Since 2016, NACD has partnered with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on a very successful Urban and Community Conservation (UAC) grant initiative, awarding over $7.75 million dollars to 182 different projects.

In fiscal year 2023, NACD will again award funds through the UAC program. Districts may apply for two different tracts of funding:

• Up to $10,000 for a UAC planning grant, to begin early-stage program development.
• Or, up to $60,000 for a UAC implementation grant.

Both grants are meant to develop conservation district capacity, so grant budgets should focus primarily on staff time.

Interested applicants may review NACD’s UAC webpage for the complete Request for Proposals (RFP) and examples of projects from previous grantees. Grantees across the U.S. have completed projects like targeting outreach programs to underrepresented smallholder farmers, conducting activities related to urban soil health, and partnering with schools to expand learning gardens.

Conservation districts may view the complete request for proposals (RFP) on the UAC webpage. The online application portal is now open, with a deadline of 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on April 1, 2024.

Interested districts may direct any questions to Rachel Theler, NACD’s Southwest Region Representative.

DONATE TO NCF LIVE AUCTION

The National Conservation Foundation (NCF) is excited to host their annual Live Auction at NACD's upcoming Annual Meeting. Proceeds from the auction will support NCF conservation education programs, including the NCF-Envirothon and Next Generation Leadership Institute.

The auction will feature a variety of items including:

• Case iH Tractors: a Magnum 380 Rowtrac, Magnum 250, Magnum 310 and Maxxum 150 with loader;
• Ducks Unlimited Rifle of the Year: Christensen Arms Mesa bolt-action rifle;
• John Deere X570 Lawn Tractor;
• Dyson Airwrap donated by NACD;
• Waterfowl Hunt with NACD Immediate Past President Michael Crowder;
• Handmade One Water Quilt;
• and more!

If you're joining us in San Diego, come ready to bid on these and other exciting items, all for the benefit of conservation education! Check out all available items here.

NCF is accepting donations of items via an online form through January 31. Popular items often feature local artists, a special product made only in your state or territory, or interesting items with a conservation theme. Successful items in past auctions include pottery, jewelry, and “made in” agriculture products.

After completing the Auction Donation Form, donors will be provided with shipping information for the meeting hotel and a date window to ship items as the Live Auction date approaches. All items must be dropped off in the Conservation Showcase Hall by no later than 10 a.m. on Monday, February 12.

WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON:

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS UPDATE

On January 18, President Biden signed a continuing resolution into law to prevent a government shutdown. The temporary spending bill extends funding for some federal agencies (including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) until March 1 and others until March 8. This is the third temporary spending bill that Congress has passed in four months. Continued debates over final spending bills, the upcoming election season, and policy disagreements threaten to further delay introduction and passage of the new farm bill.

NACD’s 2024 Spring Fly-in is scheduled for March 20, 2024 in Washington, D.C. The event will include a breakfast briefing and an evening reception on/near Capitol Hill. Please stay tuned for additional details and a complete agenda.

LOUISIANA ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS HOSTS 78TH ANNUAL MEETING

The Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts (LACD) held their 78th Annual meeting on January 8-10, 2024, in Baton Rouge. Topics for general and breakout sessions revolved around this year's theme, "Water, Conservation's Reflection." Presentation topics included watershed conservation using nature-based solutions, a Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) update, feral swine tracking efforts, the Drought Irrigation Response Tool (DIRT), drought effects on the Coastwide Reference Monitoring System (CRMS), as well as drought effects and management in our cattle businesses, and many more.

Key partner updates were provided by NRCS, NACD, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, Farm Service Agency, the U.S. Forest Service, and Louisiana State University's AgCenter. A Master Farmer luncheon was held to recognize one newly certified and nine recertified Master Farmers. An awards dinner was held on the second night to present special awards to district supervisors, partners, and staff.

Those in attendance at the Annual Meeting met LACD's first-ever Executive Director, Courtney Gerace. Providing closing comments at the final session were Joe Mapes, legislative specialist from the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, and the Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr. Mike Strain. 

LACD would like to thank all partners, presenters, sponsors, and exhibitors for their hard work and dedication to the 78th Annual Meeting. To learn more about Louisiana Soil and Water Conservation Districts visit www.ldaf.la.gov and go to "Conservation and Protection".