College of Natural Resources (CNR)�Biology Colloquium Series speaker Tom Weber, retired interim chief of the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), will discuss the 2007 Farm Bill at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point at 3 p.m., Thursday, April 7.

The presentation, "Perspectives on Conservation in the 2007 Farm Bill," will be held in CNR Room 120 and will be open to the public free of charge.

Weber graduated from UWSP in 1971 with a bachelor�s degree in resource management. He went on to earn master�s degrees in forestry from Northern Arizona University and in management from Stanford University. He began his career with the NRCS as a soil scientist.

Through the years, he filled a variety of roles in the agency including interim chief, associate chief, deputy chief for programs, deputy chief for science and technology, and state conservationist of New Mexico. In 2002 when Weber was named associate chief of the NRCS, he was accountable for the implementation of the conservation provisions of the 2002 Farm Bill. With an increased investment in conservation programs of $17.1 billion over 10 years, the Farm Bill is the single largest investment in conservation on working agricultural land in U.S. history.

Weber recently retired from the NRCS and received the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Service.