Lego Robotics
Four-H members or leaders interested in learning about LegoRobotics should contact the WVU Extension Office at 304-799-4852 by Wednesday, February 1.

Master Gardener sign-up
The WVU Extension Service is now accepting sign-ups for this Spring's West Virginia Master Gardener Training Course.  Each of the 10 classes will be approximately three hours long for a total of 30 hours of classroom training.  The course schedule will be announced following sign-up.  Cost for the course will be $80.  Sign-up deadline is Friday, February 3.  Those who signed up in August, when we were unable to offer the training, should call and sign up again if still interested.  Call the WVU Extension Office at 304-799-4852 for more information or to sign up for the course.

WV Agricultural Enhancement Program funding available
The Greenbrier Valley Conservation District is currently taking applications for the 2012 AEP Program.  The West Virginia Agriculture Enhancement Program (WV AEP) is a pilot program administered by the West Virginia Conservation Agency through local Conservation Districts to increase farm productivity by conserving soil and making wise use of agricultural resources and to improve water quality in the state's streams and rivers. The program offers technical and cost-share assistance as an incentive to implement selected best management practices (BMPs). The basis of the program is to increase farm profitability and sustainability and encourage the voluntary installation of agricultural best management practices.
Applications are available at your local WVU Extension Office, online or by email from David Gardner GVCD Grassland Technician at dgardner@wvca.us Applications must be received by the Greenbrier Valley Conservation District Office in Lewisburg by 4 p.m. on March 1. Applications sent by mail, email or fax will also be accepted.  For more information you may call the Greenbrier Valley Conservation District at 304-645-6172 or your WVU Extension Office at 304-799-4852.

Eighth annual WV Small Farms Conference
The eighth annual West Virginia Small Farm Conference will be held March 1-3 at the Waterfront Place Hotel and Conference Center in Morgantown. Registration and schedule are available online at www.smallfarmcenter.ext.wvu/conference

4-H Leaders Association Meeting
All 4-H leaders are invited to attend the next Leaders Association Meeting Thursday, January 26, at 6 p.m. in the Extension Office.

Poster and Photo Contests
All entries in the county poster and photo contests are due in the Extension Office by January 31.  If you have questions, contact your local 4-H club leader or the Extension Office.

State 4-H Weekend Camps
All 4-H members in grades six and up should have received a postcard about State Dance Camp and Teen Leaders Weekend.  Any 4-Her who did not receive this information should call 304-799-4852.

Dramas, Fairs and Festivals applications
Grant applications are due in the Extension Office by February 1.  For more information or to acquire an application form, call the office at 304-799-4852. 
The Dramas, Fairs and Festivals Committee will meet Monday, February 13, at 10:30 a.m. in the Extension Office.

2012 WV 4-H Women's Basketball Day
All WV 4-Hers, their families and friends are invited to attend a WV 4-H Women's Basketball Day at the WVU Coliseum on Saturday, February 18, at 4 p.m. The cost is $18 per person and this includes a ticket to the WVU - DePaul Women's Game, a 4-H sweatshirt and insurance. Registration deadline for this game is Monday, February 6. Send check, made payable to the WV 4-H Alumni Association, and sweatshirt size to the Pocahontas County Extension Office, 900-E 10th Avenue, Marlinton WV 24954 before the deadline. In the event of snow and you are unable to attend, there will be no snow date and no refunds will be made, but sweatshirts will be delivered.

USDA Funding for Water Quality Markets
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced a funding opportunity that will bring states, USDA and other stakeholders together to enhance the effectiveness of water quality credit trading. USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service is providing up to $10 million in Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for these projects, with up to $5 million focused on water quality credit trading in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Proposals for projects are due March 2, 2012.
"For the first time USDA has offered funding specifically for water quality trading. We want to help states and other partners develop robust and meaningful markets," Vilsack said. "Our goal is to demonstrate that markets are a cost-effective way to improve water quality in places like the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and agricultural producers are critical to the function of these markets."
"Water quality credit trading is a market-based approach to lowering the costs of reducing pollution, and has the potential to engage more farmers in water quality improvement efforts through the implementation of more conservation practices on agricultural lands," said Kevin Wickey, West Virginia State Conservationist. "Through water quality credit trading, a producer who implements conservation practices to reduce water quality pollutants can also benefit by generating water quality market credits that could be sold in an open market, which would reduce the costs of implementing and maintaining the conservation practices." NRCS requests CIG proposals for projects that:
·Support the completion of state water quality market rules and infrastructure needed to carry out water quality trading between point and non-point sources;
·Deploy and test tools and metrics needed for crediting and verifying the effectiveness of conservation practices on agricultural lands;
·Establish certification, registry and reporting systems; and
·Educate and reach out to agriculture and other sectors.
CIG funds will be awarded through a competitive grants process. At least 50 percent of the total cost of CIG projects must come from non-Federal matching funds, including cash and in-kind contributions provided by the grant recipient. Projects must involve producers who are eligible for the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
To apply electronically, visit Grants.gov or contact your local NRCS office.