Celebrate NACD's 2026 Stewardship Week with us next week, April 26 to May 3. Through the week, we will be promoting conservation educaton under the theme: Soil. Where it All Begins!

This year’s focus highlights soil as a living resource that supports food production, water quality, wildlife habitat, and healthy communities. Conservation districts across the country use this week to connect people of all ages to the role soil plays in everyday life and long-term natural resource conservation. Stewardship Week is a visible way for districts to share their work and connect conservation to the communities they serve.

Your district can celebrate by hosting educational events in your community with ready-to-use education materials from NACD, designed for classrooms, field days, and community events. Resources include a K-8 Instructor Guide, student journals, and activity mats. Each education piece is flexible, so districts can adapt activities to local priorities.

Plus, NACD offers multiple toolkits to help you advertise throughout the week. Use our press toolkit—including press release and radio public service announcement templates—to work with local news, radio, and television stations. Or, use our social media toolkit—complete with fun facts, infographics, and customizable captions—to post about the week on your district's Instagram and Facebook pages. Be sure to tag #NACDStewardshipWeek and @nacdconserve on your district's posts!

Find resources mentioned here and more on NACD's website.

WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON?

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS UPDATES

House Agriculture Committee Leadership is expecting a vote on the Farm Bill next week, the week of April 27. They have asked for assistance in garnering bipartisan support for passage of the bill, which they believe to be budget neutral and prioritizes “responsible spending on agriculture."

Please contact your congressional representatives on both sides of the aisle to encourage support for the Farm Bill. Share a personal story about how you and/or your community use Farm Bill programs and funding, emphasizing the importance of getting a Farm Bill passed and avoiding ongoing continuing resolutions that contain no certainty for producers.

What’s Happening this Week:

Hearing: Senate Appropriations Committee - April 22 at 10:00 a.m. ET

The Senate Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a hearing on “A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request for the Department of Interior.” Secretary Doug Burghum will appear before the subcommittee.

Hearing: Senate Appropriations Committee - April 22 at 2:30 p.m. ET

The Senate Appropriations Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a hearing on "A Review of the President's FY2027 Budget Request for the Department of Agriculture." Secretary Brooke Rollins will appear for the second time.

Markup: Senate Appropriations Committee - April 23 at 8:00 a.m. ET

The Senate Appropriations Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Subcommittee will begin markup of the proposed FY27 budget.

FIELD EVENT SPOTLIGHTS CONSERVATION INNOVATION

Farm Journal Trust In Food, in collaboration with Blue Diamond Growers and Agriland Farming Company, Inc., recently hosted growers, industry leaders, and conservation partners for an in-field event focused on advancing innovation in California almond production. The takeaway was straightforward: growers are already testing and using new technologies.

The challenge now is “scaling adoption in ways that align with day-to-day operations and economic realities,” said Kyle Venell, who attended as NACD’s Pacific Region Representative. NACD and Trust In Food partner to expand awareness of conservation practices and technologies.

Focus on Automation 

During in-field demonstrations, attendees saw emerging technologies in action. A driverless tractor from Orchard Machinery Corporation, integrated with systems from Bonsai Robotics, Agriwater, Inc., and Rivulis Irrigation, demonstrated how automation can operate across orchard systems with multiple implements, including sprayers and mowers. Attendees also heard from Beewise, where Eliya Radzyner showcased an AI-enabled beehive system that monitors hive health in real time and alerts beekeepers to potential issues remotely. 

These demonstrations showed how automation is being integrated into existing almond orchard operations. The focus was on reducing labor demands, improving precision, and increasing operational efficiency. 

Conservation Practices and Programs Highlighted 

Speakers included Valent and Pollinator Partnership, along with additional partners, who focused on strengthening long-term orchard resilience through crop protection, soil health, and regenerative practices. Charlie Graham from the Noble Research Institute reminded attendees that, “A well-aggregated soil with deep root channels will absorb much more water than one that’s not.” 

Panel discussions brought together representatives from the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Madera County Farm Bureau, San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, Blue Diamond Growers, American Farmland Trust, and the California Almond Board. 

The panels focused on conservation programs available to almond growers and strengthening relationships between producers, trusted advisors, and private-sector partners to support adoption at the operational level.  

Farm Journal’s intelligence team also examined the barriers growers report when considering new conservation technologies and how those barriers can be addressed. 

Read the full story on NACD's blog.

DID YOU KNOW? ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

Nearly every U.S. state and territory has a conservation district association dedicated to representing districts within its jurisdiction. Many are led by an executive director responsible for guiding the organization’s work. The roles of these directors vary by state, but generally, they support board-led advocacy, seek out grant funding, and build partnerships that strengthen locally led conservation.  

The Association of Conservation Executive Directors (ACED) became an NACD affiliate group in 2023. The role of an executive director of a state or territory association of conservation districts is unique, but because each state and territory operates differently, it can also be a solitary one. ACED has grown into a national network that keeps executive directors connected and informed.  

The partnership between ACED and NACD is mutually beneficial. NACD provides administrative support and allows ACED to operate under its nonprofit status. In return, ACED offers direct and efficient ways to share information with executive directors and gather input from states and territories.  

One of the most valuable aspects of ACED is the range of experience within the group. Long-time executive directors bring practical knowledge shaped by years of experience, while newer executive directors contribute fresh ideas and perspectives. This diversity strengthens the network.

As ACED President Janelle Mead shared, “There is a wealth of knowledge among executive directors across the country, and sharing those experiences helps all of us do our jobs better.” 

ACED also maintains a collection of resources developed by executive directors that you can access through their website. These include templates, policies, job descriptions, and other resources that originated from work carried out in states and territories. They are available for anyone to use as is or as a guide for creating your own materials. 

Learn more about ACED and their work in NACD's latest blog.