National Association of Conservation Districts

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NACD DISAPPOINTED WITH PRESIDENT’S BUDGET

NACD Acting President Steve Robinson, a corn, soybean and wheat producer from Marysville, Ohio, today issued the following statement in response to the Bush Administration’s release of its proposed fiscal year 2009 budget.

Washington, D.C.—February 5, 2008—"The fiscal year 2009 budget proposal released yesterday by the Bush Administration falls short of our goals for conservation on America’s working lands. On behalf of the National Association of Conservation Districts, I want to express our concern that the proposal does not meet the continued demand we face to help landowners meet regulatory requirements and place conservation practices on their land.

"America’s landowners and managers have shown a growing interest in participating in conservation efforts. However, the proposed budget cuts access to conservation planning and technical assistance and reduces funding for programs. These cuts, coupled with the fact that Congress has not reauthorized the Farm Bill, put conservation districts and their landowner customers in a difficult spot, limiting their ability to implement needed conservation practices and programs.

"NACD has been advocating for three main priorities, all of which were under funded in the Administration’s proposal. Our NACD Board-approved priority programs include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 319 Nonpoint Source Program, the U.S. Forest Service’s State and Private Forestry Program and the Conservation Technical Assistance Program that is part of the USDA NRCS Conservation Operations account.

"Each of these program areas is critical to providing the financial support and technical assistance needed to make conservation improvements. Without funding, we cannot expect to make the needed gains.

"Our three priority programs also leverage additional state and local dollars, stretching each federal dollar farther. Funding EPA 319, State and Private Forestry and Conservation Technical Assistance is a fundamental investment that should not be considered optional.

"We realize this is just the beginning of the process and will continue to work with Congress to ensure funding of our three priority programs as part of our overall efforts to enhance conservation on America’s working lands.”

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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.