FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 16, 2021

NACD APPLAUDS

CONFIRMATION OF ROBERT BONNIE

AS FPAC UNDER SECRETARY

WASHINGTON – Today, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) applauded the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of Robert Bonnie as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

As Under Secretary, Bonnie will oversee the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Risk Management Agency and FPAC Business Center. In his role, he will also manage the USDA’s Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry Partnership Program.

“NACD applauds the confirmation of Robert Bonnie as the FPAC Under Secretary. We are eager to work with him given his extensive knowledge and experience with USDA and climate-smart agriculture and forestry,” NACD President Michael Crowder said. “Bonnie understands the need for voluntary and locally-led conservation programs, and we are excited to work with him to continue bringing those programs to farmers, ranchers and landowners across the country.”

Robert Bonnie was raised on a farm in Kentucky and has dedicated his career to addressing climate change through agricultural and forestry-based solutions. Bonnie has served with USDA previously as Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment during the Obama Administration. He also led the USDA Transition Team for the Biden Administration and served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor for Climate at USDA. Prior to that role, he held positions as the Director of the Farm and Forests Carbon Solutions Initiative at the Bipartisan Policy Center and later Executive in Residence at Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions. Bonnie holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College and a master’s degree in forestry and environmental management from Duke University.

“I am confident that Bonnie will continue to build on existing partnerships with NACD and the nation’s 3,000 locally-led conservation districts as a tool in implementing climate-smart agriculture and forestry programs,” Crowder said.

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About the National Association of Conservation Districts:
The National Association of Conservation Districts is the nonprofit organization that represents the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts, their state and territory associations and the 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. For more than 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. For more information about NACD, visit: www.nacdnet.org.