In 2022, the Miner Conservation District (CD) in South Dakota was awarded a Friends of NACD District Grant. Together with a grant from a local utility, Central Electric Cooperative, the combined funding supported the purchase of trees for community tree planting projects.

“We anticipate that Emerald Ash Borer will become a serious issue in Miner County,” predicts Tami Moore, Miner Conservation District manager, “as over seventy percent of our trees are Green Ash.” Moore anticipates this will lead to more tree removal over the next 20 years, foresight that motivated this community tree planting project.

“Conservation, especially of trees,” says Moore, “is very important to Miner County residents.” In Miner County, the communities of Epiphany, Howard, and Canova collectively planted about one hundred trees, with the involvement of about 30 volunteers.

With no state funding, the Friends of NACD District Grant and funding from the local electric utility were crucial for the success of the community tree planting project. “This was an awesome project for Miner County, many children of the community have been seen watering and caring for the trees,” shares Moore. “Thank you, Friends of NACD!”

Read more about this project in this blog post and learn more on the Miner Conservation District website or Facebook page. Consider becoming a Friend of NACD today to help provide grant opportunities like this to conservation districts around the country!

WHATS HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON WITH CONSERVATION THIS WEEK

Congress is emerging from a two-week Easter recess and will continue working to develop the 2023 Farm Bill. Before the break, Secretary Tom Vilsack, NRCS Chief Terry Cosby, FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux, USFS Associate Chief Angela Colemen, and other leaders testified before the Senate and House Agriculture Committees. Witnesses and members of Congress discussed the importance of improving access to NRCS conservation programs, supporting the conservation workforce, updating CRP policy, and bolstering wildfire mitigation, among other priorities. Last Friday, Chairman GT Thompson hosted a farm bill listening session in New York to hear from local producers and other stakeholders about farm bill priorities. This week, the Senate Agriculture Committee will host hearings on SNAP and conservation programs in the 2023 Farm Bill. Congressional committees will also host EPA Administrator Michael Regan, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, and Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Moffitt to discuss agency programs and rules. NACD looks forward to tracking these developments and continuing to work with members of Congress to advance our 2023 Farm Bill and other legislative priorities. 

WOTUS Update:

As of April 12, 26 states have successfully sued for an injunction of the new WOTUS Rule, effectively blocking its implementation. A judge in Texas had already issued an injunction for Texas and Idaho, and a U.S. District Judge recently ruled that 24 additional states “have persuasively shown that the new 2023 Rule poses a threat to their sovereign rights and amounts to irreparable harm.” This ruling comes after Congress passed a resolution of disapproval to overturn the WOTUS rule under the Congressional Review Act. The resolution was vetoed by President Biden, and the required two-thirds of House members are not expected to support overriding the veto. EPA Administrator Michael Regan will testify before the House Ag Committee on April 19, and is expected to face many tough questions about the WOTUS rule. The rule will likely be further impacted by the Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA, which is projected to be published by early June. The primary question in Sackett is the “significant nexus” test, a key and controversial component of the new WOTUS rule.

RAPIDES SWCD'S PARTNERSHIP WITH GOOD FOOD PROJECT

By Brenda Archer, Rapides SWCD

Since 2012, Rapides Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) in Louisiana has teamed up with the Good Food Project to help bring raised bed gardens to local schools and youth groups. The program aimed to teach children about where their food comes from as well as equip them with the knowledge to grow and sustain their gardens.

The Rapides Parish School Board has been open to a curriculum that allows the students to plant and tend to the school gardens, as well as learn about the different types of soil, the microorganisms in the soil, organic fertilizers, organic pest control, and healthy gardening practices to yield a successful garden. Rapides SWCD has donated $100 per raised bed at each of the participating schools and youth groups as well as helping with maintenance on the older raised beds. The Good Food Project builds the raised beds, teaches the schools and students how to plant, fertilize, and maintain the beds, as well as supplies the beginning seeds and fertilizers.

On occasional visits to various schools, Rapides SWCD has had the pleasure of seeing the students’ faces light up when speaking of their gardens and their excitement to show what they have accomplished. One class showed off their garden and even named everything they had planted. They harvested their radishes, brought them in the classroom, washed them, and let the teacher slice them so they could taste them. Most children would be leery of trying radishes for the first time, but every child in the classroom tried them because they were so excited that they had planted them and were reaping the benefits of their harvest. Many even enjoyed the taste! From this simple project, the students learned new information, skills, responsibilities, and were generally excited to start gardens at home.

The children are our future. Rapides SWCD and Good Food Project hope that these gardens can encourage them to grow.

TEXAS DISTRICTS HOSTS STUDENT WILDLIFE CONTEST

The Central Texas Area Association of Soil and Water Conservation District’s supports the next generation of conservationists through the annual Central Texas Wildlife Contest. This event is made possible through the partnerships of eleven Soil and Water Conservation District’s (SWCD), USDA: Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) field office staff, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).

This year’s contest was hosted by the Hamilton-Coryell SWCD on March 27, 2023, at the Texas Game Warden Academy in Hamilton County. As the sun dried the dew off the Academy hillside vans, trucks, and busses began to arrive with 92 students from nineteen different school districts. Each contestant is eager to take home the title of High Point Individual. Before the students began the competition, TPWD Game Warden, Major Jason Bussey welcomed the students and talked to them about the history, purpose, and uniqueness of the Game Warden Academy. After the welcome, students were divided into groups and led by both NRCS staff and SWCD Directors to their stations as the competition commenced.

One of the groups was led by Hill Country SWCD Director Grady Gibson, who said “NRCS played a vital role in setting up the Plant ID, Wildlife Habitat Evaluation, and Wildlife Techniques portion of the contest. It’s great to have their technical knowledge and it makes for a better competition.”

As the competition concluded, all the students were treated to a meal and refreshments sponsored by the Central Texas Area Association of SWCD’s. After lunch, the high point individual of the day was announced along with the top 5 high scoring teams. Ryland Carlile, from Florence FFA took home the high point individual score and belt buckle. Alongside Ryland in the photo are Hill Country District Director Grady Gibson and NRCS District Conservationist Josh Bauman.