR USE IN THE 21ST CENTURY Dates: June 10-12, 1999 Place: Thunderbird Motel-Minneapolis As part of the Soil Survey Centennial celebration in 1999, the International Conference on Soil Resources will unveil a vision of the potentials and needs for soil survey information in the 21st century. The Conference format will include several keynote speakers, about 20 oral presentations and poster displays. Panel and work group discussions for the main themes are also planned. For more information contact program chair, Jay Bell, E-mail (jbell@soils.umn.edu), or check out the web site at: http://soil.resources.umn.edu/99conf ######################################################################### SOIL SURVEY CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED IN MINNESOTA 1999 marks the 100th Anniversary of the National Soil Survey program. A State committee has been formed to organize activities in Minnesota. With the help of Joe McCloskey and support of Bill Hunt, a plan is in place to work with current and past supporters of the Soil Survey Program in Minnesota to commemorate this milestone with year long- activities and events. You can send your ideas and offers of assistance to any of the committee members listed below. Co-Chairs - Al Giencke and Ken Matzdorf Retirees - Dick Paulson and George Poch Field Rep. - Tom Jackson Partners - Jay Bell and Greg Larson Advisor - Sylvia Rainford To check local and national activities that are being planned go to the Minnesota Soils Web site at: http://www.mn.nrcs.usda.gov/soils/soils.html and click on "Soil Survey CENTENNIAL Information" ######################################################################### NEW PREWRITTEN MATERIAL FOR SOIL SURVEY MANUSCRIPTS A new version of the prewritten material for soil survey manuscripts has been prepared by Stan Anderson, Editor, NSSC, Lincoln, NE, and Pattie West, Editor, Region 10 MLRA Office, St. Paul, MN. This version is designed to accompany FOCS tables. A new version for NASIS tables is being prepared and will be made available at a later date. The material has been placed on the NSSC ftp site, in the PUB directory, in a file called SURVEYS, in a folder called PWMFOCS. The files are text only and do not contain any formatting. Please read the file called NOTES.PWM for important information about this version of the prewritten material. Paper copies of the new prewritten material will be sent to each state office. Please pass this information on to your editorial personnel. Stanley P. Anderson Editor, NSSC Pattie West Editor, Region 10 MLRA Office ######################################################################### ACREAGE AND PROPORTIONATE EXTENT BY COMPONENT--REPORT IN NASIS Below are instructions to query Acreage and Proportionate Extent by Component (soil), which it provides you with map symbols, soil names, acres, percent acres, county names, and datamapunit identification number. This query can be used as a tool for establishing MLRA Type Locations, Typical Pedons within the MLRA Soil Survey, Selecting Data Map Unit for a subset or MLRA, or any other correlation decisions. Step 1 In nasisclient, do " file, select" Choose the NASIS Site MLRA11_Office Query Name: highlight "Mapunit, Datamapunit by map unit name Target tabel: highlight all the TARGET FIELDS and APPLY Step 2 Type your MAPUNIT NAME IMATCHES as follows: for examples *blount* Step 3 VIEW menu, click LEGEND, then LEGEND Step 4 on the OPTIONS menu, select STANDARD REPORTS Step 5 On the NASIS Report Manager screen, choose the NASIS Site MLRA11_Office to display all reports owned by the local (MLRA 11_Office) database In the REPORT MANAGER column, scroll down until you kind the following report: ---MAPUNIT ACRES FROM LEGENDS AND REP DUMID If you have any questions, please contact Marie Robert or Henry Ferguson. From: Henry Ferguson, MO-11 ######################################################################### CATION EXCHANGE CAPACITY ACTIVITY CLASS DATA--DISCUSSIONS From: Andrew Williams As we update OSEDs here in MO12 (Amherst, Massachusetts) we are seeing quite a bit of variability in cec class data, not only between or among similar soils, but within the same series. For example, we have 6 pedons with lab data for the Paxton series (MA State Soil), with 1 superactive, 2 active, 2 semiactive, and 1 subactive! Are these really all the same series?...It is a question of site selection when sampling?...Is cec class, as calculated, a valid way to separate series? I would like to know how this is working out in other parts of the country. Andrew Williams Soil Data Quality Specialist MO12, Amherst, Massachusetts awilliams@ma.nrcs.usda.gov * * * * * From: Sue Southard Welcome to the real world! We have in MO2, many series that are now split 2 to 5 ways. It's a dilemma we have been dealing with... You can not just reclassify a series based on the modal profile either because the series range in characteristics concepts were developed using numerous pedons and now this supporting documentation falls all over the place. Believe me, we know what you are dealing with.... Susan Southard Soil Data Quality Specialist Davis, CA * * * * * From: Richard Tummons Howdy, I thought that if I waited long enough to reply I could get in the last word on CEC activity classes. Missouri is fortunate to have a soil characterization lab funded by the state to accelerate the soil survey program. The lab has been in operation for about 15 years, and I estimate that they have averaged completing characterization data for about 300 to 400 pedons per year. So I may have a little more lab data to base the CEC activity family than most of you do. It is unusual for the lab data for one series in this state to cover all four CEC activity classes. Subactive is a rare class here. They typically cover two or three activity classes. It is not unusual for a series to be entirely in one activity class. Even where the data covers two or three activity classes, the majority of the pedons tend to cluster within a fairly reasonable range. If the cluster is mostly in one activity class, it is an easy call. Frequently the cluster overlaps two classes. When this happens, I compare the series to similar soils, and make a classification based on similarities of parent materials and landscape position. Because of the overlap between classes, the typical pedon for a series may not necessarily have the CEC activity class that is assigned to the series. In those cases, I add a statement to the REMARKS section of the OSD stating that "although the typical pedon is active, the majority of pedons sampled are superactive, and the classification is based on the majority of data", or some similar statement. If the typical pedon for a soil survey area is not the same as the series to which it is correlated, I will make a correlation note in the final correlation document to explain the difference. I do not set up a new series based solely on the CEC activity class. When updating older series that were established and mapped prior to our having the lab, I use classifications based on similar soils. The CEC/clay ratio follows trends based on parent material and landscape position. For example, floodplain soils here are virtually all superactive. Terrace soils here are mostly either superactive or active. The higher and more stable the terrace, the lower the CEC/clay ratio. The only semiactive terraces here are in the Ozark Mountains on high, old terrace positions. Upland soils follow the same trends. Soils with the same or similar parent materials and landscape positions tend to have similar CEC/clay ratios. There are some other trends I have noticed on CEC/clay ratios. There is a definate north/south trend in this state. The further south, the lower the CEC/clay ratio. This may be related to the longer growing season and higher rainfall in southern Missouri. I am assuming that there is more of a chance of bases being leached in the warmer, wetter climate. Also, the higher the base saturation in the soil, the higher the CEC/clay ratio. I don't know about other areas, but I have found no correlation to percent clay and the CEC/clay ratio. There is much more of a correlation to base saturation. To answer the question posed by MO 12, I normally would not separate soil series based solely on CEC activity class. I assign the class to a series based on the best information I have at the time, and recognize that there are normal variations within a series. In the absence of lab data, I would group similar soils into CEC activity families based on parent material and landscape position. The exception would be if I had a soil that was nearly identical to a series from an area that was a long distance off, such as Massachusetts. Rather than bring a Massachusetts series into Missouri, I would use the CEC activity family as a series separation if it was different. Opposing viewpoints are welcome. * * * * * From: Wayne Gabriel Thanks for sharing your comments, I think the way you are handing CEC activity classes is right on target. I benefited a lot from your comments. Thanks, Wayne Gabriel SDQS, Temple, MO9 * * * * * From: Thor Thorson Richard; This is reply concerning the CEC activity class. You did a great job in summerizing what we do in MO-1 for placing soils into a CEC class. The last thing we want to be doing is proposing series for which there is no need. We would handle the CEC as a taxadjunct if the classification differs but there is no difference in use, mgmt or major interps. Thor Thorson MO-1 ######################################################################### ROUTING OFFICIAL SERIES DESCRIPTIONS FOR COMMENT--DISCUSSIONS By: JOHN C. DOLL MO-11 has for some time eliminated hardcopy mailings of OSDs for comment. Everything is done electronically. Below is an example of a recently routed IRD. While some SDQS here still use UNIX/SSSD to edit the OSD, I do everything from my PC. The process goes something like this. The MLRA Project Leader prepare the electronic copy for updating. They download the OSD from Ames and edit this "Official Series Description." Edits are in the standard ^insert^ and [delete] format. I review the edits, prepare an update version to enter into the Ames database, and route the OSD for comment. When major edits are involved, I will route the ^ ^, [ ] version along with the "clean" edited version. I have a mail group for OSD reviews. When the OSD is e-mailed to the reviewers, I also FTP the file to "sunny" at Ames. Click and drag - it's as simple as that. MO-11 is in the process of writing the protocol for series updates. We plan to identify responsibilities for Resource Soil Scientists/Project Leaders, MLRA Project Leaders, and Soil Data Quality Specialists. Something we have not discussed, but need to be looking towards, is a central source for the "history" files (formerly the .a files). Right now I maintain them as a separate directory on my PC. This system seems to be working well, and is well received by the OSD reviewers. JOHN C. DOLL Soil Data Quality Specialist mailto:john.doll@in.nrcs.usda.gov -------------------------------------------------------------- The Cates Series Official Series Description is printed below. This is the routing for the INITIAL REVIEW DRAFT. This is a new series being established as part of the MLRA 111 update activities in Fountain and surrounding Counties in Indiana. The "history" file is printed after the Series Description. Your comments by 4/2/99 would be appreciated. Comments can be sent e-mail to me or sent surface mail to my attention at: 6013 Lakeside Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46278-2933. -------------------------------------------- LOCATION CATES IN Tentative Series INITIAL REVIEW DRAFT MLW/BC 3/99 CATES SERIES The Cates series consists of moderately deep, well drained soils that formed in residuum from siltstone. Permeability is moderately slow. Slopes range from 25 to 75 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 40 inches, and mean annual temperature is about 51 degrees F. TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, active, mesic Dystric Eutrudepts Typical pedon of Cates channery silt loam, on a 30 percent northwest facing slope, in woods. (Colors are for moist soil unless stated otherwise.) Oi--0 to 1 inches; partially decomposed leaves from mixed deciduous trees. (0 to 2 inches thick) A--1 to 4 inches; dark brown (10YR 3/3), gray (2.5Y 5/1)dry; channery silt loam; moderate medium granular structure; friable; many fine and medium roots throughout; 16 percent channers; moderately acid; abrupt smooth boundary. (3 to 6 inches thick) Bw1--4 to 10 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) very channery silt loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common fine and medium roots throughout; 46 percent channers; strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. Bw2--10 to 17 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) very channery silt loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common fine and medium roots throughout; 47 percent channers; strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. Bw3--17 to 26 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) very channery silt loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; common fine and medium roots throughout; few distinct patchy black (10YR 2/1) manganese or iron-manganese accumulations on rock fragments; 53 percent channers; strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. (12 to 22 inches thick) 2C--26 to 36 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) extremely channery clay loam; massive; very firm; common fine and medium roots in cracks; 61 percent channers; strongly acid; abrupt irregular boundary. (5 to 12 inches thick) 2R--36 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) strongly cemented, fractured siltstone bedrock. TYPE LOCATION: Fountain County, Indiana, 2000 feet east and 160 feet south of the northwest corner of section 21, T22N., R6W.; USGS Westpoint topographic quadrangle; lat. 40 degrees 20 minutes 40.2 seconds N, and long. 87 degrees 6 minutes 15 seconds W., NAD 27. Approximately 620 feet elevation. RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to a lithic contact is 20 to 40 inches. Rock fragments are dominantly channers, but include flagstones, and are strongly or very strongly cemented. Rock fragments in the particle-size control section average from 35 to 65 percent. The A horizon has value of 3 or 4, and chroma of 2 or 3. It is silt loam or loam or the channery analog of these. Reaction ranges from slightly acid to extremely acid. Rock fragments range from 0 to 35 percent. The E horizon where present has value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 2 or 3. It is silt loam or loam or the channery analog of these. It is slightly acid to extremely acid. The Bw has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 4 to 6. It is channery or very channery silt loam or loam. Rock fragments range from 20 to 60 percent. It is moderately acid to extremely acid. The 2C horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 5 or 6, and chroma of 4 to 6. It is very or extremely channery clay loam, silt loam or loam. Rock fragments range from 40 to 85 percent. It is moderately acid to extremely acid. The 2R is strongly cemented, fractured siltstone bedrock. COMPETING SERIES: The Judyville (T) series. The Judyville soils are formed in residuum from sandstone. GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Cates soils are on steep and very steep backslopes of hills and knobs. Slopes range from 25 to 75 percent. They formed in residuum from siltstone. The mean annual temperature ranges from 48 to 53 degrees F., and the mean annual precipitation ranges from 38 to 42 inches. GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are Adeland (T), Loudonville, Miami, Rainsville, Rockfield, Russell, and Silverwood (T) soils. The somewhat poorly drained Adeland soils are on flats or depressions of uplands. The well drained Loudonville soils are on rises on uplands. The moderately well drained Miami soils are on rises of nearby uplands. The moderately well drained Rainsville and Rockfield soils are on ground and end moraines. The well drained Russell soils are on nearby uplands. The well drained Silverwood soils are on adjacent terraces underlain with sand and gravel DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. The potential for surface runoff is high or very high. Permeability is moderately slow. USE AND VEGETATION: Almost all areas are in mixed oak-hickory forest, the native vegetation. DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRA 111 in west-central Indiana. This series is of small extent. MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana SERIES PROPOSED: Fountain County, Indiana, 1999. The source of the name is the town of Cates in Fountian County, Indiana. REMARKS: Cates soils were correlated as Muskingum soils in previous surveys. Diagnostic horizons recognized in this pedon are: Ochric epipedon: the zone from 1 to 4 inches (A); Cambic horizon: the zone from approximately 4 to 26 inches (Bw1, Bw2, Bw3); Lithic contact: the zone where soil meets hard bedrock at 36 inches. ADDITIONAL DATA: Lab data: National Soil Survey Lab, Lincoln, NE., data available S98IN-045-006, (typical pedon). National Cooperative Soil Survey U.S.A. ----------------------------------------------- SERIES NAME: CATES MLRA: 111 3/16/1999 (jcd) -Cates soils were previously correlated as Muskingum soils in previous surveys. -lab data supports taxonomic placement. Lab data: National Soil Survey Lab, Lincoln, NE., data available S98IN-045-006, (typical pedon). -SC file updated this date -SC file checked for competing series: LOAMY-SKELETAL, MIXED, ACTIVE, MESIC DYSTRIC EUTRUDEPTS CATES . . . . . . . . T IN JUDYVILLE . . . . . . T IN -sent to OSD file as tentative series this date -routed OSD as IRD this date * * * * * From: "Wayne J. Gabriel" John it sounds like a good workable system. It is my hope that we get an OSD management system developed by the NSSC that will allow us to use your procedure and maintain the history files on a networked CCE Windows NT box so all of our staff can access it. Have your University cooperators had any problems receiving or reading the files you send them with revision marks? * * * * * From: Steve Park We here in MO6 have been utilizing the Revisions Tools in Microsoft Word 6.0 to make, review, and accept edits to OSDs. I find it much easier to review edits than inserting "^" or [] marks and then having to delete them later. If you have this option you may want to check it out. * * * * * From: John Doll Sue Southard comments that MO in Davis, CA is also doing electronic update notification. They are making updates to OSDs and then notifying "users" that changes are made and that the updated OSD is available at Ames. The .a type of info is placed in the REMARKS section of the OSD as an "Edit Log." My comments: I initially used a similar notification process, i.e. making changes then telling the reviewers that they could pull a copy from Ames and review. I have since changed to including the revised OSD in the e-mail notification. I did this because there is a time lag between when the osd is placed in the "incoming" folder at Ames and when it is available, usually over night. When I sent the e-mail at the same time as the FTP to ames, some recipients would get the mail notification and not be able to review the changes, yet. So, I started including the changes in the e-mail notification. Also, if the OSD update involves change of type location or change in classification, the OSD is routed as INITIAL REVIEW DRAFT. These should not be stored at Ames because they are not "official" until after the review process is complete. So, the way that I route them allows me to get comments prior to updating the osd at Ames. Also, by routing the osd with the ^^ and [], the reviewer can see exactly what chages have been made. As for adding .a information to the osd, I guess I'm sort of a purest. I am not convinced yet that the OSD is the best place to maintain the .a types of information. Wayne G., you asked about cooperators being able to receive the information. The answer is yes. But I did check with each of them to make sure. I initially sent the OSD as an attachment to the e-mail. Some had problems with that. So now I include the OSD in the body of the e-mail. Steve P., you comment that you use MicroSoft Word Revision Tools. I had specific requests not to use them because not all of my reviewers were able to read the files with the formats inserted by Revision Tools. I agree there are better edit techniques out there that the ^insert^ and [delete] procedures we are using in MO-11, but the reviewers must be able to work with files I send them. So for now, I think I'm stuck with ^^[]. JOHN C. DOLL Soil Data Quality Specialist ######################################################################### NASIS INTERPRETATIONS From: Marc Crouch It almost sounds like NASIS was not meant to generate information. That is was developed to store information only. Why have we taken a step backwards in interp generation? or, when will it routinely generate interps based on the data we provide? It is ludicrous that we not only enter all the data manually but also have to maintain each interp manually. Think of the quality control and quality assurance involved. As long as we maintain the series concept as a standard, we have the quality issue of DMU component and horizon data and the series standard. If we also have to provide quality checks on each interp that the data can generate, what a workload. We used to be able to rely on interp generation that at least was consistent. Now, with manual generation, the human factor is involved and consistency is threatened. When is this thing going to work the way we were lead to believe it would work? * * * * * From: "Wayne J. Gabriel" Marc, Interp generation of the old style standard interps is one of the very few functions where NASIS implementation actually increased our workload. I agree wholeheartedly that NASIS and computers should be doing all of the grunt work for us. NASIS and the HP computers have the capability. If NASIS can generate the old standard interps, than I have really missed the boat. Our users still want those interps and I can't in good conscience give them interpretations that I don't understand, that are still in the DRAFT stage, or lack documentation. Don't get me wrong though. I am a big NASIS user and wouldn't go back to SSSD if you doubled my salary. It is a tremendous improvement over SSSD. * * * * * From: Wayne Gabriel 1. We have run the Pangea Interp reports in NASIS and after three training sessions I still don't completely understand the output because the interps are not documented. It is all very fuzzy. 2. We are fulfilling our commitments by manually entering the old standard interpretations in NASIS that we have to generate manually using the criteria in the National Soils Handbook. This is a big step backward. In SSSD the computer did this work for us. 3. We are using stored interpretations that are edited manually. Editing manually is costing us lots of time. 4. We have not written any custom interpretations. If the output is still too fuzzy for us to comprehend, then custom interps have got to be much more difficult. 5. We run the old standard interps from NASIS to assess exact joins. We need the old standard interpretations generator like we had in SSSD before we do any more work on fuzzy interpretations. We agree with your summary comments completely. I have made similar comments about interpretations at the two SBAAG meetings I have attended. These comments represent the sentiment of MO9 personnel. * * * * * From: Rick Fielder, MO-16 In response on asking for feedback on how we are handling interpretations, I have a few comments noted below: 1. We have run some of the Pangea INTERP reports on our NASIS data. The reports, especially those in "draft" format still need a lot of improvement and are not ready for release. I believe with a little revision in rating classes and terminology, these reports in NASIS could be prepared on a regional basis to meet our needs. 2. We are presently using stored interpretations, which are edited, for manuscript tables. 3. I have just started an attempt to write custom interpretations. For background, I did attend a 3 day session on developing interpretations several months back. Since then I had not spent a lot of time on developing interpretations until recently. It took about 2 days for me to review the material on interpretations, and gain an understanding of the concept and where to start. My impression of the interpretation generator is that it gives us a very powerful tool in developing ratings based on local and/or regional conditions. 4. Because of the flexibility offered in the NASIS Interp. Generator, we have an alternative to standard ratings and terminology. This can be a positive or negative depending on how we view this capability. 5. I feel with a little time and effort we can replicate the interpretations we once received from ISU in NASIS. Is this really what we want ??? NASIS perhaps, gives us the capabilty to improve on what we once had from ISU. Just a few comments on NASIS Interpretations. ######################################################################### WEB SITES OF INTEREST 1. http://nasis.nrcs.usda.gov/nasis/comment.shtml Your opportunity to provide to the NASIS programmers at Ft. Collins feed back, comments, problems, and additional user requirements. 2. http://www.statlab.iastate.edu/soils/index.html NRCS Soil Survey Division Home Page. Lots of links to other sites. ######################################################################### Last month, the following x3780 files were sent to offices having SSSD: x3780.417frig on May 3 (74 updated OSDs) @ x3780.418frig on May 4 (82 updated OSDs) @ x3780.419mes on May 6 (51 updated OSDs) * @ Sent to offices using soils in the frigid soil temperature regime. * Sent to offices using soils in the mesic soil temperature regime. # Sent to all offices. The above x3780s contained the following updated Official Series Descriptions, which can also be obtained at: http://www.statlab.iastate.edu/cgi-bin/osd/osdname.cgi frigid aazdahl...allivar...almora...athelwold...audubon...balaton...beechwood... brandt...brookings...bygland...chapett...clitherall...clontarf...darnen... dent...doland...dorset...duelm...elderon...elkriver...ensign...estelline.. fordtown...fordville...formdale...goldsmith...gonvick...halverson...hantho ...haslie...hedman...johnswood...knute...kranzburg...kratka...lablatz... langhei...langola...lismore...lizzie...malachy...mehurin...mesaba...moberg ...moppet...mosford...moshawquit...mosinee...mylrea...nadeau...nary... nashwauk...naytahwaus...nebish...neconish...neopit...newfound...nickin... nitche...northland...northmound...noseum...novak...nunica...oakcreek... odanah...oesterle...onstad...ontonagon...ortonville...osakis...ossmer... otterholt...oylen...padus...padwet...peever...pelan...pemene...perote... peshtigo...pierz...plover...poinsett...point...pomroy...posen...poskin... potagannis...potatolake...quarderer...rabe...redeye...rentill...renwash... ribhil...ribriver...ricelake...rietbrock...rockbottom...rockwood...rosholt ...rosy...rothsay...rozellvill...ribicon...rudyard...rusklyn...sanborg... sanburn...sandberg...santiago...satago...scoba...sconsin...scott_lake... sieche...singsass...sissabagam...sisseton...skagen...skime...snellman... sodervile...sol...southhaven...spear...spencer...steamboat...strayhoss... sugarbush...sundell...suomi...sverdrup...sybil...tara...taylor...thistledew ...tilleda...toimi...tourtillot...two_inlets...venagro...verndale...vienna ...warba...watton...waubay...waukon...weetown...wickware...withee... worcester...wykeham...yellowbank...zerkel mesic ackmore...adair...armstrong...ashgrove...barremills...betts...brice... brinkman...bucknell...cantril...chelsea...contrary...coppock...douds... elkmound...exette...fayette...galland...givin...gosport...greenridge... hedrick...inton...judson...kalona...keomah...killduff...klum...koszta... ladoga...lambeau...lamoni...mindoro...nira...nordness...northbend...olmitz ...ray...rosendale...rubio...shelby...sperry...storden...sunburg...taintor ...timula...tuskeego...urne...vesser...watkins...zook ######################################################################## CHANGED ADDRESSES AND PHONE NUMBERS 1. Gary McCoy NRCS PO Box 167 Stanton, NE 68779-0167 402-439-2166 Extension - 120 ######################################################################### ACTIVITY SCHEDULE (through July 15--subject to change) MLRA DATE ACTIVITY LOCATION MO 10 STAFF ---- --------- ---------------------------- ----------------- ----------- 92 Jul 12-16 Progress Field Review Ashland Jahnke 93 Jul 12-16 Progress Field Review Ashland Jahnke 105 Jun 07-11 Initial Field Review Richland Center Jahnke 107 Jun 21-25 Correlation Amendment Pierce Hempel all Jun 01-03 Town Hall Meeting Davenport McCloskey Walker Hempel all Jun 10-12 MO Leaders Meeting Anchorage McCloskey all Jun 28-02 NCSS Conference St. Louis Giencke all Jul 12-15 Digitizing Unit Leaders Mtg Madison McCloskey ######################################################################### CONTRIBUTIONS, IDEAS, SUGGESTIONS, AND QUESTIONS ARE WELCOME Thanks to those individuals who participated this month. It is your efforts that are making this newsletter a success. * * * * * Please submit your articles at least five days before the end of the month for inclusion in the following month's newsletter. Otherwise it will appear the following month. Occasionally, due to other workload demands, it may be an additional month before the article appears. Generally, articles are inserted in the order they are received. Articles in an electronic format can be submitted to: jfh@mn.nrcs.usda.gov It is best if electronic articles are prepared in a "text only" format. Articles in a paper format can be sent or faxed to: John Handler MLRA Region 10 Office USDA - NRCS 375 Jackson Street - Suite 600 St. Paul, Minnesota 55101-1854 FAX: 1-651-602-7914 * * * * * This newsletter is intended to be a forum to distribute information of a general nature that will benefit soil scientists in soil survey project offices. It is hoped that it will foster communications and sharing of knowledge among those soil scientists in MLRA Region 10. * * * * * The format of this newsletter is intentionally simple so that it can be received, read, and printed by the project office having the least sophisticated computer setup. * * * * * Previous month's copies of this newsletter are available at: http://www.mn.nrcs.usda.gov/mo10/mo10.html #########################################################################