The Fall 2019 edition of The Resource has arrived!

This fall's edition of The Resource, which you can access by clicking on the cover below, is packed with exciting updates and stories from districts and conservation leaders nationwide.

From fighting invasive species to using art to educate community members on the importance of water management, districts are leading the charge in tackling today's most pressing resource concerns.

Check out some of the highlights:

Within this edition, you'll also read about some of NACD's new developments, including updates from the government affairs team and an overview of the National Conservation Foundation (NCF)-Envirothon's new season.

We hope you enjoy this fall edition and are inspired by the stories of conservation districts making a change across the nation.

Browse past editions of The Resource on NACD's website and please let us know if you have any questions or comments about this edition.

NACD PRESIDENT TIM PALMER ATTENDS MACD ANNUAL MEETING

Last week, NACD President Tim Palmer (pictured above) attended the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts' (MACD) Annual Conference and Meeting held in Bellaire, Mich. Over 250 directors, staff and partners attended the three-day meeting.

On Monday, Palmer delivered a keynote presentation to meeting attendees. Palmer also presented MACD President Art Pelon with an award for his eight years of service to the state association. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Deputy Director, Dr. James Averill and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist, Garry Lee also recognized Pelon's dedication to Michigan's conservation districts and conservation partnership.

In addition to delivering the keynote message at the open lunch, Palmer participated in the directors roundtable discussion, regional breakout meetings and MACD’s annual business meeting held the following day. 

During these events, he was an active participant, sharing comments and responding to questions about directors' duties and responsibilities, and the support NACD provides to conservation districts.

NACD ATTENDS AFA CONFERENCE IN MISSOURI

Last week, NACD staff attended the annual Agriculture Future of America (AFA) Leaders Conference in Kansas City, Mo., and participated in the AFA Opportunity Fair with an NACD booth. More than 800 current undergraduate students attended the conference, which focused on career skills development and making connections with industry, agencies and organizations involved with agriculture and natural resources management.

NACD Director of Development Laura Demmel (pictured above) and NACD South Central Region Representative Keith Owen greeted students at the booth and discussed NACD internship opportunities in Washington, D.C., and the upcoming Conservation Careers Workshop , which will be held during NACD's Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nev. Demmel and Owen were also featured in an industry round-robin careers discussion where they shared their career development story with several groups of students.

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During the Leadership Awards banquet on Friday evening, AFA presented the 2019 AFA Leader in Agriculture Award to Andy Weber , CEO of Farm Journal and the 2019 AFA Young Leader and Agriculture Award to Garrett and Cara Riekhof  from central Missouri, who own and operate a fifth-generation farm specializing in food grade white corn and soybeans.



To learn more, visit AFA's website .

CONSERVATION LEADERS MEET IN OREGON FOR OACD MEETING

With the fall well underway on the west coast, many state associations of conservation districts will meet in the next few weeks to bring together conservation district officials and partners. Last week, the Oregon Association of Conservation Districts (OACD) met in Redmond, Ore.

Over 60 people attended from the state's 45 conservation districts and partner organizations. Attendees received important updates on OACD’s activities, including progress toward specific goals after hiring Jan Lee as the new executive director.

With Lee’s hiring, the association has recently updated its by-laws and is also developing state-level advocacy documents and guidelines under the leadership of OACD President and NACD Board Member Terri Preeg Riggsby. Attendees helped to further review and amend these documents at the meeting.

In addition to the OACD business conducted at the meeting, representatives of partner organizations also provided programmatic updates. The Oregon Water Enhancement Board led a discussion on the 100-Year Water Vision, a document currently in development at the request of the governor to help guide state-level activities related to water resources in response to changing climate and population dynamics.

Other partners present at the meeting to provide updates included Laura Johnson of the Washington State Conservation Commission, who discussed marketing conservation districts; the Oregon Department of Agriculture; the Oregon Agriculture Trust for farmland preservation; the Oregon Envirothon; the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and NACD. Two districts also provided program updates—the Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the Jackson SWCD—both of which previously received NACD technical assistance grants, greatly expanding their capacity for irrigation technical assistance. 

FORESTRY NOTES Q&A: JAD DALEY

Jad Daley  is the President and CEO of  American Forests , the nation’s oldest forest conservation organization founded in 1875. Recently, he sat down with NACD Forestry Specialist  Mike Beacom  to discuss a number of topics. 

Beacom asked Daley what advice he would give to NACD and conservation districts in providing assistance to broader reforestation efforts like those in northeastern states.

Daley told NACD, “This is a total partnership effort, and conservation districts have a huge role to play through technical assistance, facilitating cost-share and even just helping to identify suitable areas. One of American Forests’ most key partners in reforestation is the Mojave Desert Resource Conservation District in California, where we are replanting burned over areas in the San Bernadino Mountains.”

Daley also responded to questions about urban forestry, regional learning labs, and the role forestry can play in combating climate change.

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

WAKE SWCD, N.C.

In 2016, NACD, in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) awarded funding to the  Wake Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) in North Carolina to help provide urban agriculture outreach and awareness opportunities for the community's youth; underserved residents; women; new, beginning and established farmers and landowners.

Another endeavor with the Wake County Urban Agriculture Collective has resulted in a forum for the local urban agriculture community to share resources, successes and challenges. By establishing this communication system, the center is better able to work toward long-term solutions on problems faced by Wake County’s urban agriculture community.

The Wake SWCD piloted a new service avenue by helping agricultural growers learn about, and adhere to, established and upcoming Good Agricultural Practice protocols. This program, in partnership with the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association’s Local Produce Safety Initiative and The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle (a local hunger relief organization), was critical in offering training on the increasing impacts and importance of food safety protocols that ultimately influence the best management practices for soil health and water quality of farmland.  

Wake SWCD staff site visits connected small-scale urban farmers to the local programs offered by the district and NRCS. Some urban growers providing produce to underserved communities were not aware of financial assistance opportunities available through the Farm Service Agency, NRCS or the SWCD until these visits.

Learn more about  the project on NACD's website.

Join the Conservation:

NACD's Forums

Recently, NACD launched its Discussion Board, inviting members to participate in an open discussion on topics of their choice.

Our first question comes from Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District Director Janine Rybka who posted: "Has any conservation district created a nonprofit partner organization? We believe that if we do so, we can hold vacant land parcels and apply for a variety of currently restricted grants. If your organization has investigated or implemented this option, I would like to learn more about the process and successes."

Please visit NACD's Forums to join the conversation. Have a question or want to start a topic? Click on the button below!

District Employees Gather in Tennessee

for Annual SECDEA Conference

Last week, over 100 district employees from throughout the southeast gathered in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., for the 2019 Southeast Conservation District Employees Association's (SECDEA) Annual Conference. Presided over by SECDEA President Hope Daley from Mississippi, the two-day conference provided the opportunity for conservation district employees to gather, share ideas, and hear updates from partners, including the National Conservation District Employees Association (NCDEA), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and NACD.

 

Throughout the conference, district employees across the southeast region showcased a variety of conservation education programs and outreach activities.

The conference also engaged participants in a hands-on gyotaku or fish printing activity, and featured sessions on the Bee Cause Project and soil health before culminating in an evening banquet. During the banquet, Celia Miller of Mississippi, received the SECDEA Employee Award and Anita Cowan , also of Mississippi, was recognized with the SECDEA Official Award.

Last Week for Priority Internship Applications

NACD is seeking 2020 spring interns to work full-time in Washington, D.C. Interns work with NACD's government affairs and communications staff to advance the association's legislative agenda. 

Interns will learn the interworkings of federal natural resources and environmental agencies, as well as the roles conservation districts and state conservation agencies play in the development of natural resources, agricultural and environmental policies.

To receive priority consideration, applications should be submitted by Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. To learn more, visit NACD's Careers and Internships webpage.

NACD Attends NYACD Annual Meeting

Last month, NACD Second Vice President Kim LaFleur delivered a keynote speech at the New York Association of Conservation Districts' (NYACD) annual meeting.

LaFleur provided an overview of the national association's programs and advocacy work. NYACD also used the annual meeting as an opportunity to conduct district supervisor training, elect officers, and present annual awards.

Additionally, Sam Casella, NACD Board Member for New York, was re-elected President of NYACD.

Deadline Approaching:

Fall Promotional

Mug Offer

Take advantage of NACD's Promotional Mug offer before it ends this month!

 

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 . 

Register Now:

U&C Webinar on

UAC Grants

Last month, NACD announced a fourth round of funding through the  Urban Agriculture Conservation (UAC) Grant Program  for fiscal year 2020.

On  Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern,  NACD will host a free webinar to review the Request for Proposals (RFP) and respond to members' questions.

To learn more about the initiative and to best prepare for the webinar, please visit NACD's website , which includes the RFP and Frequently Asked Questions documents. The webinar will also be posted  online  for those who are unable to attend.

To register for the webinar, click here . If you have any questions prior to the webinar, please contact NACD Senior Advisor  Deb Bogar  at 

deb-bogar@nacdnet.org  or 303-988-1893.

NRCS Accepting Public Comments to

Revised Handbook

Last week, 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.

Recently, 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 Approaches:

Submit to NACD's Poster and Photo Contest

The deadline to submit your entry for the  2019 NACD and NACD Auxiliary's Poster and Photo Contest is fast approaching!

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 !