Neil Million is retiring from the Soil & Water Conservation District after more than 40 years of service.

Neil Million started his federal career with Soil Conservation Service (SCS) as a part-time WAE (When Actually Employed) April 20, 1982, in Rock Port. He then applied and received a full-time position as a Soil Conservationist Aid (GS-3) October 31, 1982, still in Rock Port. He applied for a Soil Conservation Technician position for Atchison County January 8, 1984, and remained in that role until his retirement. SCS became NRCS (Natural Resource Conservation Service) in 1995.

In 1983, 100 miles of terraces were installed in Atchison County through the Agriculture Conservation Program that was administered by ASCS (Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service). Atchison County was at the forefront of conservation from the beginning. They were number one in the state, with Pettis County a close second with 85 miles installed.

In 1988, through the Soil and Water Cost Share Program, Atchison County utilized $1 million dollars of Missouri state taxpayers’ money towards earthmoving practices such as terraces, water and sediment control basins, and underground outlets to help conserve soil. Since that year, Atchison County has been consistently in the top five or less counties in the state for cost share spent on practices to prevent sheet and rill erosion practices.

During Neil’s years of service in the Rock Port Service Center, he has worked with and helped train 20 soil conservationists, most who have gone on to be supervisors within the agency. He has worked under five state conservationists, seven area conservationists, and two district conservationists.

Not only did Neil plan, lay out, design, and check earthmoving conservation measures in the hills, he worked after several major flood events to assist producers with levee repair, sand and debris removal, and drainage ditch cleanout.

During his career he started designing terraces with HP41 Calculator, then 6300 Computer and finally a Window based TDT. As far as GPS technology, first it was a Garmin handheld unit, GPS backpack, ProXYZ, and finally Survey Grade Trimble Equipment.

Some of Neil’s other duties included laying out CRP (Conservation Reserve Program), completing FSA compliance field reviews in the spring, promoting farm bill programs such as EQIP cover crops and nutrient management. He is the go-to person when construction issues arise, not only in Atchison County, but also Holt and Nodaway counties. For the last few years Neil has been providing training to newer NRCS and SWCD technicians in Northwest Missouri.

Neil’s farming background and math skills have served him well in this position. He has followed NRCS standards and specs as well as promoted farmability for his producers.

This day has been a long time coming. Neil has been eligible for retirement a few years, but just wasn’t ready until now. In retirement, Neil plans to work for local farmers during planting and harvest seasons, spend time with family, and promises to visit former co-workers.

Neil and his wife, Donna, live in Tarkio. Family includes Ashley and Adam Cook and their children, Bracton and Braeley, Andrea Meek and her children, Brynleigh and Brecklynn, and Angela and Justin Bell and their daughter, Addison. Neil is the son of Kerri and the late Lennis Million, Rock Port, Missouri, and Ginny and Jack Vernon, Fairfax, Missouri.

Neil will be honored at an open house Friday, July 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the USDA Field office in Rock Port. Stop by and wish him well.