National Association of Conservation Districts

National Association of Conservation Districts

NACD's mission is to serve conservation districts by providing national leadership and a unified voice for natural resource conservation.

News Release


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NACD CALLS ON CONGRESS TO SUPPORT FARM BILL CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

WASHINGTON, D.C.—December 13, 2010—The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) is urging Congress to support full funding for conservation programs in the 2008 Farm Bill. These vital programs provide critical assistance for farmers, ranchers and forest landowners to address local natural resource concerns while producing food, fuel, feed and fiber for the world’s growing population.

“Applied conservation on the nation's farms, ranches and private forestlands provides clean water, healthy, productive soils and wildlife habitat, and other important public benefits that should not be lost,” NACD President Steve Robinson stated in a letter to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Inouye and Ranking Member Cochran.

Conservation districts work with millions of cooperating landowners and operators to manage and protect land and water resources. Full funding of Farm Bill conservation programs will help ensure the continuation and success of these locally-led efforts to provide critical natural resource benefits for communities.

“The demand for technical and financial assistance provided through the Farm Bill far exceeds available funding,” Robinson continued. “Cuts to these important programs will weaken our efforts to increase the adoption of conservation practices on the ground. While we certainly understand and appreciate the need to remain fiscally conservative in the current budgetary climate, the health of our land, water and soil are too important to be put on the back-burner.”

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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.