Brownfield» 2010 NACD Annual Meeting

NACD going to Nashville in 2011

Dave Russell — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:44:49 +0000

From the business meeting, to the NACD Executive Committee Service Project, to looking forward to the meeting in Nashville, Tennessee in 2011, Gene Schmidt, NACD President-Elect from Indiana talks with Brownfield’s Dave Russell at the conclusion of the NACD annual meeting in Orlando.

AUDIO: Gene Schmidt, NACD Pres. Elect 6:15 MP3)

Robinson: conservation still at historic high

Tom Steever — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:12:16 +0000

The President of the National Association of Conservation Districts says members will make do with the federal funds available.

As conservation district staff and volunteers gathered in Orlando this week, President Obama proposed sweeping budget changes, including reducing what Congress has authorized for federal conservation programs.

NACD President Steve Robinson says the organization will keep the option open of going back to Congress to try to restore the numbers, but so far, any concerns that he has stop short of sounding like complaining.

“We still are at an historic high with our conservation [budget] numbers,” Robinson told Brownfield as the NACD convention ended. “We’ve got the ability and the folks out there across the country that have the passion to do this, and we’ll get done what we need to get done.”

AUDIO: Steve Robinson (6 min. MP3)

One example of concern for Robinson is the well-used Environmental Quality Incentives Progam (EQIP) funding, which, is slightly higher, but proposed to be less than Congress authorized for 2011.

“I use it on my farm, it’s a very versatile program, it covers a lot of different things,” said Robinson about EQIP, “so I think that would be one that we want to pay close attention to and make sure we protect that because that’s a really good program that we use.”

Becoming the powerhouse in conservation

Dave Russell — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:38:45 +0000

For Jeff Eisenberg, the first day on the job as CEO of the NACD was Monday, February 1, which was also the first day of the association’s annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. But already Eisenberg says he’s been impressed, in fact Eisenberg tells Brownfield he believes NACD can be the powerhouse conservation organization in the country.

AUDIO: Jeff Eisenberg, NACD, CEO (5:00 MP3)

All sectors need to address nutrient issues

Dave Russell — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:10:06 +0000

His message to conservationists in Orlando for the NACD annual meeting, “all sectors need to address nutrient issues.” For more, Brownfield’s Dave Russell talked with Tom Porta, President of the Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators.

AUDIO: Tom Porta, Pres. ASIWPCA (3:15 MP3)

Continuing to restore the Chesapeake Bay

Dave Russell — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:55:16 +0000

Jeff Lape, Chesapeake Bay Program Director told those attending the NACD annual meeting in Orlando that work continues to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay and the role that conservation districts can play in their efforts.

AUDIO: Jeff Lape, Chesapeake Bay Program Director (5:00 MP3)