Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

A 2015 meeting of the NCERA-3 Committee was scheduled for Tuesday June 9, 2015, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM, at the Holiday Inn Downtown in Duluth, MN, the conference venue for the NCSS National Conference).

The change form the regular Sunday meeting schedule was made so that NCERA-3 members and guests could attend the NCSS Field trip on the Sunday prior to the conference and attendance at the talk on climate hubs by Jerry Hatfield from 8:00-8:30 AM, as well as the Tuesday afternoon training sessions of the NCSS Conference.

Unfortunately, few NCERA-3 members attended the conference, insufficient to form a quorum of members. Hence no formal meeting was held in Duluth.

A teleconference for NCERA-3 was held on Thursday, February 25, 2016, at 1:00 PM EST. Participants in the teleconference were:

Mickey Ransom, Kansas

Kevin McSweeney, Illinois

Mike Konen, Illinois

Brian Slater, Ohio

Maxine Levin, National Leader SS Interpretations, NRCS

Topics discussed included:

2016 Meeting Plans:

It was decided that the 2016 meeting would be convened at the North Central Regional Soil Survey Planning Conference to be held July 12-15, 2016, hosted by Northern Illinois University. It was suggested that the NCERA-3 meeting could be held on the morning of Tuesday July 12, before the formal NCSS meeting sessions begin in the afternoon. 10:00 AM was suggested.

Membership:

It was noted that several active members have retired, and that several states do not have regular participants. Kevin McSweeney offered to encourage participation from Alfred Hartemink from Wisconsin. Mickey Ransom offered to contact possible Nebraska representatives. Ed Nater informed NCER-3 that Nic Jelinski would be the new representative form Minnesota.

Maxine Levin provided updates on relevant NRCS events and changes.

Curtis Monger is now National Leader, Soil Survey Standards, and will be a good liaison for NCERA-3.

Jon Hempel has retired. David Hoover now Acting Director.

Major SS initiatives and challenges:

NEON (National Ecological Observatory Network). Extensive soil sampling involved.

EPA: Wetland function analysis.

Soil survey disaggregation: training opportunities.

New raster data model for data delivery: development challenges.

Kevin McSweeney led a discussion on Field Training and Learning Opportunities for Students

• There are too few field opportuntiies for studnts and NCERA-3 could provide a service in this area.
• Students enjoy and learn greatly during both local and international field trips.
• A number of NCERA-3 participants lead field excursions in various places (e.g. Iceland, Costa Rica, Illinois etc.)
• Some good examples of cooperative opportunities: University of California
• Relationship with soil judging may provide future possibilities.
• SSSA committee attempted to develop a Midwestern course, but too few participants for support.
• It was suggested that a review of current opportunities could be shared with the NCER-3 group and perhaps a poster developed for meetings. Futher NCER-3 discussion is encouraged.