Have you wondered if you are getting the most out of your NACD membership? Come learn about NACD’s membership benefits during our next Conservation Coffee on November 13 at 3:00 p.m. ET titled, How to Take Advantage of Your NACD Membership!

Join NACD’s Membership Team for an informal discussion on NACD’s offerings for members. We’ll go over the basics: how to access the online Members Only portal, what you can do on our membership portal, our networking and learning opportunities, stewardship and education materials, our advocacy process, and more.

Bring your questions, this will be a great opportunity to connect with staff and learn more about how to get involved at a national level and make sure you voice is heard!

Registration is free. Registrants will receive a Zoom link after registering. The session will be recorded and available on our YouTube channel after the event.

If you missed our latest special Conservation Coffee session on mental health in the farming community and the LandLogic(TM) model, a recording is available exclusively on our Members Only page.

BOOST YOUR DISTRICT'S PROJECT WITH A FRIENDS OF NACD DISTRICT GRANT

Have you put in your application for a Friends of NACD District Grant yet? Applications are still being accepted through November 30!

We’re offering grants of up to $2,500 for districts or state associations with innovative approaches to locally led conservation. In the past, we have funded workshops, education programs, resource assessments, development of training materials, native plant installations, tree sales, and so much more. This could be exactly what you’ve been looking for to kickstart a new program or expand your operations into a new area.

To be eligible for a grant, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• District must have paid NACD membership dues at any level in the previous fiscal year;
• Projects must contribute to the mission of NACD;
• District must be able to complete proposed activities within 13 months of notification of award and commit to providing quarterly updates to NACD;
• District must not have been a previous recipient of a Friends of NACD grant.

Read the full request for proposals and eligibility criteria on NACD's website.

If you have any questions, please reach out to NACD Membership and Development Coordinator, Jackson Moody, at jackson-moody@nacdnet.org.

WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON? GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS UPDATE

The government shutdown has entered its fifth week and is rapidly approaching the mark for the longest shutdown in American history. The House remains out of session, while Senate negotiations are continuing daily. Last week, two federal judges ruled that USDA must continue to pay SNAP benefits in November, pushing back on administration plans to freeze the program for the month. In response, the Department will partially fund SNAP benefits using a contingency fund but will not explore other funding sources.

Conservation districts are urged to document and communicate local impacts from the shutdown through NACD’s Impact Survey and to share stories directly with their Members of Congress. NACD emphasizes staying nonpartisan and focusing on how the shutdown affects conservation delivery, local communities, and producers. Full details, FAQs, and a sample outreach letter are available on NACD’s Members Only page.

This week, the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced three nominees for positions within USDA, including John Walk for inspector general, Mindy Brashears for Undersecretary for Food Safety, and Yvette Herrell for Assistant Secretary of USDA’s Office of Congressional Relations. Committee Chairman John Boozman has stated that he expects the nominees to receive a full Senate vote by the end of the month.

On October 30, President Trump announced an agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping following meetings in South Korea. The deal, which is still unreleased, reportedly includes a resumption of agricultural trade, including soybeans, sorghum, and wheat. Reports indicate the Trump administration will lower tariffs and postpone new port fees in return. 

AFA + NACD SUSTAINABILITY INSTITUTE APPLICATIONS OPEN

NACD partners with the Agriculture Future of America (AFA) every year to bring 50 college students from across the country to the AFA + NACD Sustainability Institute. This three-day experience to be held February 15-17, 2026, brings the brightest young minds in agriculture and natural resources together for hands-on learning, field discussions, and meaningful conversations with conservation leaders.  

Participants will have the opportunity to dive into real-world challenges relating to soil health, water quality, and sustainable food systems and discover how their passion for agriculture can shape a more resilient future. View a detailed agenda here. 

The Sustainability Institute challenges students to think big about how conservation and production can work together. From exploring regenerative practices to learning how local decisions impact global outcomes, every session connects the dots between innovation and stewardship. It’s a place where ideas spark, curiosity grows, and the next generation of leaders finds their voice in the sustainability conversation. 

This experience also builds more than knowledge; it builds community. Students leave with new mentors, lifelong friendships, and a growing network of professionals dedicated to caring for our natural resources. The AFA + NACD Sustainability Institute cultivates leaders who understand that the health of the land and the success of agriculture are deeply intertwined. 

If you know of a college student who may be interested, please pass this opportunity along! Applications are being accepted until November 23, 2025. The Sustainability Institute is held simultaneously with NACD’s Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

If selected, students will be responsible for their travel to and from San Antonio, but lodging, meals, and registration in the program is covered by AFA, NACD, and their partners. If you have more questions, please read the FAQs on AFA’s website or reach out to programs@agfuture.org.  

TELLING THE STORY: WA DISTRICTS MAKE CASE FOR SUSTAINABLE WILDFIRE RESILIENCE

On September 14, 2025, a brushfire erupted in south Seattle, damaging four homes and hospitalizing two people—proof that wildfire is an increasing threat to both rural and urban areas. Yet Washington’s conservation districts (CDs) saw an 83% cut in state funding for wildfire resiliency work this biennium.

For Jenny Coe, Forest Health and Community Wildfire Manager at the Washington State Conservation Commission (SCC), and Heather Wendt, Deputy Director of the Washington Association of Conservation Districts (WACD), growing wildfire risks, contrasted with shrinking CD funding, highlight a critical need: educating decision-makers about CDs’ vital role in wildfire resiliency.

“What makes conservation districts unique in this space is that they’re already part of the community,” said Wendt. “They’re trusted, and they have the expertise and availability when there’s funding to provide meaningful assistance.”

Coe illustrated that point with an example from the San Juan Islands. When a fire brigade needed a wood chipper for fuels reduction but couldn’t access funds directly, the San Juan Islands Conservation District stepped in to purchase the chipper and develop a community-use plan on their behalf. Both leaders said that stories like these, told directly by landowners and local communities, are exactly what decision-makers need to hear.

Now, the SCC, WACD, and their partners are developing tools to share those stories, including, one-page breifs for legislators, a detailed wildfire resiliency handout highlighting CD roles, local impacts, and testimonials, and a postcard campaign that allows community members to share how CD services have impacted them.

Washington’s experience underscores a key takeaway for districts nationwide: be proactive and consistent in elevating voices from communities who benefit from CD wildfire services.

Read this full story on NACD's blog and subscribe to our Forestry Notes newsletter to get stories like this in your inbox every month.