Today, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) applauded the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of Robert Bonnie as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
As Under Secretary, Bonnie will oversee the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Risk Management Agency and FPAC Business Center. In his role, he will also manage the USDA’s Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Program.
“NACD applauds the confirmation of Robert Bonnie as the FPAC Under Secretary. We are eager to work with him given his extensive knowledge and experience with USDA and climate-smart agriculture and forestry,” NACD President Michael Crowder said. “Bonnie understands the need for voluntary and locally-led conservation programs, and we are excited to work with him to continue bringing those programs to farmers, ranchers and landowners across the country.”
Read the full press release here. |
NACD ANNOUNCES NEW ANNUAL MEETING DETAILS |
NACD's 76th Annual Meeting, hosted in partnership with the Association of Florida Conservation Districts, will be held in Orlando, Fla., from Feb. 12-16, 2022, at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista at Disney Springs Resort. The theme for next year's meeting is "Conservation Defined For All," which will be integrated into sessions and activities at the event!
We are excited to announce two keynote speakers for the meeting, Toni Stanger-McLaughlin, J.D. and Adam Putnam. Stanger-McLaughlin is the CEO for Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) and will be speaking at the leadership luncheon on Monday, Feb. 14. Putnam, Ducks Unlimited CEO, will give remarks at the opening general session on Monday, Feb. 14. See the full lineup of speakers for the meeting here.
The descriptions for this year's annual meeting breakout sessions are also now available! These 60-90 minute educational sessions, scheduled for Monday, Feb. 14 and Tuesday, Feb. 15, will focus on the work of districts and their partners across the country in four themes: Natural Resources Policy & Protection, District Operations & Partnerships, Stewardship & Outreach and Conservation Innovation. Visit NACD's 2022 Annual Meeting Breakout Sessions webpage to learn more, and be sure to stay tuned as more breakout sessions are confirmed and added to the website.
Conference registration is open and includes entry into the Conservation Expo, NACD General and Concurrent Sessions, Monday’s Leadership Lunch and Live Auction, and NACD Training Sessions and Workshops. Early bird registration for the discounted price of $470 is open from now until Dec. 16, 2021.
|
If you haven’t attended an NACD annual meeting in the past, you may be eligible for a first-timer scholarship! Thanks to the generous support of AgriDrain Corporation, NACD will once again be offering selected first-timers complimentary meeting registration and a ticket to Tuesday night’s Appreciation Banquet. Only one person per state or territory may receive a scholarship. Once a state or territory association selects a scholarship recipient in cooperation with their NACD board member, they are asked to send the recipient’s name and email address to NACD Director of Membership Terrence Curtiss at terrence-curtiss@nacdnet.org to complete their registration. Scholarships are limited to the first 20 individuals submitted so don’t delay.
|
NCF LAUNCHES FALL 2021 FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN |
On Monday, Nov. 15, the National Conservation Foundation (NCF) launched its annual fall campaign with a goal of raising $50,000 by the end of 2021.
In recent years, NCF has strengthened its organizational identity and purpose by increasing program support, refocusing our mission and vision statements, developing a strategic plan, launching a new logo and website and introducing a new cornerstone program with the Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI).
Your support will help continue to fund conservation education programs, including NGLI and the NCF-Envirothon, to raise the next generation of conservation leaders. Tomorrow’s conservation leaders are stepping up to the plate today to learn and prepare for the challenges and obstacles ahead, and it’s our obligation to help prepare them.
You can learn more about NCF, its programs and its fundraising campaign on their website.
|
NCF ANNOUNCES BEGINNING OF 2022 ENVIROTHON SEASON |
The National Conservation Foundation (NCF) is pleased to announce that the 2022 NCF-Envirothon competition season has begun! The new season, running from September 1, 2021, to August 31, 2022, brings with it a new competition location and host, new learning resources and much more.
Below are the top five things all teams, advisors, conservation districts and Envirothon supporters need to know:
-
Ohio, the Buckeye State, will be the location for the 2022 NCF-Envirothon annual international competition, which will be held July 24-30, 2022.
-
Hosted by the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the 2022 NCF-Envirothon Ohio competition will be held at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Miami University is located in the southwest corner of the state and is less than an hour’s drive to Cincinnati, Ohio; northern Kentucky; and eastern Indiana.
- The 2022 Current Issue topic is “Waste to Resources” and will explore waste and its impacts on the environment. Students will learn about different waste streams and the effects of waste generation and disposal on natural resources, as well as how to turn waste into resources through restoration, repurposing, and recycling for the benefit of the natural environment and future generations.
-
The first round of 2022 Current Issue Study Resources have been posted to the NCF-Envirothon website as a resource for state/provincial/partner nation Envirothon programs and for teams to begin studying. These initial resources, including their key topics and learning objectives, are geared towards the Waste to Resources Current Issue and cover topics such as landfills, hazardous materials, recycling, composting, food waste, combustion with energy recovery, human and animal waste treatment and restoration of brownfields and degraded lands. A second set of resources will be posted in May 2022 and will be more specific to Ohio-related topics.
-
New for 2022, teams can utilize the NCF-Envirothon Learning Objectives to prepare them for the international competition in July. These comprehensive Learning Objectives, which cover each Envirothon area of study, will serve as a guide for students and advisors competing in the NCF-Envirothon annual international competition.
|
NACD JOINS NORTHEAST REGION MEETING IN N.H. |
Recently, state leaders, partners, and district staff from across the northeast gathered in coastal Portsmouth, N.H., for a busy week of learning, networking, and generally celebrating one another’s work.
The theme “Resilient Working Lands: Conservation Districts in a Changing Era” offered a robust agenda with numerous learning and networking opportunities for attendees. The New Hampshire Association of Conservation Districts (NHACD) worked tirelessly for nearly two years planning and subsequently having to hold off on this meeting, and it was certainly worth the wait. Attendees spent the week learning about a variety of topics but, most importantly, spent time together sharing stories from their districts and bringing home new ideas.
A wide array of fascinating subject matter experts spoke throughout the day. Tom Casten, director of economic analysis for the International Biochar Initiative, delivered a great session on the role of forestry in reducing the effects of climate change. The evening was spent celebrating local conservation champions and hearing from Dr. Tim Griffin of Tufts University on New England agriculture and the role of environmental services in a changing economy and climate.
|
On the second day, attendees ventured into the field to learn about conservation work on the coast-dealing with sea level rise, development pressures and water quality issues. Others visited some local producers and learned about New Hampshire conservation practices in action and several New Hampshire food partnerships. The final day concluded with an energizing workshop on reinvigorating the Northeast Capacity Building Pilot led by Denise Savageau, NACD Northeast Region Chair, Annica McGuirk, NACD Northeast Region Representative, and Ian Hanley, New Hampshire State Conservation Committee Executive Director.
The 2022 Northeast Region Meeting will be held in Cambridge, Md., on August 28-31, 2022. To learn more about this and other NACD region meetings, visit this webpage. |
SOUTHEAST DISTRICT EMPLOYEES GATHER IN TENN. FOR ANNUAL CONFERENCE |
On November 9-10, 2021, over 100 district employees from nine states across the Southeast Region gathered in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. for the Southeast Conservation District Employees Association (SECDEA) Annual Conference. This year’s conference theme was “Building Conservation From the Soil Up.”
Throughout the event, conservation districts from each attending state highlighted some of their recent education and outreach activities during “Share Fair” sessions. Some highlights included:
- Alabama’s conservation districts’ use of the National Agriculture in the Classroom resources to teach students “How Many Hats Does A Farmer Wear?”
- Kentucky’s Bracken County Conservation District’s use of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s recommended publications list to guide and develop seasonal preschool outreach activities.
- Mississippi’s DeSoto County Soil and Water Conservation District’s (SWCD) weekly Conservation Chat Zoom video calls during the pandemic to explore a variety of agriculture and conservation topics and hands-on crafts with elementary school students.
- North Carolina’s Franklin County SWCD’s involvement in a grant-funded project to trial the use of multi-species cover crops on Wester Farms to improve soil health. Watch a 5-minute video here.
- South Carolina’s conservation districts’ success with AmeriCorps volunteers.
- Virginia’s James River SWCD’s development of a Spanish Agricultural Cost-Share brochure to distribute at their county fair to expand outreach to Spanish-speaking producers.
General sessions included rain simulator (pictured) and soil tunnel demonstrations, as well as sessions on wildlife ecology, funding and the use of loupes and The Private Eye® in environmental education. Participants also learned from the local Sevier Solid Waste, Inc. about their composting operations, and heard updates from a variety of partners, including the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the National Conservation District Employees Association (NCDEA), the Tennessee Association of Conservation Districts (TACD) and NACD. The conference concluded with a lively banquet, entertainment and live auction for all. |
|
NACD Forestry RPG Hosts Fall 2021 Webinar Series |
Each 60-minute Zoom session will feature multiple presenters and a Q&A with attendees. The first session, Fighting Forest Invasives, will be held at 12 p.m. Eastern and the second session, Forest Carbon Programs to Assist Private Landowners, will be held at 4 p.m. Eastern.
Sessions are open to all conservation district staff and forestry partners interested in attending. All attendees are eligible to receive CE credit through the Society of American Foresters.
Learn more and register for each session here.
|
Donate to NCF's 2022 Auction |
The National Conservation Foundation (NCF) Auction is a great opportunity to support conservation, and we are accepting donations for the 2022 event now!
During the 2022 NACD Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla., NCF will host their auction to support Envirothon, the Next Generation Leadership Institute and conservation education programs. The auction will be held Monday, Feb. 14.
The 2022 NCF Auction is a great opportunity to support NCF and conservation. The deadline for donations is January 7, 2022.
|
Oregon SWCS Hosting Virtual Annual Meeting |
The Oregon Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) is hosting a virtual annual meeting, on current trends impacting water use. The meeting, scheduled for Wed. Nov. 17 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Pacific, is free and open to anyone, with speakers including representatives from Trout Unlimited and Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District. Come learn about strategies related to climate change, partnerships to remove fish barriers and increase habitat connectivity in riparian areas and more. |
Deadline Approaches for Photo and Poster Contest Entries |
Have you submitted your state winning posters and photos yet? You still have time before the Dec. 1, 2021 deadline to give your students the chance to compete in NACD's National Photo and Poster Contest and have their art recognized and displayed at NACD's Annual Meeting.
The annual poster contest is open to students K-12 and celebrates the 2021 Stewardship theme “Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities”
The national photo contest is open to all amateur photographers who reside in the U.S. or its territories. Submissions for both contests are due Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021.
|
Nov. U&C Webinar Addresses Coastal Conservation |
During the November Urban and Community (U&C) Conservation webinar, scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 18, at 4 p.m. Eastern, Daniel Hayden, President and CEO of Restore Americas Estuaries (RAE), will discuss the diversity of projects and activities that RAE conducts on behalf of their members and coastal conservation.
RAE is a national alliance of 10 coastal conservation groups dedicated to restoring and preserving America’s estuaries and coasts, and also one of NACD’s partners through the Scott’s MiracleGro Foundation National Partner Network. In addition to contributing to local projects that restore coastal wetlands, open fish passages, and restore shellfish habitat, RAE also works on advocacy and policy issues that affect coastal communities.
Learn more about this webinar, view recordings of past U&C webinars, and submit a webinar proposal on our website. |
FSA Hosts Webinar on Cost-Share and Conservation Programs |
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is hosting a webinar on Supporting Organic and Transitioning Farmers through Cost-Share and Conservation Programs this Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern.
This webinar will provide an overview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency's programs that support organic and transitioning farmers through climate and environmentally-friendly farming practices. They will discuss FSA's new Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP), Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Organic Buffers. Learn about the needs of organic producers, what types of costs are reimbursed through OTECP and OCCSP, how CRP programs support organic agriculture production, and how to apply for USDA programs. The webinar will also highlight additional USDA resources for organic and transitioning producers.
|
Promote your conservation district or state association's tree sale, annual meeting, webinar, field day or more on NACD's Calendar of Events!
|
|
