National Association of Conservation Districts

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NACD OPTIMISTIC AS FARM BILL PROGRESSES IN HOUSE

NACD President Olin Sims, a rancher from McFadden, Wyoming, today issued the following statement in response to the House Agriculture Committee’s Farm Bill proposal.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—July 20, 2007—“Last night members of the House Agriculture Committee passed out of Committee the 2007 Farm Bill. On behalf of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and our 3,000 member conservation districts, I want to thank the Committee members for their efforts to write a farm bill that works for landowners.

“The draft bill passed by the Committee this week demonstrates a strong commitment to conservation and preserves the locally-led conservation delivery system.

“We are pleased that Chairman Peterson (D-Minn.) and Ranking Member Goodlatte (R-Va.) agreed to hold off on any administrative changes to conservation programs and committed to continue efforts to consolidate conservation programs.

“NACD has worked since the start of the debate to ensure that the programs included in the 2007 Farm Bill will work for farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. NACD remains committed to locally-led conservation and will work for passage of the bill on the House floor.”

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The National Association of Conservation Districts is the non-profit organization that represents the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts and 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. For almost 70 years, local conservation districts have worked with cooperating landowners and managers of private working lands to help them plan and apply effective conservation practices. NACD’s website is at www.nacdnet.org.