NACD is continuing our celebration of 80 years with our 2026 Summer Conservation Forum & Tours! Hosted in partnership with the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts, our meeting will take place on July 17-21, 2026. Join us for meetings, a forum, and conservation tours to continue exploring the theme from Annual Meeting, "Deep Roots, Bold Horizons."

There is less than a week left to take advantage of early bird registration discounts, available through June 29.

During the meeting, NACD will host the Conservation Forum, featuring guest speakers from Michigan and around the country. Hear about natural resource issues affecting conservation districts and perspectives from our leadership and partners. Attendees will also have the opportunity to experience local conservation initiatives through our two days of tours. Explore the full meeting agenda to see more details and plan your days.

Make arrangements for travel to Grand Rapids with hotel and flight deals. Book a room in the meeting hotel block at Amway Grand Plaza, starting at $189/night plus tax. You can make a reservation online here or by calling 616-774-2000. Let them know you are booking a guest room with NACD. The last day to reserve available rooms in the room block is Friday, June 26.

Delta Air Lines offers special discounts for the National Association of Conservation Districts. Please click here to book your flights. You may also call Conferences and Events® at 1-800-328-1111, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET, and refer to Meeting Event Code: NY4UL.

All the details on registration can be found on the Summer Meeting webpage.

JOIN CONSERVATION COFFEE ON HABITAT UNIVERSITY

Join NACD for the next Conservation Coffee webinar on July 9 at 3:00 p.m. ET to learn about Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever’s (PF/QF) Habitat University and Habitat University Pro!

Both are free, skills-based habitat and conservation training resources. Habitat University is geared to private landowners, contractors, and land managers. The Pro version is for conservation professionals—current and aspiring—committed to professional development and delivering conservation technical assistance. Habitat University offers flexible online learning, certificates, hands-on opportunities, and more to help you succeed in your habitat projects. Launched this year, new courses are being added every few months. Come learn from Catherine Beall and Laura Newberg, PF/QF Training Program Coordinators on how Habitat University can help your district and the land stewards you serve!

PRE-ORDER YEARS OF SERVICE PINS

NACD's Years of Service longevity pins recognize members for service milestones from 5 to 60 years in five-year increments. These custom crafted polished brass pins are produced specifically for NACD and require manufacturing setup and production costs with each order.



We are currently out of stock of our 5 year pins, and the next production run is expected to arrive in mid to late August. To help prevent future shortages and maintain inventory across all service levels, we are asking districts to review their anticipated pin needs and submit estimated quantities by July 1.

Because these pins are custom manufactured, a larger production run helps reduce the per pin cost and allows NACD to be a responsible steward of membership dollars. Your estimates will help us determine production quantities, avoid costly small batch orders, and ensure pins are available when employees and members reach their service milestones. Pin production is around 90 days from order to arrival, so we need to get those orders in as quickly as possible.

Districts that participate in this pre-order will receive a 5% discount on their order. Please email your anticipated quantities by July 1 to be included in this production run to aimee-figgatt@nacdnet.org.

WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON?

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS UPDATE

Federal activity this week is focused on Farm Bill movement, USDA service delivery, conservation program implementation, and upcoming oversight hearings.

The Senate Agriculture Committee is expected to release a Farm Bill discussion draft this week. Based on stakeholder conversations, the draft is expected to include several conservation-related provisions, including updates related to the Conservation Reserve Program, the Forest Conservation Easement Program, state soil health grants, Technical Service Provider reform, and Conservation Practice Standard reform. Senate Agriculture Committee staff have described the proposal as a discussion draft and are seeking feedback, with a goal of moving toward markup during the July work period. For districts, this is an important opportunity to review how proposed conservation title changes could affect locally led conservation, technical assistance, easement programs, soil health work, and conservation practice delivery.

The draft is also notable for what is not expected to be included. Based on stakeholder discussions, the proposal is not expected to include E15 language, Proposition 12 language, pesticide preemption, producer economic assistance, or a delay in SNAP provisions. NACD will continue to monitor the draft once it is released and share updates on provisions most relevant to conservation districts. Please continue to reach out to your Senators to encourage their support of the bill as it moves through review and markup.

USDA announced up to $310 million through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) for partner-led conservation projects. NRCS is accepting proposals through August 24, 2026, for RCPP Classic and Alternative Funding Arrangement projects, including a $30 million set-aside for projects with Indian Tribes.

PARTNERS IN WISCONSIN INCREASE ACRES COVERED BY NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANS

In Wisconsin, conservation districts and the state’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) collaborate to advance nutrient management planning across the state. These plans help guide producers in the use of manure and fertilizer to meet crop nutrient needs and protect water quality by minimizing runoff into streams, lakes, and groundwater. The planning is based on soil and manure testing and must follow the NRCS 590 Nutrient Management Standard. Producers benefit from improved crop yields and reduced costs. The environment benefits from nutrients retained on fields and kept out of waterways.

Nutrient management plans now cover 3.82 million acres or 44% (up from 37% in 2022) of harvestable cropland in Wisconsin and statewide support continues to grow. Wisconsin’s conservation districts—or land and water conservation departments—play a central role in reviewing plans and reporting annual progress to DATCP. DATCP provides financial help and training to farmers, agronomists, and agriculture educators. The University of Wisconsin-Madison provides free software called SnapPlus to help in developing plans.

Learn more about nutrient management planning in Wisconsin here and in their most recent annual update.

SOIL HEALTH CHAMPIONS' FLOOD RECOVERY LEADS TO 100% NO-TILL OPERATION

NACD Soil Health Champions Scotty and Jo Herriman (OK), 2024 Oklahoma Leopold Conservation Award winners, farm 2,000 acres in northeast Oklahoma. In June 2007, the Verdigris River flooded for days, cresting five feet higher than any prior flood and destroying their unharvested wheat and corn crops, leaving them with just 13 harvested acres out of 2,000.

Picture credit: Sand County Foundation 2024 Oklahoma Leopold Award

The disaster led Herriman to convert his entire operation to no-till, later adding cover crops in 2016 to improve water intake and reduce runoff. He credits his recovery to faith and strong support from his banker, tax advisor, and conservation programs through NRCS and the Farm Service Agency, and remains confident in farming's future as long as producers continue protecting their soil.

The Noble Research Institute interviewed Herriman this past fall to share his truly remarkable soil health journey. To read more of his story and the full interview, visit the Noble Research Institute's website.