Each year the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) conducts service projects in the city where the organization holds its annual meeting. In Nashville, NACD worked with the Tennessee School for the Blind, helping with the school’s greenhouse project. Susan Schultz, who heads up the NACD’s Stewardship, Education and Marketplace program tells Brownfield’s Dave Russell this year’s service project was a real win-win.
NACD material to be available in Braille
February 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Tennessee honored to host NACD
February 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Danny Sells, Executive Director of the Tennessee Association of Conservation Districts says hosting the National Association of Conservation Districts Annual Meeting in Nashville is an opportunity for the TACD to not only showcase conservation in the Volunteer State, it’s also an opportunity to network and learn from other conservationists around the country.
Interview: Danny Sells, Tenn. Assn. of Conservation Districts (7:35 MP3)
Time for conservation to take credit
February 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Dave White, Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) says it has been a good year for conservation and because of that, Chief White says it is time to start taking credit for what conservation programs have accomplished. Brownfield’s Dave Russell talked with Chief White at the recent National Association of Conservation Districts Annual Meeting in Nashville.
NACD approve Farm Bill Principles
February 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment
For the past 7 months the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Farm Bill Task Force has been at work, putting together a list of principles that provide the organization direction when it comes to the writing of the 2012 Farm Bill. NACD First Vice President Earl Garber of Louisiana says having these principles is important to NACD for two reasons, one internal and one for the general public.
Forest Landowners Association, Inc.
February 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Formed in 1941 as a grassroots advocacy group, the Forest Landowners Association continues to work on behalf of forest landowners. Scott Jones, CEO of the Forest Landowners Association, Inc. tells Brownfield’s Dave Russell that nearly 640 million acres of forests are owned by 11 million private landowners. Jones says with increasing pressure from population growth, FLA is working to remove barriers and develop economic incentives to help forest landowners manage their land.
Interview: Scott Jones, CEO, Forest Landowners Assn (4:35 MP3)
Steuben Co. SWCD wins national award
February 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The Steuben County (Indiana) Soil and Water Conservation District won the $10,000 National Conservation Foundation District Award during the NACD Annual Meeting this week in Nashville.
Kayleen Hart, Administrative Coordinator for the Steuben County SWCD says the $10,000 will allow them to expand their Urban Conservation program that builds rain barrels, from 40 barrels to 200.
“So this award opportunity came along and we decided to partner with RISE, Inc. to have them build the rain barrels and to expand the program to 200 rain barrels,” said Hart. “RISE will build them for us and we would like to distribute the barrels around the lake community to retain storm water.”
Hart says it’s estimated that the 200 rain barrels will retain 398,000 gallons of storm water annually, that’s enough to fill an Olympic size swimming pool about half full.
Gene Schmidt elected NACD President
February 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Gene Schmidt of Indiana begins his term as President of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) with both a list of Farm Bill principles, outlining the direction the organization wants to take with the 2012 Farm Bill, and a 5-year strategic plan, approved by the Board of Directors at the organization’s annual meeting in Nashville, Tennessee.
“It is so important in any organization that you have some kind of business plan so membership has some idea what the intentions are, the goals, give staff a direction and prioritize, just help the whole organization be more efficient,” said Schmidt. “It helps all of us, from the leadership, to the membership, to look at what’s ahead of us, what the opportunities are and how we get them accomplished.”
Others elected to serve NACD in the coming year, Earl Garber of Louisiana, First VP, Jack Majeres of South Dakota, Second VP and Steve Miller of Idaho, Secretary/Treasurer.
Chairman Lucas urges NACD to reach out
February 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas told those attending the National Association of Conservation Districts Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee on Tuesday, February 1, when it comes to the 2012 Farm Bill, he plans to use this year to bring the new members of the House Agriculture Committee up-to-speed and he said NACD’s involvement in the writing of the Farm Bill cannot be understated.
“You’ve got people across the country, you’ve got people virtually everywhere, you have people who have historically been involved with Congress, both members of the House and Senate, and it’s going to be critical in this cycle that once again NACD be involved in the process,” said Chairman Lucas.
And the Chairman says that means reaching out to those new members of Congress and their key staff about the importance of conservation programs.
“Go to their town meetings, call up and develop a relationship, not only with the member, but with their ag related staff person, both in the district and D.C.,” Lucas said. “NACD has always done a tremendous job of this grassroots lobbying, but there are so many new members in the House and Senate this time, that we need to be prepared to be able to impact the legislation, because let’s face it, not many groups out there have a better understanding of conservation than NACD.”
Audio: House Ag Committee Chairman Frank Lucas remarks at NACD Annual Mtg. (29:10 MP3)
Addressing budget challenges
February 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment
From committee meetings, to a number of breakout sessions, to a session with the new chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Congressman Frank Lucas of Oklahoma, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Annual Meeting is taking on a number of challenges, from the Farm Bill, to developing a strategic plan, but in the hallways federal and state budgets and their impact on conservation are being talked about.
“We know that there are some tremendous budget concerns that we have to contend with,” said Gene Schmidt, President-elect of the NACD from Indiana. “Granted we have to make those tough economic decisions, but let’s make sure we’ve got enough education, background and knowledge, that if we have to make those budget cuts, we’re making them in the right areas.”
Interview: Gene Schmidt, NACD, President-Elect (2:40 MP3)
The NACD Farm Bill Task Force has been getting together throughout the meeting here in Nashville, discussing the recommendations, those discussions are expected to continue, with a recommendation to the NACD Board of Directors sometime Tuesday or Wednesday.
NOTE: Due to the winter storm, Chairman Lucas is unable to be in Nashville, but he will address the NACD Annual Meeting via telephone.
The value of getting involved
February 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment
In his President’s Address at the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) annual meeting underway here in Nashville, Tennessee, Steve Robinson of Marysville, Ohio said that in his time serving NACD, he’s seen what can be accomplished when people are involved.
“As I go around the country and talk to folks, you can make a difference in D.C.,” Robinson said. “I know what happens, happens at home, but one voice in Washington can make a difference, whether it’s me, or me representing the Districts, once you make that connection it does make a difference,”
And for those attending the annual meeting, Steve Robinson tells Brownfield, “I would hope that they take home that there is a National organization working for them and doing good things for them.”
Interview: Steve Robinson, President, NACD (2:15 MP3)
The Tuesday, February 1 schedule at the NACD Annual Meeting has changed because of the major winter storm, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas of Oklahoma is unable to be here, but instead will be connected via telephone, NRCS Chief Dave White is also scheduled to be on the program.
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