Later this week, NACD will gather with hundreds of conservation professionals at the 2023 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA. Hosted in partnership with the Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts, this year's meeting will explore the theme "Local Resiliency, National Community."

We are excited to spend the week sharing, learning, and celebrating conservation with district, state, and territory leaders from across the nation. If you are joining us, get ready for a jam-packed agenda, which includes a full NACD board meeting, breakout sessions from local and national conservation leaders, a distinguished lineup of keynote and panel speakers, NCF's Live auction, the Conservation Showcase, and so much more!

CONSERVATION DISTRICTS AND PARTNERS GATHER FOR SOUTH CAROLINA'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE

South Carolina’s conservation district officials, employees, and partners met last week in Greenville for the 81st Annual South Carolina Conservation Partnership Conference. District officials and employees kicked off the first day with a variety of training sessions. The second day of the conference featured a keynote address from South Carolina's Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette, followed by general sessions on local work groups, technical services and contribution agreements, new NRCS programs, local conservation funding initiatives with the Conservation Voters of South Carolina, and reports from partners. NACD Secretary-Treasurer Gary Blair provided a 2023 Farm Bill update. Participants enjoyed several afternoon breakout sessions on topics such as watersheds, feral swine, urban conservation, pollinators and native plants, sustainable forestry, and integrating livestock into row cropping, the latter led by South Carolina’s NACD board member, Kenny Mullis. At the conference’s awards dinner, the Orangeburg Soil and Water Conservation District was honored with the Outstanding Conservation District Award (pictured). Orangeburg was one of the first conservation districts in South Carolina to receive an NACD Technical Assistance Grant, and they have contracted over 50,000 acres with NRCS programs through this funding.

The conference wrapped up with a half day program on the topic of creating, growing, and sustaining conservation connections with presentations from Dale Threatt-Taylor with The Nature Conservancy, and Kirby Player with South Carolina’s Pickens Soil and Water Conservation District. Mullis and NACD Southeast Region Representative Candice Abinanti also shared an NACD update. The well-attended meeting wrapped up with area caucus meetings and a business session for the South Carolina Association of Conservation Districts.

LACD HOSTS STATE'S

77TH ANNUAL MEETING

The Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts (LACD) held its 77th Annual Meeting in Baton Rouge on January 11-13, 2023. Over 200 supervisors, district employees, conservation partners, and sponsors attended the conference.

The theme “Healthy Soils: The Key to the Future” was promoted throughout the meeting with special presenters, break-out sessions, and panel discussions providing information and education pertaining to soil health and related conservation practices.

Keynote speakers included the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) Commissioner, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist, State Representatives, and representatives from Farm Bureau, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (LDNR),  Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), the Office of Community Development, National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), US Forest Service, Farm Service Agency (FSA), and the LSU AgCenter.

Updates were presented on The Waters of the United States rule, Carbon Sequestration Initiatives, Louisiana Outdoors Forever, the Louisiana Watersheds Initiative update, and much more.

During the meeting, a luncheon was held to highlight the 2022 Louisiana Certified Master Farmers, and an awards dinner recognized district supervisors and staff, state poster contest and scholarship winners, and Conservation Champions and Distinguished Service Awards. On Friday, Supervisor Training was provided by LDAF’s Office of Soil and Water Conservation, followed by the Legislative Session and business meeting, a LACD business meeting, then finally, a Code of Governmental Ethics Training for district board members and staff.

In conjunction with previously mentioned activities, district staff, board members, and conservation partners were also invited to attend the 2^nd Annual Project Water Education Today (Project WET)/Project Learning Tree (PLT) and Wonders of the Wetlands! (WOW!) combo workshop Friday morning. Project WET, PLT, and WOW! are objective, experimental, science-based educational outreach programs that provide both formal and non-formal educators with educational topics appropriate for students in grades K-12. Participants joined together for a training full of activities and demonstrations related to water, forestland, and wetland conservation. At the end of the training, attendees were given guidebooks for each program, with over 100 preconstructed activity lesson plans created for outreach opportunities and in-school lessons.

Before he became NACD Second Vice President, Ian Cunningham became a Soil Health Champion with his son Richard Cunningham at his side. The Cunninghams operate a fourth and fifth generation family farm in southwest Minnesota, producing corn, soybeans, and beef cattle. After college, Richard took over more of the farm’s management which allowed Ian the opportunity to serve in NACD leadership – first as Executive Board Member, then Secretary-Treasurer, and now as Second Vice President. Ian’s time in office as an NACD leader has presented him with many opportunities to share his family’s story and the value of soil health in improving the land and making it more resilient to extreme weather events.

Since the 1880s, the Cunningham family has farmed this land and has always worked to be on the cutting edge of conservation adoption. Currently they use cover crops on 100 percent of their land, practice no-till and strip-till, and use precision agriculture, grid sampling and variable application rates, taking their operation to the next level. The Cunninghams have seen an improvement in weed control – lowering their herbicide and fertilizer usage – and higher yields. With the lower input costs and the higher yields, their soil health management system has had a positive economic impact on their operation.

On June 25, 2019, when Ian held the office of NACD Secretary-Treasurer, he testified before the U.S. House Agriculture Committee for a hearing on “Managing for Soil Health: Securing the Conservation and Economic Benefits of Healthy Soils.” In his testimony, Cunningham shared three main areas: the economic value of soil health as demonstrated through Case Studies conducted by NACD and Datu Research, LLC; peer-to-peer education and outreach is critical; and his own positive experience with soil health practices on his operation.

His testimony can be viewed on YouTube and a printed copy can be downloaded from the NACD website. For more details on the Cunninghams’ operation, visit the NACD website to read their NACD Soil Health Champion profile.

If you or someone you know would like to become a Soil Health Champion, please visit the NACD website or contact Beth Mason at beth-mason@nacdnet.org.