NACD recently announced the recipients of the first round of grants for the Historically Underserved Farmer-to-Farmer Outreach Program. Two Soil and Water Conservation Districts were selected to receive funding to implement innovative techniques that will reduce non-point source pollution in the Gulf of Mexico and to work directly with Native American and historically underserved producers to increase the sustainability and resiliency of their operations.

Recognizing the urgency of addressing nutrient runoff from agricultural activities in the Mississippi River Basin, NACD, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Gulf of Mexico Division (GMD), launched the program. Through a competitive selection process, NACD identified two outstanding grantees whose proposals demonstrated innovative strategies to address the unique needs of underserved farming populations.

The inaugural round of grantees includes:

• The Guadalupe Soil and Water Conservation District in New Mexico will design and install an implementation project to address the degradation of the Pintada Arroyo Watershed due to erosion and sedimentation. This project will provide an educational opportunity for underserved producers in the watershed to witness the effectiveness of erosion control projects and learn how to implement similar practices on their properties.
• The Marengo County Soil and Water Conservation District in Alabama will begin the implementation of climate-smart water, soil, and plant health monitoring activities to decrease agriculture input costs and increase yields on historically underserved producer farms in Marengo County, Alabama and Jackson County, Florida. This will be accomplished using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and mapping software to monitor water, crop, forest, and soil health.

NACD is now soliciting proposals for the next round of funding to expand the program’s impact. To foster new collaborations and innovations, NACD seeks initiatives that address the pressing environmental challenges faced by historically underserved farming communities. Organizations with innovative proposals focused on reaching these communities within the Non-Mississippi River Drainage Region are strongly encouraged to apply and contribute to this transformative initiative.

For more information about the Historically Underserved Farmer-to-Farmer Outreach Program and forthcoming details regarding the second round of funding, visit the program webpage. Read the full press release here.

NCF LAUNCHES SPRING FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN

The National Conservation Foundation (NCF) is asking for your support this spring! Yesterday, on Earth Day, NCF launched their spring fundraising campaign - Spring Into Action!

At NCF, success is measured by our impact on people and the planet. They are doing critical work every day to build a better, more sustainable tomorrow for farmers, ranchers, foresters, their industries and the larger world of consumers. 

NCF has two flagship programs: the Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI), which is growing the next generation of industry leaders; and the NCF-Envirothon, which impacts more than 25,000 students globally each year. But to keep these critical programs going and growing, they need your help. 

Your generous donations will directly contribute to the training of the NGLI cohort, who is actively working to solve future conservation needs; or to the Envirothon students, who are currently studying natural resources and prepping for their local competitions.

Please make a difference, in celebration of Earth Day, and contribute to the NCF spring campaign. Visit the link below to show your support.

STEWARDSHIP WEEK

KICKS OFF ON SUNDAY!

We are only a few days away from the kick-off of NACD's Stewardship Week! This year, as we celebrate the 69th Annual Stewardship Week from April 28 to May 5, the theme “May the Forest Be With You, Always” takes center stage. This theme underscores the critical interplay between soil and water conservation and the resilience of our forests.

Throughout Stewardship Week, conservation districts across the United States are invited to participate in various ways to celebrate and promote these vital natural resources. Conservation districts play a central role in outreach and education, engaging with their communities through the NACD annual poster and photo contests, by hosting field days or educating students in their classrooms, and more.

If you would like to get involved with NACD Stewardship Week, it's not too late! You can find an array of free educational materials here to share with students and educators around you or participate virtually through social media with our toolkit of forestry posts and captions. Be sure to tag @NACDconserve and #NACDStewardshipWeek on all your posts throughout the week!

WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON:

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS UPDATE

The House Agriculture Committee plans to introduce and consider a farm bill before Memorial Day, but the Chair and Ranking Member currently disagree on key proposals related to restricting future updates to the Thrifty Food Plan and restricting spending by the Commodity Credit Corporation. These disagreements increase the likelihood that a more partisan bill will be introduced early next month. Farm bill text has not yet been released.

On April 18, The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced a final Public Lands Rule focused on utilizing conservation practices to better improve the “health and resilience of public lands in the face of a changing climate” and to offset the impacts of other uses on public lands.  NACD submitted comments on the proposed rule and has continued discussions on the development of the rule with BLM leadership, including at NACD’s Summer Meeting in Bismarck, ND. The final rule directs BLM to use landscape health as guidance for management, clarifies the designation process for Areas of Critical Concern, and provides new mechanisms for management through mitigation and restoration leases, previously referred to as “conservation leases.” NACD will release more information on the final rule in the coming days.