NEWS RELEASE

NACD Applauds USDA for Release of First Tranche of IRA Funding to Producers  

Washington, D.C. – The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) commends the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) release of the first tranche of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding to our nation’s producers. 

On Thursday evening, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that USDA would honor existing contracts with producers and release $20 million in Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) funds. USDA will continue to assess federal obligations and make additional announcements. 

“NACD supports this important first step,” said NACD President Gary Blair. “We strongly encourage Secretary Rollins to expand USDA’s commitments to producers and provide long-term security in conservation programs. Producers plan for conservation and make land management decisions well in advance of planting season. Funding uncertainty has multi-year impacts on agricultural production and the security of our food chain. NACD encourages the administration to fund future contracts, to include full commitment to disbursing financial assistance provided through IRA Farm Bill programs and the Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities.”  

NACD recognizes each administration’s right to assess obligations under contracts and financial assistance vehicles. However, the current pause in funding has widespread impacts on the partners in conservation and agriculture who work side-by-side with USDA across the nation. Livelihoods are at stake and there have already been rounds of layoffs, exacerbating the impact of USDA terminations. This has an even greater impact on the quality and timeliness of services that USDA and its partners provide to producers and landowners across the country. NACD encourages the expedited release of funds owed to partners, in concurrence with a review of these contracts and financial assistance vehicles.  

NACD also encourages USDA to consider rehiring recently terminated employees, including Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) positions that provide important technical and enrollment assistance to producers. NACD is proud of our historic partnership with USDA leading the voluntary, locally led conservation delivery system.  

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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.