NEWS RELEASE

NACD Applauds Selection of Aubrey Bettencourt as NRCS Chief 

Washington, D.C. – The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) applauds the appointment of Aubrey Bettencourt to serve as Chief of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). 

As Chief, Bettencourt will lead NRCS staff and conservation programs that provide critical resources and technical assistance to America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners to invest in their operations to improve working lands conservation, increase the competitiveness of American agriculture, and improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitats. 

“NACD welcomes Aubrey Bettencourt to the helm of NRCS at a critical time for America’s producers and our conservation delivery system,” said NACD President Gary Blair. “Our country’s 3,000 local conservation districts play a vital role in the effective administration of NRCS conservation programs, and they stand ready to work closely with Chief Bettencourt to serve our producers and champion the effectiveness of voluntary, locally led conservation. Chief Bettencourt’s extensive experience in farming, conservation, and government programs will enable her to be highly effective in this role.”   

Aubrey Bettencourt is a third-generation California farmer and most recently served as the Global Director of Government Relations and External Affairs at Netafim, an international company specializing in irrigation technology. Among other positions, Bettencourt previously served as President and CEO of the Almond Alliance of California, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at the U.S. Department of the Interior, California State Executive Director of USDA’s Farm Service Agency, and Executive Director of the California Water Alliance.  

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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 individuals who serve on their governing boards. For more than 80 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.