NACD, in partnership with NRCS, has issued a request for proposals for Technical Assistance (TA) Grants. With an anticipated $27 million in funding, TA Grants will support technical positions in high-need areas, strengthening conservation delivery across the U.S. and territories.

Applications are now being accepted through the NACD Application Portal. Submit applications by November 6, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

The TA Grants program provides resources to conservation districts to address the growing demand for voluntary working lands conservation. The funding supports boots-on-the-ground assistance to help producers develop conservation plans, implement practices, and access programs like EQIP and CSP. To date, NACD’s Technical Assistance grantees have supported over 108,000 producers and improved conservation outcomes on more than 6.8 million acres nationwide.

The TA Grants program also prioritizes advancing technical skills and assistance to producers. Grantees are encouraged to help employees pursue Job Approval Authority (JAA) and Certified Conservation Planner credentials, increasing local capacity to independently implement conservation practices.

Eligible applicants include conservation districts, state or territory associations of conservation districts, conservation district's state or territory agencies, Resource Conservation & Development Councils, and Indian Tribal governments or intertribal consortia.

For more information, to apply, or to watch last week's informational webinar, visit NACD's website.

FINAL CALL TO PROPOSE A BREAKOUT SESSION

NACD invites you to join us in San Antonio, Texas, for the 2026 Annual Meeting! Hosted in partnership with the Association of Texas Soil and Water Conservation Districts, our 80th meeting will take place on February 15-19, 2026, at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter on the River Walk. Help us celebrate this milestone anniversary—the Oak Anniversary—and explore the theme, "Deep Roots, Bold Horizons."

We want to spotlight your conservation experiences and expertise through breakout sessions! NACD invites you to submit a session proposal by this Friday, September 26.

Breakout sessions spotlight the work of conservation districts and partners across the country. New to this year, we are also accepting proposals for training sessions to help conservation district board members and staff build their skillsets. Sessions typically run between 30 and 90 minutes long and often showcase several speakers

This year, NACD is seeking proposals that fit into one of four themes:

• Build and Expand Your Skillsets – Professional development and technical training
• District Management: Embracing Change – Examples of districts overcoming challenges, adding new projects or technical capabilities, responding to change, and developing strategies for resilience
• Conservation Innovation – Use of innovative approaches and technologies
• Partnerships for Impact – Partnerships and innovative ways districts are growing capacity

If selected, speakers are responsible for their registration, lodging, and travel expenses. All the details on meeting registration, travel discounts, and breakout sessions can be found on NACD's Annual Meeting webpage.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss your proposal before submitting, please reach out to NACD’s Director of Membership Engagement, Dr. Ariel Rivers, at ariel-rivers@nacdnet.org.

WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON? GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS UPDATE

Last week, USDA announced the acceptance of over 1.7 million acres into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) through 2025 General, Continuous, Grassland, and Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) enrollments. These acres are in addition to the over 25 million acres currently enrolled in CRP programs, underscoring demand for conservation tools at the local level.

On September 18, the U.S. Senate confirmed three nominees to serve as Under Secretaries at USDA: Richard Fordyce for Farm Production and Conservation, Dudley Hoskins for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, and Scott Hutchins for Research, Education and Economics.

Earlier this year, NACD led a coalition letter supporting Fordyce’s nomination, reflecting our strong ties to his leadership and his background as a farmer, state agriculture director, and Farm Service Agency Administrator. NACD looks forward to continuing our close work with Under Secretary Fordyce in his new role overseeing the Farm Service Agency, NRCS, and Risk Management Agency. Read NACD’s full statement of congratulations here.

The Senate also confirmed Jessica Kramer to serve as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water. View EPA’s press release here.

Federal funding is set to expire on October 1. The Senate is currently in recess until returning Monday, September 29. The House has adjourned and does not plan to return until Tuesday, September 30. A White House meeting scheduled this week between President Trump and Democratic leaders Sen. Schumer and Rep. Jeffries was canceled this morning. Congress faces a September 30 deadline to keep the government funded. NACD will continue to monitor the development of a Continuing Resolution and share guidance in the days ahead with suggested items for conservation districts to consider to prepare for a possible shutdown of the federal government.

NCF NEXT GENERATION LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE HOLDS MID-YEAR TRAINING SESSION

Last week, the National Conservation Foundation's (NCF) Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI) 2025 Cohort met for their mid-year Advocacy, Communication, and Partnerships training session. The five-day experience was the second of three in-person sessions the cohort will attend during their year-long, leadership development journey.

NCF launched NGLI in 2019 with the goal to provide conservation district officials with the skills to become national leaders through personal, civic and organizational leadership development. By increasing their capacity to navigate and manage complex conservation challenges at the national level, conservation districts can continue to be relevant through locally led conservation.

After traveling to Washington D.C., the cohort started the week with session content provided by the NACD Government Affairs Team along with guest speakers from the 9B Group, NRCS, and Ducks Unlimited. Participants had discussions on how to have an effective Capitol Hill visit with legislators, the scope of NRCS conservation programs, and how partnerships can promote a common effort to guide conservation policy. NGLI participants then headed to Capitol Hill to put their new skills to work.

The following day the cohort was in a classroom near Shepherdstown, WV discussing effective communication. Session content included working effectively with print and broadcast media which included a practice on-air interview, social media best practices where each participant developed and posted an NGLI recruitment message. The cohort also worked to build public outreach plans and discussed identifying the needs of conservation district stakeholders and customers.

On Thursday, the West Virginia Association of Conservation District’s Executive Director Heather Duncan and staff from the West Virginia Conservation Agency hosted an entire day of field tours. The cohort discussed soil health practices, creative grazing strategies, and farm operation diversification with the Tabb family at Vinemont Farms. The cohort then toured the Green Horizons Sod Farm to learn about the extensive conservation practices the Ware family uses in their operation to ensure the conservation of soil and water resources. The field day concluded with a tour of the Devil’s Dew Distillery and how the owners use only local farm products and provide a market for conservation farming families.

The session concluded on Friday morning with a wrap-up discussion on their individual Capstone Projects before the cohort returned home.

If leadership training like this sounds like the right next step in your conservation journey, visit NCF's website to learn more about NGLI and apply by October 31, 2025 to be a part of the next cohort!