Last week, over 200 district officials, employees and partners met in Gulf Shores, Ala., for the Alabama Association of Conservation Districts' (AACD) 76th Annual Meeting.

Presided over by AACD President and NACD Southeast Region Vice-Chair Micky Smith, the meeting was an opportunity for Alabama's 67 districts to gather for networking, sharing and learning. NACD Second Vice President Kim LaFleur and Southeast Region Representative Candice Abinanti represented the national association at the meeting. During the AACD annual business meeting, LeFleur presented an overview of NACD, and provided an update on programs and upcoming events.

The general session featured a keynote address from Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Rick Pate, an update from the Alabama Association of Resource Conservation & Development Councils and a special Veterans Day recognition. Attendees also participated in a variety of breakout sessions, including sessions on ethics and fiduciary responsibilities, working with public officials, and partnering to bring resources to districts. Additionally, NACD Soil Health Champion Roy "Shep" Morris of Macon County Soil and Water Conservation District spoke about his experience using cover crops to build soil health for growing cotton.

Districts also shared their initiatives and achievements during a district area coordinator roundtable. During lunch, state Soil and Water Conservation Committee (SWCC) Executive Director William “Bill” Puckett and AACD Executive Director Sabra Sutton entertained and educated attendees with a lively version of Family Feud to test participants’ knowledge of SWCC and AACD (pictured above).

The meeting was held at The Lodge at Gulf State Park, a newly re-opened beachfront hotel designed to be a responsible steward of natural resources. The lodge will host AACD's 77th Annual Meeting, as well as NACD's Southeast Region Meeting held Aug. 9-11, 2020.

NACD ATTENDS WACD CONVENTION

Last week, the Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts (WACD) held its 74th Annual Convention in Buffalo, Wyo. During the three-day convening, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Matt Lohr  provided the keynote address on Thursday morning, where he emphasized the importance of customer service for the agency, sharing a few personal stories about the long-lasting effects of good and bad customer service. Lohr discussed that he is looking forward to when the agency can start hiring more personnel to help put more technical expertise on the ground. Additionally, he added that NRCS is looking forward to publishing the farm bill rules.

On Friday morning, WACD convention attendees heard from  Governor Mark Gordon  on essential issues impacting Wyoming. Gordon highlighted the critical role agriculture has in the state and discussed some of the work his invasive species task force is currently tackling.

NACD Natural Resource Policy Specialist  Adam Pugh represented the national association at the convention, where he provided a keynote address on Wednesday, as well as updated attendees on NACD's programs and services and the 2018 Farm Bill. After the luncheon, convention attendees participated in three different tours to learn about the history of Johnson County, Wyo. 

IASCD HOSTS ANNUAL MEETING IN BOISE

Last week, over 120 conservation district board officials, partners, district employees and other individuals met in Boise, Idaho, for the Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts' (IASCD) annual meeting.

Beginning with directors meetings for IASCD and the Idaho District Employees Association (IDEA) on Tuesday, attendees participated in the four-day meeting with multiple partner meetings, a conservation tour and a variety of breakout sessions.

Meeting highlights included a lunch visit to Vine and Branch Ranch (pictured above), a local farm-to-table operation featuring a winery, cidery, farm and restaurant run in part, by Josie Erskine, District Manager of Ada Soil and Water Conservation District. During the lunch, which featured food produced exclusively in Idaho, Erskine highlighted the many partnerships that have contributed to the success of the restaurant, as well as producers associated with the operation. After the meal, attendees toured McIntyre Pastures, a cattle and chicken operation that relies heavily on rotational grazing and soil health practices.

The following day, attendees learned more about soil health from Erskine and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Soil Scientist Shawn Nield; participated in a short listening session with NACD Pacific Region Representative Ariel Rivers; received some important board training from the Idaho Counties Risk Management Program (ICRMP); and received updates from the Bureau of Land Management’s Kathleen Benedetto.

The meeting ended with a board meeting and an awards banquet where IASCD honored several longtime partners for their dedication to natural resource conservation. 

INCA CONFERENCE DISCUSSES STRENGTHS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRIBAL CDS

The Indian Nations Conservation Alliance (INCA) convened the 2019 National Tribal Conservation Districts Conference on Nov. 5 in Tulsa, Okla. The theme of the meeting for this year was "Strengthening the Circle of Life Through Indigenous Conservation Assisted by USDA Programs." The agenda included keynote presentations by USDA Under Secretary Bill Northey , NRCS Chief Matt Lohr , Farm Service Agency Administrator Richard Fordyce and Bureau of Indian Affairs Director Darryl LaCounte (pictured). Following the presentations, there was a signing ceremony for a National Conservation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with INCA.

NACD South Central Region Representative Keith Owen presented during the opening session, describing how NACD is partnering with INCA and tribal conservation districts through efforts such as the NACD Technical Assistance Grant Program . These partnerships build capacity for tribal conservation districts and improve service to native farmers and ranchers. Owen also assisted INCA staff with an afternoon concurrent session on forming tribal conservation districts.

The annual INCA National Tribal Conservation District Conference gives tribal conservation districts the opportunity to come together, discuss success stories and share conservation triumphs in Indian Country.

In a welcome message to conference attendees, INCA Executive Director Delane Atcitty said , "It is indeed a great time for us. It is a great time for our youth. We are moving forward at a faster pace, regaining our way and our voice in the world surrounding us. Without the efforts of our Alliances and those that stand at our side, we​ would still be facing the uphill climb. While we have a long way to go, the way forward is encouraging, and we as an ​organization and people should celebrate our accomplishments of the past year."

NACD has a Memorandum of Understanding and working agreements with INCA and has partnered on valuable conservation projects, such as the Tribal Outreach and Partnership Resource Policy Group and the NACD Technical Assistance Grant Program. 

ICYMI: CHECK OUT NACD'S 2019 FALL EDITION OF

THE RESOURCE

Have you checked out this fall's edition of The Resource ? It's packed with great stories of districts nationwide who are bringing locally-led change to their communities.

For example, when the Winkelman Natural Resource Conservation District (NRCD) in Kearny, Ariz., saw the petition to list the Sonoran Desert tortoise (pictured above) as an endangered species in 2008, the district recognized this as an imminent threat to its customers and its local economy.

After the district coordinated with other organizations and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), it was later determined that the Sonoran Desert tortoise was a distinct population segment and warranted listing, and that livestock grazing was not a threat to the species' survival. The district helped create the best management practices that protected grazing in the tortoise's habitat, as well as create a Candidate Conservation Agreement for federal lands and a Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances for private landowners.

After litigation requesting a final decision, the USFWS determined the tortoise did not meet the definition of a threatened or endangered species and removed it from the candidate list. Winkelman NRCD and the Arizona Association of Conservation Districts worked with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), USFWS, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Arizona Game and Fish Department for several years on the species’ conservation.

To read the rest of this article, check out the Fall 2019 edition of The Resource on NACD's website .

RHODE ISLAND DISTRICT HELPS MAINTAIN STATEWIDE HIGH WATER QUALITY STANDARDS

The Northern Rhode Island Conservation District  (NRICD) has developed a partnership with the city-owned Providence Water Supply Board and the State of Rhode Island that will utilize $2.9 million from a Forest Service grant to continue improving water quality in the Scituate Reservoir Watershed by providing easements to landowners who are managing their forests.

“Private landowners who are actively engaged in the management of their forests are less likely to engage in activities that negatively impact water quality,” NRICD Agriculture and Forestry Program Manager  Kate Sayles said . “This is why this partnership is so important.”

In the past, Rhode Island has been identified as having some of the highest water quality in the northeast, likely due to the management of the 93 acres of forestland surrounding the reservoir. Providence Water Supply Board is the largest water supplier in Rhode Island, serving 60 percent of the state’s population. It owns one-third of the watershed and has been actively involved in ensuring the proper management of the land through forest management strategies, land conservation with fee-simple purchases or conservation easements for watershed protection, and through water sampling and studies to monitor water quality.

The remaining two-thirds of the watershed is privately owned and comprised of residential neighborhoods with large sections of privately-owned forests and more than 200 farms. That’s where NRICD comes in.

“Forests are essential elements to maintaining water quality, and the types of land uses surrounding drinking water reservoirs are critical to drinking water for the state,”  Sayles said . “Some landowners don’t even know where to start.”

To read the rest of this story, visit NACD's blog .

EPA Seeking Nominations for FRRCC

On Nov. 11, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is currently seeking 20-30 nominees to serve for two- to three-year terms on the Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Committee (FRRCC).

Established in 2008, the FRRCC provides independent policy advice, information and recommendations to EPA's Administrator on a range of environmental issues and policies important to agriculture and rural communities. The committee expects to meet approximately twice a year.

The nomination deadline is Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019.

For more details about qualifications and how to apply, please visit EPA's website.

Book Inspires Collaboration With Montana District

The award winning book Lab Girl by Hope Jahren is a scientific memoir and one of the featured titles in the Big Read Event , a national effort to promote literacy by featuring a diverse range of subjects. 

The Helena Public Library in Montana joined the program and created the Kid's Fall Festival to educate youth on the subjects of soil and autumn. The library contacted NACD Montana Board Member Steve Hedstrom for advice on experts who could help teach at the event, and Hedstrom knew right away that the  Lewis and Clark Conservation District (LCCD) would be the perfect partner to recommend. 

At the October event, LCCD Administrator Chris Evans demonstrated a rainfall simulator to help talk about soil health and the importance of plants, as well as distributed NACD educational materials to anyone interested. Evans estimated over 1,000 people were in attendance, and the traffic was constant as she carried out her lessons.  

While Evans had not worked with the library before, she indicated the outcomes were really inspiring.  

"We don't always find partners where we think we're going to find partners," she said . "This event came from left field and we were really glad we did it!"

Pictured above, from left to right: Eric Walliman, Adreinne Verlanic, Rachel Rivers, Suzanne Schwichtenberg (front), Patricia Spencer (back), Molly Hudson, Chris Evans.

Remember NACD During Black Friday

and Cyber Monday

Have you started your holiday shopping?

With Black Friday next week and Cyber Monday just around the corner, don't forget to sign in through smile.amazon.com and link your Amazon account to "National Association of Conservation Districts Inc" to help support your national association and make an impact.

When you shop for holiday gifts, AmazonSmile donates a portion of every purchase to NACD.  Click here to link your account .

NRCS Now Accepting CSP Public Comments

On Friday, Nov. 8, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) released its first major program rule implementing the 2018 Farm Bill.

The interim rule implementing the 2018 Farm Bill’s various changes to the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) will be open for public comment until Monday, Jan. 13, 2020 .

NACD encourages all conservation districts and their partners to review the interim rule and provide comments before the deadline to ensure their local voices continue to be prevalent in the implementation of CSP.

For a refresher of the changes included to CSP in the farm bill, visit NACD's blog .

NACD Seeking Items for Annual Meeting

Live Auction

NACD is currently accepting donations for the 2020 Live Auction, which will be held on Monday, Feb. 10, 2020.

This year's auction proceeds will all go to the National Conservation Foundation (NCF), NACD's sister organization, to support NCF's work in advancing the next generation of conservation leaders.

To make a donation, visit NACD's online donation form or click the button below. The deadline for all auction items to be included in the 2020 Live Auction booklet is Friday, Dec. 20, 2019. Auction items will be accepted on site throughout the day on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020.

If you have any questions, please contact NACD South Central Region Representative Keith Owen at

keith-owen@nacdnet.org or 405-360-3503.

Deadline Approaching:

Fall Promotional

Mug Offer

There are only two weeks left to take advantage of NACD's Promotional Mug offer!

 

Whether it's for the holidays or a birthday, our 14-oz. customized Yeti mug makes a great gift to show your appreciation for your employees. NACD's fall promotion includes two mugs, professionally engraved with your district's logo.

 

To order, visit  NACD's Marketplace . To create your custom district logo, please contact NACD Stewardship and Education Coordinator  Diana Blackwood . The offer is valid through Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019 . 

Last Week to Submit Public Comments to NRCS Revised Handbook

Recently, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced it is soliciting public comments on all of its conservation practice standards, as required by the 2018 Farm Bill.

NRCS published a series of revised conservation practice standards for the  National Handbook of Conservation Practices . Practices include deep tillage, contour buffer strips and irrigation ditch lining.

This initial set of revisions to 13 practices is open for public comment until  Friday, Nov. 22, 2019.

NACD encourages conservation districts across the country to review these 13 practices and to provide public comments if needed, in order to ensure that they will address local natural resource concerns and meet the needs of district cooperators.

A total of 94 conservation practice standards will be revised over the coming months. To learn more, visit the  Federal Register's website.

Deadline for NACD's Poster and Photo Contests Approaches

The deadline to submit your entry for the  2019 NACD and NACD Auxiliary's Poster and Photo Contest is less than two weeks away!

The annual poster contest is open to students from kindergarten through 12th grade and celebrates the 2019 Stewardship theme “ Life in the Soil: Dig Deeper. ”

The photo contest is open to all amateur photographers who reside in the U.S. or its territories. Contestants are allowed to enter up to five photos in each of the four categories: conservation practices, close-up conservation, conservation in action, and agriculture and conservation across America.

Submissions for both contests are due  Dec. 1, 2019. To learn more and submit your entry, visit  NACD's website.

Promote your conservation district or state association's tree sale, annual meeting, webinar, field day or more on NACD's Calendar of Events !