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November 15, 2011
Early Bird Registration Deadline Approaching for 2012 Annual Meeting
Make sure you register for NACD’s 2012 Annual Meeting! The “Early Bird” registration
deadline is November 30.
To register online, visit the Annual Meeting registration
page and follow the links to our online registration system. This new service is available for
credit card purchases only. If you have questions about the registration process, please
contact Jamii Roberson at Jamii-roberson@nacdnet.org.
Based on the theme, "Conservation: We're All In!" the event will highlight a variety of partners
in conservation and projects on the ground, demonstrating that we can do more for
conservation when we all work together. The conference will offer a wide range of informative
sessions and networking opportunities, in addition to a Conservation Expo showcasing
the latest products and technologies in conservation from partners across the country.
Annual Meeting sponsors include: John Deere, the U.S. Department of Defense, Agri
Drain Corporation, DuPont Land Management, Pioneer, and Scotts Miracle-Gro.
NACD Participates in Farm Broadcasters Annual Convention
Last week, NACD President Gene Schmidt, Past President Steve Robinson and
Communications Director Bethany Shively participated in “Trade Talk” at the National
Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB) Annual Convention in Kansas City, Mo.
During the widely-attended trade show, NACD representatives networked with organizations
and reporters from across the country and handed out information about NACD,
conservation policy and the work of districts on the ground. Schmidt and Robinson
conducted more than 20 interviews with ag broadcasters, highlighting the importance
of locally-led conservation.
Trade Talk, the centerpiece event of the NAFB’s Annual Convention, affords NAFB-member
broadcasters the opportunity to conduct interviews with ag-minded organizations and
companies from across the country. Roughly 100 broadcasters attended the event.
NACD Supports Barrasso-Heller Efforts to Uphold the Clean Water Act
Last week, Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.) introduced an
amendment to defund the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ attempt to expand its jurisdiction
under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The amendment was introduced as part of H.R. 2354,
the Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill for FY2012. NACD sent a letter of
support to Senators Barrasso and Heller and also issued a press release.
“We agree with Senators Barrasso and Heller that the jurisdictional reach of the Clean
Water Act should not be expanded,” NACD President Gene Schmidt said. “As
conservationists, we fully support the common goal of achieving cleaner, healthier
watersheds across the nation. The best way to achieve clean water is through locally-led
conservation efforts, rather than a one-size-fits-all, top-down federal regulatory approach.
States, local governments and private landowners play a critical leadership role in water
management.”
The Senate is scheduled to vote on the CWA amendment and the appropriations bill this
week. NACD asks conservationists to call your Senators and tell them to support the
Barrasso/Heller Clean Water Act amendment.
Please contact Danielle Dills, NACD Grassroots and Policy Advisor, to update us on your
outreach efforts and any feedback you receive. Danielle may be reached at Danielle-dills@nacdnet.org
or 202-547-6223.
2012 Ag Appropriations Update
On Monday, House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers introduced the final conference
report on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Agriculture, Commerce/Justice/Science (CJS), and
Transportation/Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bills – also known
as the “Mini-bus” (House Report 112-284). In addition, the package contains a Continuing
Resolution (CR) to avoid a government shutdown and continues other federal operations
until December 16, – or until Congress completes the remaining nine FY 2012 Appropriations
bills. This CR includes no new funding provisions. The Conference Committee approved
the report on a wide bipartisan basis, with all but one of 38 House and Senate conferees
signing off on the package.
For more information, click here.
The conference report includes $844 million for NRCS programs, and $828 million of
that amount is dedicated to conservation operations.
The House and Senate are expected to vote on this Mini-bus containing the CR by the
end of the week.
Two Chiefs’ Partnership Award 2011 Nomination
The USDA Forest Service and NRCS have opened nominations for this year’s Two Chief’s
Partnership Award. The awards recognize outstanding forestry and conservation employees
or officials who have worked together to support conservation and forest stewardship.
Nominees must have worked jointly, for a minimum of 6 months, to enhance forestry-related
conservation with at least two of the following agencies: conservation districts, Forest
Service, NRCS, or state forestry agencies.
Nominations should include: a 250-word description detailing the relevant work of the
nominee(s), a list of partners, and the outcome of the partnership.
For the nomination form, click here.
For more information, click here.
Please submit nominations via email to Maya Solomon, or through
the Joint Forestry Team website, www.jointforestryteam.org, by December 12.
Districts Receive USDA People’s Garden Initiative Grants
The Homer SWCD in Alaska and the Calhoun CD in Michigan each received a grant to
support the development of a People’s Garden Initiative in their respective communities.
USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) manages the People's Garden
Grant Program (PGGP), with funding from the Agriculture Marketing Service, Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Forest Service, and the
Natural Resources Conservation Service. The grants, totaling $725,000, are the first awards
given under the PGGP.
These sustainable community gardens will give residents direct access to fresh fruits and
vegetables in underserved neighborhoods.
There are more than 1,400 People's Gardens across the nation, including three U.S.
territories and nine foreign countries. USDA is working with more than 600 local organizations
to create school gardens, community gardens and small-scale agriculture projects in urban
and rural areas, collectively referred to community-based agriculture.
All produce grown at a People's Garden on USDA owned or leased property is donated to
help those in need.
Search the People's Gardens Interactive Map
to find out where our gardens are located. To learn more or to register your community
garden as a People's Garden, click here.
Enjoy reading eNotes? Sign up your board today at http://nacdnet.org/news/publications/enotes/ or forward this link to a friend and encourage them to sign up too. Take advantage of helpful conservation news and resources arriving in your inbox every Tuesday at no charge.
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