Conservation Delivery: Helping States Strengthen Their Partnerships

Transcription

1 Summer 2015 America s Voice for Conservation Conservation Delivery: Helping States Strengthen Their Partnerships 60 Years of Soil and Water Stewardship Celebrated Across the Nation FY16 RCPP Announcement for Program Funding NACD Testifies in House Hearing on Farm Bill Conservation Programs The Official Publication of The National Association of Conservation Districts NACD-Resource-0615.indd 1

2 a letter from the president Lee McDaniel President, National Association of Conservation Districts Local Partnerships Establishing and maintaining strong partnerships is a cornerstone of NACD s mission to serve local conservation districts across the country. Of course we have a core partnership with the USDA s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), National Association of State Conservation Agencies, National Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils, and National Conservation District Employees Association, but we can also have many other partnerships outside the core. Developing partnerships at the local level is crucial to the success of conservation on the ground. The first job is to determine what issues exist within your district. It may come to you from your employees, your district officials, other public officials, or the community. Once you have established these, you can begin the work of identifying potential partners and projects. In my home district in Maryland, the Harford Soil Conservation District has completed several wetland mitigation projects in partnership with our state Department of the Environment and a private engineering firm. We also partnered with the town of Bel Air to uncover a stream in a park that had been piped underground for the last one hundred years. Now citizens can see ducks, geese and other aquatic plants and animals in the park. Another successful project completed in partnership with a local watershed association, a state designated tributary team, the county government, and state agencies, is a serpentine wetland that serves as a tertiary treatment for the wastewater at one of the local high schools. Currently, we are working with the Chesapeake Bay Trust Fund and state agencies to address conservation issues facing the many pleasure horse-farm operations in our county. Most of these operations are run by people who have little to no agricultural background and do not understand carrying capacity issues or grazing management. Many of these farms are also generally not in compliance with Maryland s Nutrient Management Regulations. Our staff works with these farm operators to develop conservation plans and meet compliance with regulations. This particular program has been operational for the past six years and with its success, we expect it to continue. The Hartford District has also partnered with a local engineering firm to address streambank erosion issues on both agricultural and non-agricultural lands. The district oversees the project and the engineering firm does the design and implementation. This project is funded through a grant from the Maryland State Department of Natural Resources. We are completing our first two-year grant, and expect to get a second two-year grant for additional projects already in the pipeline. My take-home message is this: there are many paths (and partners) to get conservation on the ground in your home district; however, if your district does not get involved and take the lead, a vacuum will be created, and someone will fill that vacuum be it the Federal Government, the state government, the local government, the private sector or some non-governmental organization. If you believe in locally led conservation, then it is up to you, the District Official, to lead. Good luck in your efforts, Lee McDaniel NACD President NACD-Resource-0615.indd 2

3 S U M M E R table of contents Feature Conservation Delivery: Helping States Strengthen Their Partnerships... 3 NACD leads by example in forging partnerships for conservation of public & private land in the United States. In Every Issue A Letter From the President... Inside Front Cover NACD President Lee McDaniel CEO s Corner... 2 NACD CEO Jeremy Peters Districts at Work Years of Soil and Water Stewardship Celebrated across the Nation Partnering for Success NMACD hosts Chief Weller and Brent Van Dyke for RCPP Roll-out District Development NACD U&C Webinars - Call for Presentations Another Perspective Manage Residue and Address Compaction with Fall Tillage, Case IH Conservation Policy NACD Testifies in House Hearing on Farm Bill Conservation Programs. 8 NACD s First Vice President Brent Van Dyke testified before the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry on conservation programs in the 2014 Farm Bill. Summer 2015 America s Voice for Conservation Conservation Delivery: Helping States Strengthen Their Partnerships FY16 RCPP Announcement for Program Funding... 9 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service is now accepting pre-proposal applications for its Fiscal Year 2016 Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). National Seed Strategy The Bureau of Land Management in its chair capacity of the Federal Committee for the Plant Conservation Alliance, released a draft of its National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration. Every Acre Counts Educate, demonstrate, activate New Jersey s Ocean County Soil Conservation District s programs are reaching out to new and diverse audiences. Michigan District Coordinates School Tree Planting Michigan s Otsego Conservation District helps students from surrounding schools learn about tree care and management with white pine tree planting event. Soil Health Champion Spotlight. 14 As part of its Conservation Innovation Grant, NACD has launched a national Soil Health Champions Network. NACD In Action Western Forestry Leadership Coalition Meets in San Francisco NACD participates in a partnership forum at the Western Forestry Leadership Coalition s (WFLC) Spring Meeting. NACD Presents at Project Learning Tree and National Ag in the Classroom Conferences NACD participates in the Project Learning Tree Conference in New York, and the National Ag in the Classroom Conference in Kentucky. Northern Plains Leaders Meet. 12 NACD staff and Northern Plains leaders meet in Minot, North Dakota. about our cover Lee McDaniel President Brent Van Dyke First Vice President Dick Went Second Vice President John McDonald Secretary/Treasurer Executive Board Kimberly Lafleur... Northeast Region Tim Palmer... North Central Region Ron Brown... Northern Plains Region Rick Jeans...South Central Region John Finch...Southeast Region Shaun Sims... Southwest Region John McDonald... Pacific Region Earl Garber...Past President Sarah McLallen... CTIC Editors: Bethany Shively, Bethany-Shively@nacdnet.org Mary Price, Mary-Price@nacdnet.org NACD President Lee McDaniel attends the RCPP event at the historic Terra Rubra Farm in Maryland. The event was emceed by the newly appointed Maryland State Conservationist Dr. Terron Hillsman and included brief remarks from Myron Frock, Chairman of the Carroll County District Board; Heather Campbell, representing the office of U.S. Senator Ben Cardin; Al Todd, Executive Director of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay; Krysta Harden, Deputy Secretary for the USDA; and Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Joseph Bartenfelder (not pictured). The Official Publication of The National Association of Conservation Districts National Association of Conservation Districts The Resource Summer NACD-Resource-0615.indd 3

4 ceo s corner National Partnerships, Cooperation, Trust, Solutions, Progress This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Soil Conservation Act of 1935, which is the bedrock legislation for soil conservation in the U.S. The legislation created what is today the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and set in motion legislation to create local partnerships to help deliver assistance at the local level through conservation districts. From those earliest days in the conservation movement, partnerships have been key to getting good conservation on the land. Conservation partnerships are just as important today as ever. Along with our national partners, NACD signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) at the 2015 NACD Annual Meeting to ensure that we are mutually doing all we can to keep delivery of conservation in this country as effective and successful as possible. The MOA serves to focus ongoing dialogue about conservation, and continue activities to strengthen our partnership. These goals are fundamental to maintaining a strong conservation delivery system into the future. Along with the MOA, the national partners are also embarking on an initiative known as the National Partnership for Conservation Planning (NPCP). This partner-led effort is aimed at reinvigorating conservation planning as the foundation for everything we do for voluntary conservation delivery. The NPCP met earlier this year to establish first steps toward developing a multi-year comprehensive action plan which will be guided by leaders appointed from all five partner organizations including NACD. As one seasoned conservation professional put it during that meeting, If we are successful in this effort, it will be the biggest accomplishment of my career. Partnerships are also playing a larger role in conservation program implementation. The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) is bringing more organizations, foundations and businesses into the conservation fold than ever before. With every successful RCPP project comes opportunity for conservation districts to work with new partners to deliver conservation to landowners at the local level. Over 200 conservation districts answered the call by either submitting or supporting successful proposals for 2015 funding. NRCS recently announced funding availability for 2016 providing continued partnership opportunities for conservation districts. Jeremy Peters CEO, National Association of Conservation Districts Fundamental to any good partnership is trust and cooperation. Conservation districts have a great history as the original conservation partners. Our ability to bring partners together is the hallmark of our success in continuing to deliver conservation on the land. Jeremy Peters CEO 2 National Association of Conservation Districts The Resource Summer 2015 NACD-Resource-0615.indd 4

5 Conservation Delivery: Helping States Strengthen Their Partnerships Partnerships have emerged as a key component of conservation delivery since the advent of private lands conservation in the United States. The Dust Bowl produced partnerships among the federal Soil Erosion Service, local conservation districts, and farmers who cooperated to heal the earth. No one could have anticipated the myriad changes that have occurred since those days in the 1930s, but one thing has remained constant: private lands conservation still relies on partnerships. There are more partners today, which is a good thing, because 21st century conservation challenges are complicated. Even the best partnerships need occasional tune-ups to remain effective, and that has been at the core of several related efforts. In 2012 NACD and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) leadership asked state NRCS and conservation district leaders to develop Field Office of the Future plans to meet growing customer demands at a time when pressures on local, state and national budgets are increasing. NACD incorporated key points from those state plans into a Conservation Delivery System of the Future white paper. The District Operations/Member Services Committee, under the leadership of then-chair John McDonald (now NACD Treasurer), tackled an array of issues in the paper, which was approved by the NACD Board of Directors as a roadmap for the future of the delivery of conservation in each state and territory. An NACD District Outlook Task Force is currently conducting an analysis of the changing environment for districts and locally led conservation. The National Conservation District Employees Association (NCDEA) identified the strengthening of state partnerships as a goal in its Strategic Plan. Feature Story National Conservation Delivery System partners NRCS, NACD, NCDEA, the National Association of State Conservation Agencies (NASCA) and the National Association of Resource, Conservation and Development Councils signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA), reaffirming the core partnership, at NACD s 2015 Annual Meeting. The national partners are encouraging their state-based counterparts to look to the future and make plans to reaffirm or strengthen partnerships at the state and local level. A state level MOA may be a useful tool in that process. There is no magic formula, and conservation delivery today and in the future will vary from state to state. But one thing is certain: partnerships are more important than ever. A state-level MOA is a tool to help strengthen these partnerships, said NACD President Lee McDaniel. Why a State-Level MOA NRCS Chief Jason Weller also stresses the importance of state-level MOAs. Collaboration in support of service delivery to our customers is at the very core of this nation s voluntary conservation efforts. Focus by our partnership at the state-level on the Memorandums of Agreement presents an opportunity to renew our mutual commitment to this long-standing collaboration, he said. The MOAs can open new doors to cooperation Weller added. Through this process of engagement and dialogue, we can explore opportunities to improve our service delivery, better leverage our expertise to ensure our science-based approaches are effective and make good business sense, and help customers achieve desired conservation outcomes. National Association of Conservation Districts The Resource Summer NACD-Resource-0615.indd 5

6 Feature Story Mike Brown, NASCA Executive Director, noted that the sum of the partnership is greater than the individual parts. We all have slightly different functions, so we never get really good at the whole until each of the core partners can deliver their piece of the pie. Some question the value of an MOA. After all, it s just a piece of paper. Or is it? People come and people go, but an MOA can serve as the glue that keeps partners working together. The rotation of people in leadership positions is what makes an MOA important, Brown said. NCDEA President Tim Riley of Delaware added that state-level MOAs will afford current and future representatives of all the partnership organizations the ability to call upon each other, pool resources, and accomplish a significantly higher amount and level of conservation than any one of the organizations could on their own. But partnerships at the state level vary. They can take several forms. To that end, NCDEA, in conjunction with NRCS, is currently working to analyze 10 representative existing state partnership structures with a goal of developing guidelines to help state conservation partnerships function more efficiently. As partnerships are strengthened, they allow for easier and more effective delivery of services. As an example, many Native American tribes have established conservation districts, bringing the delivery of Farm Bill conservation programs to what has historically been an underserved population. At the same time, the NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) is putting new emphasis on the need to broaden partnerships to address landscape-scale conservation challenges. Many but not all state-level partnerships are functioning well, notes Andrew Gordon, Executive Director/Counsel of the National Association of RC&D Councils. There are so many examples of this already happening across our great nation. But there are many places where this can be enhanced, he said. 4 National Association of Conservation Districts The Resource Summer 2015 NACD-Resource-0615.indd 6

7 Feature Story Conservation Delivery of the Future The growing emphasis on renewing, strengthening and broadening partnerships has helped breathe new life into the historic private lands conservation partnership. These efforts are all about how we prepare for the future and deliver high-quality conservation in a rapidly changing scenario, said NACD Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Peters. Districts work in all of these settings, on all acres. We can t do the job without strong and varied partnerships. NACD s Conservation Delivery System of the Future white paper, available for review at resources/guides, tackles many of the challenges and opportunities of conservation delivery head-on. It came together at roughly the same time as NRCS s Conservation Delivery Streamlining Initiative. Both explored how to efficiently and effectively deliver conservation services in a time of rapid transition. As the paper notes, The usual gradual evolution is now accelerated, which shines a spotlight on three key factors critically important to conservation districts: opportunity, challenge and risk. The white paper notes that rapid and dramatic changes in technology are an example of all three of those factors: As our federal partners move to user self-certification and program delivery, districts face important questions about how to remain viable partners in the delivery of conservation programs. It s but one example of many challenges as the conservation delivery system evolves. NACD has been working in cooperation with partners for several years on a framework for the Conservation Delivery System of the Future. NACD s work has been driven by the efforts of our elected leaders and staff, said NACD President Lee McDaniel. in the future. It is absolutely necessary that our traditional partnerships be strengthened and renewed. Communication is the key, and the state-level MOA is one tool to assure we re all talking. Other examples of challenges and opportunities captured in NACD s Conservation Delivery System of the Future white paper include: There are fluctuations in funding sources, with declines in some cases and increases in others, all at a time when demand for services is high and the costs of doing business are rising. District consolidations may occur out of operating necessity or financial need to align or strengthen conservation delivery in some cases. Conservation customers are becoming more diverse, and in addition to serving a diverse population, districts and their partners must reflect the same diversity in membership, leadership and employees. New partners will provide new opportunities. As NRCS Chief Weller noted at NACD s 2015 Annual Meeting, the business community offers many opportunities for new funding streams. Similarly, marketplace solutions to old conservation challenges, such as water quality, may bring more partners to the table, including industries and water treatment facilities. In the end, the white paper notes, The ability to communicate is central to success, whether at home or with co-workers, partners or customers. The national and state partnering MOAs are tools to help open the door to consistent, meaningful communication: it s what the first private lands partners did to battle the Dust Bowl. It just goes to show that some formulas for success never change. NACD CEO Jeremy Peters added: The new Client Gateway introduced by NRCS in May is but one example of the kinds of changes we ll see National Association of Conservation Districts The Resource Summer NACD-Resource-0615.indd 7

8 Feature Story Partnership Success Stories LeAnn Buck and John Jaschke are headed back to Saint Paul, Minnesota, from a regional meeting on a Friday afternoon. At other times, their vehicle could also include the NRCS state conservationist or other members of Minnesota s conservation partnership. We ll often travel together like this for meetings, and we re cranking out work the whole time, said Buck, Executive Director of the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (MASWCD). Jaschke is Executive Director of the Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources (BSWR), the state s soil and water conservation agency. Together with NRCS, SWCDs and other state agencies, they comprise Minnesota s conservation partnership. This statewide partnership has achieved a number of successes. Most recently, MASWCD, BSWR and NRCS signed a memorandum of understanding to move forward on developing a statewide technical training program. Buck credits Jaschke for pulling together a technical capacity summit to identify needs. You don t want programs wagging the dog so to speak, Buck said. Our assessment was we were balancing all these programs, and the technical training process was on the back burner. It really was building off the Field Office of the Future report, said Buck, referring to the effort undertaken by NRCS and NACD across the country in This year, the partners have been working on a legislative initiative to fund SWCDs across the state. To make its case, BSWR undertook a careful study to set a benchmark number for district needs based on factors that include statutory responsibilities, accountability, planning, governance and other aspects of district operations. That led to a realistic budget request based on facts. Without a strong partnership, it might not have been possible. Although our local SWCDs are located at the field office level, our state statute identifies the SWCDs as special purpose units of government for the state, Buck said. SWCDs provide the local autonomy to meet their resource concerns at the same time the districts are working collectively to address the State s natural resource goals. Cooperation was the key to major conservation efforts in Maryland and Virginia, said Andrew Gordon, Executive Director/Counsel of the National Association of RC&D Councils. The resulting agreement lays out a strategy for joint technical training and certification for conservation delivery in Minnesota with a goal of developing and maintaining a highly trained, technically skilled workforce of natural resource professionals to meet the state s conservation delivery needs. It s just one example of the state s partnership successes. 6 National Association of Conservation Districts The Resource Summer 2015 NACD-Resource-0615.indd 8

9 Feature Story His organization s president, Olga Walter, likes to talk about the cooperation between the Southern Maryland RC&D Councils and local conservation districts in Maryland and Virginia. The local districts and regional RC&D Councils are helping the Department of Defense ensure military readiness by working on base shoreline restoration, dry fire hydrants and communication with local communities. This human dimension is at the same time helping address the health of the Chesapeake Bay basin, Gordon said. Successes like these abound when partnerships are strong. Another prime example of a flourishing partnership can be seen in Indiana. The Indiana Conservation Partnership (ICP) is comprised of eight Indiana agencies and organizations who share a common goal of promoting conservation, said Jennifer Boyle Warner, Executive Director of the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. We maintain a partnership agreement that is updated every few years and signed by the partner leaders. This agreement drives our quarterly meetings where as leaders we work on an annual business plan that addresses areas of commonality where we can bring together the best of our resources for the good of soil and water conservation in Indiana. One prime example of that is the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative ( that promotes soil health practices across the state. It is supported by the ICP, funded through various ICP partners, and is a resource for all ICP employees. It is considered a national model. Indiana is proud of its strong partnerships which are at the core of getting conservation on the ground, said Boyle Warner. Goals of a State-Level MOA Continuing to support the delivery of excellent, innovative service Strengthening and modernizing conservation delivery Broadening our reach, customers and partners Supporting science-based decision-making, as close to the resource concern/opportunity as possible Encouraging a voluntary approach to accomplish conservation goals Helping to strengthen each party and its role in the delivery of conservation Is Your Partnership Healthy? 3 Do you talk to each of your core partners each month? 3 Are your local work groups functioning with conservation district leadership, and are all stakeholders participating? 3 Do your conservation districts receive funding from federal, state, and local sources, or are all of their eggs in one basket? 3 Do the core partners in your state meet each year to coordinate budgets to address natural resources concerns in the state? 3 Are all the partners working toward a set of common goals? 3 Is each partner valued for what it can contribute to the larger cause? National Association of Conservation Districts The Resource Summer NACD-Resource-0615.indd 9

10 Conservation Policy NACD Testifies in House Hearing on Farm Bill Conservation Programs In June, NACD First Vice President Brent Van Dyke testified before the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry on the implementation of conservation programs in the 2014 Farm Bill. Van Dyke highlighted NACD s conservation program priorities, and stressed the importance of locally-led conservation to America s long-term environmental and economic stability. Our nation s farmers and landowners deserve to have long-term certainty to effectively and efficiently manage their land, said Van Dyke. Not only do Farm Bill conservation programs play a key role in supporting clean air, clean water and productive soils, they also help producers avoid unnecessary regulation and promote our nation s food security and sustainability. USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Jason Weller also testified at the hearing, and highlighted the important role of soil and water conservation districts in communicating at the local level about conservation program opportunities. {Conservation districts} have the local networks and relationships with producers. They can then have the networks and partnerships with agricultural groups at the local level who can help get the word out about opportunities, about how to work better with NRCS, and other opportunities through the state or other private groups, said Weller. Van Dyke s testimony focused on implementation of the NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). RCPP is a top priority for NACD, as conservation districts were one of the most highly represented entities among the selected proposals for the RCPP s first year. NACD First Vice President Brent Van Dyke testifies before a House Agriculture Subcommittee. It has always been our philosophy that every acre counts, said Van Dyke. The Regional Conservation Partnership Program allows us to reach beyond the traditional scope of partners and projects. The program expands our opportunities to reach a higher level of commitment to conservation delivery on the working landscape in America. Van Dyke also highlighted the work local soil and water conservation districts do as close partners with NRCS to enroll landowners in other key programs that enable landowners to best manage natural resources including the Conservation Stewardship Program and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. In addition to Farm Bill programs, Van Dyke also stressed the importance of Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) and program funding in agriculture appropriations. Increasing funds for CTA remains a top priority for conservation districts in FY16 agriculture appropriation funding. Districts are uniquely positioned to work with NRCS, Technical Service Providers and other partners to expand CTA capacity to get more conservation on the ground, said Van Dyke. In addition, NACD supports maintaining all mandatory conservation program funding for FY16 as allocated in the 2014 Farm Bill, and opposes any cuts to Farm Bill conservation programs during the appropriations process. To view Van Dyke s full testimony, visit and click on testimony & input under the policy tab. 8 National Association of Conservation Districts The Resource Summer 2015 NACD-Resource-0615.indd 10

11 A life-long resident of New Mexico, Van Dyke is a retired Agriculture Education teacher and FFA advisor. He and his wife farm irrigated alfalfa and coastal Bermuda hay in Lea County and run a commercial and registered cattle operation in Southeastern New Mexico. Other witnesses at the hearing included: Jason Weller, Chief, Natural Resource Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.; Val Dolcini, Administrator, Farm Service Agency, U.S. Conservation Policy Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.; Buddy Allen, Rice Producer, USA Rice Federation, Tunica, MS; Karen Martynick, Executive Director, Lancaster Farmland Trust, Strasburg, PA; and Jim Inglis, Governmental Affairs Representative, Pheasants Forever, Inc. and Quail Forever, Upper Sandusky, OH. An archived webcast of the hearing is available on the House Agriculture Committee website at: FY16 RCPP Announcement for Program Funding USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service is now accepting pre-proposal applications for its Fiscal Year 2016 Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The Announcement for Program Funding (APF), detailed several changes to the program from last year s funding cycle with approximately half of the funding amount at $235 million and a cap of $10 million available per project. Last year, conservation districts played a key role in many RCPP projects. More than 200 conservation districts are directly involved in over 100 projects selected for federal, state, or Critical Conservation Area RCPP funding. In many cases, districts play a key role by helping to administer the project. NACD s RCPP Taskforce provided a list of suggested changes to NRCS with the intent of making the program friendlier toward soil and water conservation districts and we were pleased to see a number of our requests were addressed. To view the full list of suggested changes, visit NRCS recently simplified the application process with the creation of online tools: a pre-proposal fillable form, RCPP preapplication data entry tool, and pre-proposal data entry tool instructions. In addition, NRCS hosted two RCPP webinars in June that presented lessons learned from the first round of the program, a walk-through of the preproposal process, and a question and answer section. NRCS will continue to host RCPP webinars throughout the process. NACD also partnered with NRCS in presenting a conservation district specific webinar presentation which is available on NACD s website at org/resources/webinar-archive. This webinar discusses the different steps in the process. Staff members from NRCS saw many similarities between successful applications during last year s APF. Successful proposals were concise on the roles of partners, which conservation programs would be used, and listed specific deliverables. Several successful projects were also scalable so the project could be done with less funding than requested. RCPP pre-proposals are due to NRCS by July 8, To view the full language of the APF go to gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html. To learn more about RCPP and for some helpful links, visit NACD s RCPP page National Association of Conservation Districts The Resource Summer NACD-Resource-0615.indd 11

12 Conservation Policy National Seed Strategy In May the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in its chair capacity of the Federal Committee for the Plant Conservation Alliance, released a draft of its National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration ( ). Public comments for the draft were closed on June 8 and the final strategy document will be released in the near future. The National Seed Strategy evolved out of the National Seed Conference held in June Participants in that meeting crafted the strategy in order to help partners work together to promote the use of native plant species for habitat restoration and to ensure access to the right seed in the right place at the right time. District Development NACD U&C Webinars Call for Presentations The NACD Urban and Community Resource Policy Group (RPG) is pleased to offer monthly U&C webinars once again in FY16. This is made possible by the continuing support of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, which enabled NACD to launch the webinars back in September These popular webinars have covered a variety of urban and community conservation topics. You can view recordings and PDFs of the past webinars at The RPG is now seeking your input for the series beginning in October Help us design webinars that help you! The goal of this strategy is to help land managers respond to landscape-scale ecological changes brought on by altered fire regimes in the West, the spread of invasive plants across the nation and increasingly severe weather disturbances. By helping coordinate efforts of tribal, state, federal, local, and private entities to restore plant communities, it aims to establish a national network of native seed collectors, farmers and growers, nurseries and seed storage facilities, and restoration ecologists with the shared goal of achieving healthier ecosystems with native plant restoration. To learn more about the National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration, visit Please take a moment to: 1. Offer to give a presentation; send in a brief paragraph describing the program/project that you would like to showcase, and/or 2. Tell us which urban and community conservation topics/ issues and/or speakers you would like to have covered. Please send your ideas and proposals to Deb Bogar at deb-bogar@nacdnet.org by July 8, National Association of Conservation Districts The Resource Summer 2015 NACD-Resource-0615.indd 12

13 NACD in Action Western Forestry Leadership Coalition Meets in San Francisco NACD participated in a partnership forum in San Francisco at the Western Forestry Leadership Coalition s (WFLC) Spring Meeting. A panel discussion, titled Unique & Groundbreaking Partnerships & Projects, showcased partnership opportunities to an audience made up largely of western state foresters and U.S. Forest Service representatives. NACD Forestry Specialist Mike Beacom provided several examples in which conservation districts and state associations are taking a lead role in assisting state forestry agencies in the west. Beacom also gave the group a glimpse into projects on which the NACD Forest Resource Policy Group is currently working. Other partners on the panel included the National Wild Turkey Federation, American Forest Foundation and Sustainable Forestry Initiative. Attendees also toured post-fire restoration sites and the Urban ReLeaf program in nearby Oakland. Keynote speakers for the three-day meeting included Forest Service Deputy Chief Jim Hubbard, Jay Jensen of the White House s Council on Environmental Quality, and USDA Under Secretary Robert Bonnie. NACD Presents at Project Learning Tree and National Ag in the Classroom Conferences Project Learning Tree (PLT) held its 29th annual coordinators conference with over 120 participants in Saratoga Springs, New York. Susan Schultz, NACD Education and Stewardship Specialist, attended the conference. Schultz is also one of the members of the Education Operating Committee for PLT. Schultz presented an overview of the new NACD forestry education materials, We all need trees! Partners in the project and presentation were: Kathy McGaugflin, PLT, and Sue Cummings, U.S. Forest Service. Volunteer PLT state coordinators and conservation district staff will be reviewing the materials prior to development. Products are expected to become available in winter In addition, information on the corresponding forestry theme NACD/NACD Auxiliary poster contest will be available by mid- July on the NACD poster contest page. onsite presence for its store, and it was a huge success. The conference was attended by Schultz, NACD North Central Representative Beth Mason and Debbie Ruff of the Livingston County SWCD in Illinois who also assisted with the presentation. National Ag in the Classroom (NAITC) held its 2015 conference, Unbridled Possibilities, June in Louisville, Kentucky. More than 420 were present at the conference, where NACD exhibited and presented a session on Local Heroes Your Hardworking Pollinators. Education materials were also made available for purchase via the NACD Marketplace ( at our exhibit. This is the first year NACD has provided an NACD Education and Stewardship Specialist Susan Schultz at the Project Learning Tree conference. National Association of Conservation Districts The Resource Summer NACD-Resource-0615.indd 13

14 NACD Districts in at Action Work Northern Plains Leaders Meet District and partner leaders from the five NACD Northern Plains states held their summer meeting in Minot, North Dakota in June. The interactive sessions provided ample opportunity for briefings and group discussion. The meeting included state reports, updates from NRCS Region Conservationists Astor Boozer and Kevin Wickey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service representatives Scott McLeod and Steve Fairbairn, and NACD CEO Jeremy Peters. Additional topics of discussion included partnerships and the Farm Bill. Rhonda Vetsch, Northern Plains representative to the National Conservation District Employees Association, from the Emmons County SCD in North Dakota gave an excellent review of the state s Outdoor Heritage Fund. Districts are using these funds on a Strengthening Our Roots initiative to help farmers restore and replace tree plantings. Presentations were also given on the NRCS Client Gateway, NACD Soil Health Champions Network and state forestry partnerships. South Dakota s Angela Ehlers and Bill Smith shared details about the state and districts efforts to address pine beetle damage on public and private lands. The meeting included a tour hosted by the North Dakota Farmers Union that took members to the Bakken Oil Fields, giving them a firsthand view and understanding of the development s impact on farmers and communities. District and Partner leaders from the Northern Plains region tour the Bakken Oil Fields in North Dakota. 12 National Association of Conservation Districts The Resource Summer 2015 NACD-Resource-0615.indd 14

15 Educate, demonstrate, activate. When it comes to soil health, educate, demonstrate and activate could be the mantra of the Ocean County Soil Conservation District in New Jersey. District programs reach audiences ranging from contractors and architects to teachers, students, gardeners and the general public. Every Acre Counts The district is located on the coastal plain of New Jersey which follows the contours of the Barnegat Bay watershed. Ocean County is a rapidly urbanizing area. All the more reason to preach soil health, said District Administrator Christine Raabe. We have a long history of supporting soil health initiatives across the county, she said. Here s a sample of the district s many projects: Restoring soil function in storm water basins in partnership with county departments and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Hosting soil health conferences geared toward urbanizing audiences with partners from the business community, Rutgers University, NRCS and other groups. One conference was also co-hosted by the neighboring Burlington County Soil Conservation District. Hosting monthly programs on different aspects of soil health in honor of this year s designation as the International Year of Soils. Photo by Chuck Schmidt A crowd gathers at an Ocean County Soil Conservation District event to view a demonstration of a rotary aerator that decompacts soil. Compacted soils lead to storm-water runoff in urbanizing areas. Developing a New Jersey Soil Health Assessment Guide in cooperation with NRCS Soil Health Specialist Eileen Miller. We have a lot of work to do, and it won t end, Raabe said. One of the most important messages is to encourage a connection with the water cycle and soil let the water stay where it falls. For more information on the district s activities, visit its web site ( Also, Raabe and Miller were featured on an NACD Urban and Community webinar, which can be accessed at www. nacdnet.org/policy/urban/webinars. Cooperating with other partners on a Soil Health Improvement Project at Jakes Branch County Park. The project s goals were to research, demonstrate and educate. It included demonstrations of low-cost and practical soil restoration techniques, turf improvement and best management practices. The Barnegat Bay Partnership provided funding through an Environmental Protection Agency grant. Hosting an Environmental Educators Roundtable for 18 years. The roundtable offers an array of workshops and activities for 100 or so educators who attend each year. It has also yielded an extensive list of soil health resources on the district s web site, Teachers experiment with sediment samples at the 18th annual Environmental Educators Roundtable sponsored by the Ocean County Soil Conservation District in New Jersey. National Association of Conservation Districts The Resource Summer NACD-Resource-0615.indd 15

16 Every Acre Counts Michigan District Coordinates School Tree Planting In May, Michigan s Otsego Conservation District assisted area students in planting white pine seedlings. During the event, students from Gaylord, Johannesburg and Vanderbilt School Districts learned about proper tree care and the importance of forest management. The effort was made possible through a three-way partnership involving the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts, Consumers Energy and Michigan International Speedway. The partnership pledged 650 white pine trees to any conservation district able to organize students to plant trees within their school forest. Consumers Energy and Michigan International Speedway plan to provide 50,000 trees to be planted across Michigan s Lower Peninsula as part of their On Track to a Greener Michigan campaign. District Manager Patricia Osburn said Otsego Conservation District regularly helps the local school districts manage their school forests a total of 240 acres. Gaylord School District has been planting trees in its forest for years. It s helped hundreds and hundreds of students learn about the importance of forest management, Osburn explained. Recently, Otsego Conservation District helped Johannesburg School District write a grant to transform part of its school forest into a nature area; a boardwalk now runs through a tamarack bog where students enjoy an outdoor classroom setting. To learn more about this program, or Otsego Conservation District s ongoing work with local school forests, contact District Manager Patricia Osburn at posburn@otsegocountymi.gov. Soil Health Champion Spotlight As part of its three-year Conservation Innovation Grant project, NACD is organizing a nationwide network of Soil Health Champions. The goal is to raise awareness and increase the adoption of soil health systems by farmers and other landowners. The initiative was launched in late March. NACD sent a Call for Soil Health Champions to the state associations and territories, seeking to recruit 150 farmers, ranchers, woodland managers, and/or other landowners who are willing to use, demonstrate, and share their enthusiasm for soil health practices. The Champions are being asked to conduct outreach efforts in cooperation with their local district. These may include field days and demonstrations; speeches at public events; sharing their story with print, broadcast, and social media outlets; and other forms of outreach that work best for them. In return for their time and talent, Champions will gain opportunities to promote the conservation story with the public; receive national recognition through NACD outreach efforts; make improvements to their own operations with results from fellow champions; and gain status as a soil-health leader in his/her own community. Champions will play a key role in the nationwide movement to improve the country s soils and natural resources. For information about how to participate in this network, contact your state association. 14 National Association of Conservation Districts The Resource Summer 2015 NACD-Resource-0615.indd 16 7/1/15 10:42 AM

17 Districts at Work Districts at Work 60 Years of Soil and Water Stewardship Celebrated across the Nation This year marked the 60th Anniversary of Soil and Water Conservation Week which was celebrated by conservation districts across the nation. The celebrations took place April 26-May 3 and centered around this year s theme of Local Heroes Your Hardworking Pollinators. The Andrew Kent SWCD #170 in Jayton, Texas, utilized NACD s template public service announcement with its local cable TV station. Its local library featured the Local Heroes Your Hardworking Pollinators, Big Book during story hour for young children. The library staff also led the children in making hummingbird feeders. Other forms of community outreach included displaying the Local Heroes banner in the local courthouse and distributing the Local Heroes activity sheets and bookmarks at the annual women s program. The NACD website has great materials to help you spread the word about your hardworking pollinators. Outreach materials and Educators Guides are available on the NACD website under the Stewardship and Education tab. A local library in Jayton, Texas, showcases the Local Heroes-Your Hardworking Pollinators Big Book during story hour. There are also great education and stewardship materials available for purchase in the NACD Marketplace (www. nacdstore.org). National Association of Conservation Districts The Resource Summer NACD-Resource-0615.indd 17 7/1/15 10:42 AM

18 Districts Partnering at Work for Success NMACD Hosts Chief Weller and Brent Van Dyke for RCPP Roll-out NACD First Vice President Brent Van Dyke attended a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) press event and tour on May 7. The event took place near Espanola, New Mexico and was attended by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Jason Weller and the East Rio Arriba Soil and Water Conservation District. Attendees toured the oldest acequias in the nation--a traditional water management system dating back to Spanish colonial times. USDA NRCS has helped fund acequias and other irrigation systems through the RCPP. NACD President Lee McDaniel participated in a similar event at the historic Terra Rubra Farm in Maryland. Both events were coordinated with NRCS press conferences celebrating this year s roll-out of RCPP. The Maryland event was emceed by the newly appointed Maryland State Conservationist Dr. Terron Hillsman and included brief remarks from Myron Frock, Chairman of the Carroll County District Board; Heather Campbell, representing the office of U.S. Senator Ben Cardin; Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Joseph Bartenfelder; Al Todd, Executive Director of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay; Krysta Harden, Deputy Secretary for the USDA; and NACD s own President Lee McDaniel. The day s event highlighted the Mason Dixon Working Lands Partnership project and the overall strength of the RCPP program. McDaniel spoke on the important role conservation districts can play in the future of RCPP projects. Conservation Districts are well positioned to be leaders in RCPP projects across the nation, he said. We have the relationships with private landowners and the demonstrated expertise to get the job done. The RCPP program expands our opportunities to reach a higher level of commitment and more effective solutions from public and private partners to deliver voluntary conservation on the working landscape in America. TOP: NACD First Vice President Brent Van Dyke (middle right) joins USDA NRCS Chief Jason Weller (far right) and local conservation leaders at the RCPP event near Espanola, New Mexico. BOTTOM: NACD President Lee McDaniel chats with USDA Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden at the RCPP event at Terra Rubra Farm in Maryland. The event was capped off with an address from Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden who praised the RCPP program for bringing people together and spoke of her excitement for the future of the program. Secretary Harden also reminded attendees of the newest opportunity for submitting RCPP proposals by July National Association of Conservation Districts The Resource Summer 2015 NACD-Resource-0615.indd 18 7/1/15 10:42 AM

19 Another Perspective Manage Residue and Address Compaction with Fall Tillage Some areas of the country will have record-high yields this fall because of favorable growing conditions. New tougher hybrids and increased population are making crop residue more difficult to manage. Although tillage might not be necessary in all fields, consider some best practices if you plan to till this fall, said Chris Larsen, Tillage Marketing Manager, Case IH. Before you begin, check your equipment to ensure it is properly greased and all parts are in good shape. Then determine your needs based on field conditions and other fall field work. Other tips Larsen recommends: Manage the residue. With tougher crop residue in recent years from new hybrids, it is important to bury it in the soil so it can begin breaking down over the winter. A vertical tillage tool such as the Case IH True-Tandem 330 Turbo vertical tillage unit is fast and efficient for managing residue and leveling the soil. Combination tools such as the Case IH Ecolo-Tiger 875 can handle most of your fall fieldwork in one pass. Check for and remove compaction layers. A highly compacted soil layer between 8 and 12 inches below the surface is common and will limit root growth, water infiltration and, most important, yield potential in next year s crop. Check for such a layer by digging a hole about the size of a 5-gallon bucket. Stick a knife blade about ½ inch into the wall, running it down from the top and up from the bottom until you feel a denser layer. Consider removing it by running a ripper with tiger points such as the Case IH Ecolo-Tiger inch below the layer. Incorporate fertilizer in a tillage pass. Don t leave fertilizer on the field surface where it could run off or be unavailable to next year s crop. Make your tillage pass after fertilizer is spread so it works into the soil. Save time and make a single pass. Use a machine that handles most of your fall fieldwork in one pass. Combination tools such as the Case IH Ecolo-Tiger 875 incorporate fertilizer and manage crop residue and compaction with a level output, which makes seed bed preparation easier the following spring. Hit the window. Don t let weather ruin your fall plans. Use a machine that allows a wider operating window and has a proven track record in adverse conditions. Regardless of your situation or cultural practices, Case IH has a wide range of offerings from no-till, strip till to conventional till. Conservation and land stewardship is a major part of our focus on Agronomic Design and is intended to give producers the best long-standing use of their land. Dan Danford, Case IH National Association of Conservation Districts The Resource Summer NACD-Resource-0615.indd 19 7/1/15 10:42 AM

20 NON PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID Spectrum Marketing Companies National Association of Conservation Districts 509 Capitol Court NE Washington, DC Please don t trash me! Pass me along I m recyclable and printed with soy-based inks. Become a Friend of NACD and show your individual support of NACD! NACD S mission is to serve conversation districts by providing national leadership and a unified voice for natural resource conservation. The association operates on the philosophy that conservation decisions should be made at the local level with technical and financial assistance from federal, state and local governments and the private sector. NACD supports voluntary, incentive-driven natural resource conservation that benefits all citizens. Friends of NACD Become a Friend of NACD today by going to NACD-Resource-0615.indd 20 7/1/15 10:42 AM