Theeligible counties are: Alameda, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Contra Costa, ElDorado, Fresno, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin,Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento,San Bernardino, San Diego, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano,Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, and Yolo.NRCS has worked with academic, conservation, regulatory and industry groups toidentify agricultural practices that will reduce ozone precursors [oxides ofNitrogen (NOx) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)] and particulate matter[respirable (PM10) and fine (PM2.5)] emissions from agricultural sources.Applications will be ranked according to the amount of emission reductionsachieved in the proposed plan. Funded practices include the NRCS' combustions system air emissions managementpractice to improve high polluting, fully functional engines with newer,reduced-emission technologies that meet or exceed current emission standards.Stationary, portable and heavy-duty off-road mobile systems will be included.Other covered air quality practices will include conservation tillage, dustcontrol on farm roads, precision pest control, and manure injection.For the complete list of practices and for information on how payments will becalculated see visitwith your local NRCS conservationists.Interested applicants in eligible counties should contact their local NRCSservice center. A list of offices is available at SOURCEUSDA - Natural Resources Conservation ServiceAnita Brown, +1-530-792-5644, Alan Forkey, +1-530-792-5653, or Ted Strauss,+1-559-252-2191, all of USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service. LONDON, May 1 (Reuters) - Property tycoon VincentTchenguiz's investment vehicle Elsina said on Friday more thanhalf of shareholders in Bramdean Alternatives Ltd (BRAL.L)backed a plan to oust the hedge fund group's board. The group had received written commitments and verbalundertakings representing in excess of 50 percent of the sharesin Bramdean Alternatives, the spokesman told Reuters (Reporting by Joel Dimmock).

Flamemaster Reports Revenue and Earnings Decline for the Quarter and Six MonthsEnded March 31, 2009PACOIMA, Calif., May 1, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Flamemaster Corporation (PinkSheets:FAME) today reported net income of $88,412 or $.07 per share on sales of$1,301,718 for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, compared to net of $201,109 or$.16 per share on sales of $1,569,421 in the year earlier period. Net Incomedeclined by 56% on a 17% decrease in sales.For the six month period ended March 31, 2009, sales decreased by 9.7% to$2,625,276 from $2,907,916 in the year earlier period. For the six months theCompany reported earnings of $154,084 or $.13 per share vs 240,942 or $.20 pershare. Sales and earnings were impacted by the overall weakness in the economy.The Company's new product development (having added several new enhancedproducts over the past year) provided a buffer to the down turn and cause foroptimism of future growth potential.Flamemaster is a Southern California based specialty chemicals manufacturer ofhigh performance sealants, adhesives and coatings, servicing the Aerospace,Defense, Energy, and Transportation industries.The release herein may contain or identify a forward-looking statement.

Thesestatements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates, which areinherently subject to uncertainty and contingencies, many of which are beyondthe control of the company and reflect future business decisions, which aresubject to change. Three months endedSix months ended -------------------------------------------3/31/09 3/31/083/31/093/31/08 --------- --------------------------- Sales 1,301,718 1,569,4212,625,2762,907,916 Net Income 88,412 201,109154,084240,942 --------- --------------------------- Net income per share $.07$.16 $.13 $.20 (fully diluted)-0-CONTACT:Flamemaster CorporationJoseph Mazin, President & CEO(818) 890-1401Fax: (818) http://. * FFO rises 13.5 percent Stocks  |  Global Markets* Cuts dividend* Stock slides 5.6 percent (Recasts first sentence; adds CEO and analyst quotes; updatesstock price) NEW YORK, May 1 (Reuters) - Simon Property Group Inc(SPG.N) posted better-than-expected results on lower expenses,but the largest U.S. mall owner cut its cash and stockdividend, sending its stock down 5 percent. Simon reported first-quarter funds from operations (FFO)rose 13.5 percent to $476.8 million, or $1.61 per share, onhigher rent and lower expenses.