Hosted in partnership with the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD), NACD's 2024 Annual Meeting will take place in San Diego, California from February 10-14, 2024. Join us for great networking opportunities, speakers, and tours exploring the theme "Operation Conservation!"

Online registration and hotel reservations close THIS Friday, January 19. Onsite registration will be available in San Diego, but space in some tours, events, and sessions may be full, so register now!

There is still an opportunity to join CARCD and NACD on the U.S.S. Midway for the host state welcome reception, sponsored by Warner Ranch!

The U.S.S. Midway was the longest-serving aircraft carrier in the 20th century. It is now a museum with an extensive collection of aircraft built in Southern California. Explore the ship and its flight deck, center island, and hangar bays. Enjoy a dinner buffet while networking with colleagues from across the country. A cash bar will also be available. A free shuttle bus service will bring you to the U.S.S. Midway and back to the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina.

Don't miss this unique experience! Reserve your space today by adding this host state event onto your registration for $150 per person.

Explore the 2024 Annual Meeting agenda to discover available breakout sessions, meetings, and social events that will be happening throughout the week. Find everything you need to know on NACD's website.

DONATE TO NCF LIVE AUCTION

The National Conservation Foundation (NCF) is excited to be hosting 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 a 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, for the benefit of conservation education! Check out all available items here.

NCF is accepting donations of items via the online form through January 31. Items can 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 the 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 Sunday, congressional leaders reached an agreement on a continuing resolution (CR) to fund some federal agencies until March 1 and others until March 8. Congress must pass the CR by this Friday to keep some federal agencies – including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) – from shutting down.

NACD encourages conservation districts to contact their local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offices to review shutdown plans and procedures. The National Conservation District Employees Association (NCDEA) has developed a helpful guide for conservation districts to navigate federal shutdowns.

NACD will share additional information as it becomes available.

FSH SEEKING FARMERS FOR COVER CROP ASSISTANCE

Farmers for Soil Health (FSH) is on a mission to improve soil health and farm profitability. Working with farmers to expand their adoption of cover crops, FSH aims to have 30 million U.S. acres in cover crops by 2030.

As a partner, NACD is excited to share that FSH is currently accepting enrollments from farmers seeking assistance planting cover crops in 20 states: Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

If you are a farmer interested in this opportunity visit FSH’s enrollment page. Funding for technical and financial assistance is made possible by the USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative.

More information, including an extensive Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) are available on FSH’s enrollment page. The online initial enrollment step is relatively short, with a follow up step to provide more farm information later in the process. Each of the states also has a designated Technical Assistance organization to provide help to producers.

Please help spread the word and share this opportunity with farmers in eligible states!