Over the past two weeks, NACD members have met with their congressional representatives as part of NACD’s 2022 Virtual Fly-In. Members from states across the country met with their members of Congress and agency officials to share their federal policy priorities and support conservation. Meetings are continuing to be scheduled over the coming days and weeks. Fly-In resources, including 2022 issue papers, can be found on NACD’s webpage.
Many priorities have been raised in these meetings, but members have frequently emphasized the importance of supporting U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation and watershed programs, conservation technical assistance, USDA’s State and Private Forestry Program, and EPA’s Nonpoint Source Management Program. Many members and the offices of their congressional representatives has also discussed how climate policy can be enhanced by bolstering existing conservation programs.
NACD is grateful for our members’ dedication to supporting our nation’s conservation districts and sharing the great work they do. Please reach out to NACD’s Director of Government Affairs Chris Young at chris-young@nacdnet.org with any questions or if you would like to invite NACD’s Government Affairs Team to your fly-in meeting.
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REGISTER NOW FOR
APRIL U&C WEBINAR:
MANAGING RUNOFF AT
HOME AND BEYOND
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For many conservation districts, managing local water quality and quantity can provide a wealth of opportunities to promote new conservation practices. Join NACD's next Urban and Community (U&C) Conservation webinar on Thursday, April 21 at 4:00 p.m. ET to learn about managing runoff at home and beyond.
In this webinar, you'll hear from two districts on their strategies and outcomes from their water management projects. Jeffrey Miller, with Cass County Soil Conservation District (SCD) in North Dakota, will describe success with xeriscaping and pocket prairies, small native prairie plantings for water filtration of home runoff, which also provide pollinator habitat and beautify homes. Caitlin Stewart of the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) in New York, will also describe the Stabilizing Marion Brook Project, for which they used bioengineering and natural channel design to stabilize an erosive section of Marion Brook with the support of federal and local partners.
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ARE YOU READY FOR STEWARDSHIP WEEK? |
NACD’s 67th Annual Stewardship Week will be celebrated from April 24 to May 1! Are you prepared? It’s not too late to download our free “Healthy Soil, Healthy Life" materials to distribute and share in your district. Visit the NACD Marketplace to access free, downloadable educational materials on a range of topics. And don’t forget, Stewardship Week is a great time to complete your photo and poster contest submissions!
If your district has an activity planned for Stewardship Week, please let us know! Email stewardship@nacdnet.org with the event details.
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Jim Berlier and his wife Vickie own and operate Berlier Ranch, a cow-calf and yearling operation on 10,000 acres southeast of Albuquerque, NM. Berlier and his father took over the ranch from his Great Uncle Theo who moved to the area in 1937. His Uncle Theo managed the ranch with the philosophy that if there was a blade of grass “unharvested” by the cattle, that was wasteful, and he stocked the pasture “until their tails hang over the fence.”
Such a philosophy resulted in dry, overgrazed, and highly erodible land. But Berlier was determined to turn things around and put his range science degree to work and implemented a new management system. His focus was to optimize the health of the cattle his land could support, so he began by reducing his herd.
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The installation of approximately 18 miles of waterways throughout his pastures has improved the access his herd has to water, allowing them to spread out. Berlier relies less on centralized water tanks where cattle tend to congregate – compacting and overgrazing these areas.
Berlier also installed cross-fencing, turning his pasture into paddocks where he could implement a rotational grazing system. By keeping his cattle moving from paddock to paddock and not overgrazing the land, he allowed the grass a chance to continually recover. Keeping the ground covered allows the soil to capture even the smallest amount of rainfall and retain the moisture. In his area of New Mexico, Berlier receives approximately 12 – 14 inches of rainfall a year, and he says he has to maximize the effectiveness of every drop.
Since implementing a more conservation-focused management system, Berlier says he has been able to double his soil organic matter to two percent and he now raises three times the amount of grass with the same level of rainfall. He no longer has the additional expense of supplementing the grazing with feeding his cattle hay. And in times of drought, Berlier says he still has a lot of grass and his cows are still fat.
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If you or someone you know would like to join the NACD Soil Health Champions Network, please visit the NACD website or contact NACD North Central Region Representative Beth Mason, at beth-mason@nacdnet.org, for more information. |
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ICYMI: NACD 2021 Annual Report is Here! |
NACD's 2021 Annual Report has arrived! Click here to begin browsing the latest publication from the National Association of Conservation Districts.
This past year, NACD, conservation districts, state + territory associations, and conservation officials across the U.S. continued to deliver natural resource and conservation management for working lands everywhere. In this edition of the Annual Report you'll find updates on NACD as well as read about how conservation districts are continuing to champion locally-led conservation in their communities.
On behalf of all of us at NACD, we are proud to be your national voice and look forward to the great work we will accomplish together in 2022.
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Videos from NACD's 2022 Annual Meeting Now Available |
Missed NACD's 2022 Annual Meeting, or want to re-watch your favorite session or speaker? All of the videos from the meeting are now available to view on YouTube!
Check out this playlist to see addresses from our organization's leadership, keynote speakers, and partners, as well as award presentations, panels, and general sessions. |
CAL FIRE Releases Handbook for Small-Parcel Landowners |
The California Department of Forest and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is pleased to announce the availability of the Forest Management Handbook for Small-Parcel Landowners in the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascade Range. This handbook was created to provide concise and thorough information to help these landowners develop a sound forest management strategy for their property. Digital copies of the handbook are available now and can be accessed by visiting this website.
A virtual workshop will be hosted on Tuesday, April 26, from 5-6 p.m. PT for landowners who would like to learn more about how to use the publication, where to find hard copies, and how to access additional local resources. More information about the webinar can be found here.
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WFLC Publishes Building Equity Through Community Forest Connections
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The Western Forestry Leadership Coalition (WFLC) recently published a collection of stories from the Western Forestry Leadership Coalition’s (WFLC) Western Urban & Community Forestry (WUCF) Committee, titled Building Equity Through Community Forest Connections. This publication centered around the themes of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, along with the interrelated topics of environmental and social justice.
The WFLC generates and distributes publications on key issues related to western and Pacific Island forestry. Read this publication and its featured stories submitted by western Urban & Community Forestry Coordinators here.
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Promote your conservation district or state association's tree sale, annual meeting, webinar, field day, or other events on NACD's Calendar of Events!
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