The two conservation districts in Guam, the Southern Guam Soil and Water Conservation District (SGSWCD) and the Northern Guam SWCD (NGSWCD), work tirelessly to promote the conservation and wise use of Guam's soil and water resources. To accomplish this, the two districts work in partnership and cooperation with the University of Guam (UOG) and all of Guam's government entities that oversee local and federal conservation programs.

As part of these successful relationships, the Southern Guam SWCD hosted a meet-and-greet with the Governor of Guam Lou Leon Guerrero (pictured above, in center) in early July.

During the meeting, SGSWCD representatives and partners introduced current conservation efforts and partnerships. Additionally, Governor Guerrero received updates on SGSWCD sponsored programs, including the Guam Feral Swine Program; NACD's Technical Assistance (TA) Grants; and UOG's Sea Grant Guam Restoration of Watersheds (GROW) Initiative.

Southern Guam SWCD directors emphasized the need to continue the great work of the district in increasing conservation for the protection of Guam’s precious resources.

The two districts had the opportunity to meet with Governor Guerrero again on Sept. 23, where she swore in the newly elected and reinstated Board of Directors for the two districts.

The positive relationship with the office of the Governor continues to bring critical awareness to the work of the two districts and conservation across Guam.

The board members, pictured left to right above, include SGSWCD Director Glenn Takai, SGSWCD Director Carol Tayama, SGSWCD Director Jonathan Manglona, SGSWCD Vice-Chairperson Angelita Mendiola, SGSWCD Chairperson Michael Aguon, Governor of Guam Lou Leon Guerrero, NGSWCD Director Joseph Santos, NGSWCD Director Kathrina Reyes, NGSWCD Chairperson Hope Cristobal, NGSWCD Vice-Chairperson Marlene Slomka, and NGSWCD Director Teddy Lee Concepcion.

NCF-ENVIROTHON ATTENDS 2019 FFA CONVENTION AND EXPO

Last week, the 92nd annual FFA Convention & Expo took place at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis, Ind.

The expo included over 400 exhibiting companies and organizations interested in engaging and performing outreach with the future generation of leaders, employees, customers and advocates.

With almost 70,000 attendees, the event was one of the world’s largest student conventions, and a perfect opportunity for the National Conservation Foundation (NCF)-Envirothon Program Manager Jennifer Brooks and NACD North Central Region Representative Beth Mason to encourage participation from existing and potential Envirothon teams.

Annually, hundreds of FFA teams across the U.S. participate in the NCF-Envirothon program. The study of soils/land use, aquatic ecology, forestry management, wildlife conservation and current environmental issues makes NCF-Envirothon a natural fit for FFA chapters wishing to participate.

Additionally, many state FFA programs partner with Envirothon by using its state competitions as the qualifying event for their FFA Environment and Natural Resources Career Development Event (CDE). In those states, FFA teams can compete in and potentially win two major scholarship events.

To learn more how FFA chapters can participate in the NCF-Envirothon program, visit envirothon.org or contact NCF-Envirothon Program Manager Jennifer Brooks at jennifer-brooks@nacdnet.org.

BLM, POLICY EXPERTS MEET IN D.C. TO DISCUSS WILD HORSE AND BURRO POPULATION

Last week, the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board met in Washington, D.C., to discuss the ongoing degradation of the nation's western rangelands caused by the overpopulation of free-roaming wild horses and burros.

Over the course of the two-day meeting, the board received updates from BLM and the U.S. Forest Service. The board was briefed on BLM’s use of advertising on social media for potential adopters of wild horses and burros, the online corral and the internal monitoring system the BLM uses once a wild horse or burro is adopted.

NACD’s Natural Resource Policy Specialist Adam Pugh (pictured above) attended the meeting, where he emphasized the importance of common sense, ecologically-sound rangeland management practices to ensure that wildlife and rangelands are preserved for future generations. After the public comment period, the advisory board provided five recommendations to the BLM on the humane treatment of wild horses and burros.

On Oct. 31, NACD President Tim Palmer sent a letter to the advisory board outlining NACD’s policies to address the overabundance of wild horses and burros.

To view the full hearing, visit BLM's website.

HARFORD SCD PARTNERS WITH CITY OF HAVRE DE GRACE ON STORMWATER INFILTRATION SYSTEM GARDEN

Last week in Havre de Grace, Md., the city's Mayor Bill Martin and the Harford Soil Conservation District (SCD) Chairman and NACD Past President Lee McDaniel cut the ribbon for a new stormwater infiltration system garden at Concord Point Park on the banks of the Chesapeake Bay. The district provided a grant to the city to partner on the project.

"This area would always flood when it rained, but it has not flooded at all since the system was installed," said Mayor Martin. "The garden contains native plants, which in addition to controlling flooding in the area, capture runoff and filter nutrients."

The signage that explains the project to the tourists and residents on the promenade provides visibility to Harford SCD's ongoing efforts to improve the Chesapeake Bay.

To learn more, visit Harford SCD's website .

Pictured above from left to right: Leslie Zink , Harford SCD; Tim Whittie , Director of Public Works; Bill Martin , Mayor; Lee McDaniel , Chairman, Harford SCD; Stephanie Noye , Dept. of Public Works

The Sims Family owns and operates the Sims Cattle Company on a 26,000-acre ranch in McFadden, Wyo. The family operation includes Scott and April Sims, their daughter Kendra, their son Shanon and his wife Melinda, as well as their grandkids Kagan and Jentry. Former NACD President Olin Sims, Scott’s brother, was also a part of the family business up until he passed away in 2007.

The Sims’ ranch consists of mostly upland pasture, where they run 700 head of Angus/Simmental/Gelbvieh cross-bred cows and 300 yearlings. At an altitude of 7,200 feet, the Sims have a short growing season of 45–50 days and long winters, with approximately 16 inches of annual precipitation. Such conditions require special management to achieve healthy soils, healthy forage, healthy cattle, a healthy environment and a healthy bottom line.

Scott and Olin studied at an Allan Savory holistic management school, where they learned the principles of holistic management decision-making and planned grazing, which—once implemented—have helped transform the ranch into what it is today.

For six months of the year, the Sims practice rotational grazing. The ranch is divided into 140 pastures, allowing the cattle to rotate every 1-14 days and the pastures to rest for as many as 800 days between grazing events.

For four months each year, the cattle graze on windrows of hay – the practice of cutting the hay and leaving it on the land rather than baling and distributing it as needed. Not only does this practice extend the grazing season for the cattle without the cost of feeding hay with a tractor, but it also efficiently spreads the manure or natural fertilizer throughout the fields. In 2017, Melinda was featured on the Working Cows podcast, where she explained both the benefits and challenges of this grazing practice.

Finally, for two months of the year during the calving season, the cattle are fed hay, which falls right before the spring green-up.

You can read more about the Sims Family and their management philosophy by visiting the Sims Cattle Company website and going to the NACD website to read their Soil Health Champion profile.

If you or someone you know would like to become an NACD Soil Health Champion, please contact NACD North Central Region Representative Beth Mason at beth-mason@nacdnet.org or visit the NACD website.

NACD Office Closed for Veterans Day

NACD's office will be closed  Monday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans Day.

At NACD, we honor and support those who have served us. Read about the  Spokane Conservation District's  Vets on the Farm program, which teaches former U.S. military veterans agricultural practices through teaching sessions and technical assistance.

To learn more about the program, visit NACD's blog.

NACD Welcomes Friend Durelle Freeman

NACD would like to welcome Durelle Freeman from Glenwood, N. M., as a new Friend of NACD.

Friends of NACD are individuals who are committed to the conservation of America’s natural resources. Show your appreciation for our nation’s 3,000 conservation districts by becoming a Friend of NACD. Learn more on  NACD’s website .

Deadline Approaching:

Submit to NACD's Poster and Photo Contest

The deadline to submit your entry for the 2019 NACD and NACD Auxiliary's Poster and Photo Contest is less than a month away!

The annual poster contest is open to students from kindergarten through 12th grade and celebrates the 2019 Stewardship theme “ Life in the Soil: Dig Deeper. ”

The photo contest is open to all amateur photographers who reside in the U.S. or its territories. Contestants are allowed to enter up to five photos in each of the four categories: conservation practices, close-up conservation, conservation in action, and agriculture and conservation across America.

Submissions for both contests are due Dec. 1, 2019. To learn more and submit your entry, visit NACD's website .

NRCS Now Accepting Public Comments to

Revised Handbook

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently published a series of revised conservation practice standards for the National Handbook of Conservation Practices . Practices include deep tillage, contour buffer strips and irrigation ditch lining.

The 2018 Farm Bill required NRCS to solicit comments on all of its conservation practice standards, and this initial set of revisions to 13 practices is open for public comment until Friday, Nov. 22, 2019 .

NACD encourages conservation districts across the country to review these 13 practices and to provide public comments if needed, in order to ensure that they will address your local natural resource concerns and meet the needs of district cooperators.

A total of 94 conservation practice standards will be revised over the coming months. To learn more, visit the Federal Register's website.

In Memoriam:

NACD Remembers

Roy Faught, Jr.

On Monday, Oct. 28, Roy Faught, Jr. of Absaraka, N.D., passed away at the age of 105.

Faught served on his local conservation district's board and with NACD.

NACD recognizes Faught's life, his work as a farmer, and his service to his local conservation district.

Mark Your Calendar:

NACD at NAFB

Next Week

Next Thursday, Nov. 14, NACD President Tim Palmer , National Conservation Foundation (NCF) Chairman Steve Robinson and NACD Director of Communications Sara Kangas will attend the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk in Kansas City, Mo.

Stop by booth 88 to learn more about how voluntary, locally-led conservation is a solution for regulatory pressures; how soil health practices can be utilized to mitigate the effects of weather extremes; and how NCF's programs are helping to inspire, train and educate the next generation of conservation leaders.

Learn more about the Trade Talk on NAFB's website .

NRCS Promotes Soil Health Practices with

No-Till November

No-Till November is here! In its third year, this campaign created by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) aims to promote healthy soil management practices by encouraging farmers to avoid tilling or plowing their fields this fall and keeping unharvested plants in the ground.

Inspired by the cancer awareness campaign, "No-Shave November," NRCS similarly encourages farmers to "keep the stubble" on their harvested crop, which not only promotes soil health, but also saves time and money.

To learn more about the history of the campaign, as well as the benefits of no-tilling, visit NRCS's website .

2020 S&E Materials

Now Available on

NACD's Marketplace

Districts who are interested in purchasing printed 2020 Stewardship materials celebrating the theme “ Where Would We BEE Without Pollinators?” can now order high quality, on-demand printed materials on NACD’s Marketplace, as well as through Goetz Printing.

These free, downloadable materials provide educators with the resources to promote stewardship and conservation in the classroom. 

To learn more and download the materials, visit NACD's Stewardship Program webpage or contact stewardship@nacdnet.org.

Promote your conservation district or state association's tree sale, annual meeting, webinar, field day or more on NACD's Calendar of Events !