On July 29, the Massachusetts Envirothon team from Lexington, MA, was named the champion of the 2022 National Conservation Foundation (NCF)-Envirothon, an international environmental and natural resources education competition for high school students.
I’d like to congratulate the Massachusetts team and all the students for their hard work,” said NCF Executive Director Jeremy Peters. “Their dedication to environmental and natural resource issues have shown that the future of conservation is in good hands.”
Forty teams from across the U.S. and Canada traveled to this year’s competition, from July 24-29, hosted in partnership with the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, at Miami University in Oxford, OH. Throughout the week-long competition, students demonstrated their knowledge on soils and land use, aquatic ecology, forestry and wildlife management through written tests and interactive stations featuring Ohio’s natural resources. The teams were also tested on and then prepared oral presentations on this year’s current issue, “Waste to Resources.”
“Over the last week we have seen amazing skills out of the kids at this year’s competition,” said Wendee Dodds, Chair of the Ohio Envirothon Committee. “They are all so bright and committed to conservation-minded activities that will make the world better. I also can’t thank our team enough for honoring their promise to teach the next generation by lending their time and talents.”
The winning NCF-Envirothon teams are awarded scholarships and prizes, with the top three scoring teams receiving $30,000 in total, thanks to the support of Smithfield Foods, Inc. Scholarships for fourth through tenth place were awarded thanks to financial donations from NCF, National Association of State Conservation Agencies (NASCA), Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD) Foundation, and the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) President’s Association.
Read the full announcement here.
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SENATE INCLUDES HISTORIC CONSERVATION FUNDING IN BUDGET RECONCILIATION
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On Wednesday, July 27, members of the U.S. Senate released the the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which includes historic investments in conservation. The proposal would provide nearly $20 billion for oversubscribed Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) working lands conservation programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The bill would also provide $1 billion for conservation technical assistance, which allows NRCS and conservation districts to help producers and land managers assess resources needs, develop conservation plans, and implement effective conservation practices. In addition, the bill would provide billions of dollars to ensure public and private land managers have the tools they need to combat wildfires, restore forest ecosystems, improve watershed health, enhance wildlife habitat, and address climate change.
Although the proposal is still subject to change, it is expected to be considered by the full Senate this week. If the bill passes the Senate, it will need to be approved by the House of Representatives before President Biden can sign into law. NACD will continue advocating for the conservation funding included in this proposal and will release additional information regarding the contents of the final bill.
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SENATE RELEASES FISCAL YEAR 2023 FEDERAL SPENDING BILLS
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On Friday, July 29, the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations released their Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 appropriations bills. These bills include annual funding for federal agencies and contain strong funding for several NACD priorities, including:
- $926.5 million for NRCS Conservation Operations, including $808 million for conservation technical assistance
- $195.5 million for NRCS Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Operations Program
- $10 million for NRCS Watershed Rehabilitation Program
- $323.2 million for USFS State and Private Forestry Program
- $12 million for USFS Forest Stewardship Program
- $185 million for EPA Nonpoint Source Management Program
NACD appreciates the Senate’s support for important conservation initiatives and will continue advocating for these and other priorities to be included in the final federal spending package. NACD joined agriculture and conservation groups in sending a series of letters to congressional leaders requesting strong support for conservation technical assistance in the final appropriations bills.
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JOIN THE ONE WATER SUMMIT DELEGATION
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The Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS), the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), and the National Association of State Conservation Agencies (NASCA) invite members and partners to join them as part of the Soil and Water Conservation Delegation at the at the 2022 One Water Summit, September 13- 15, 2022, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The One Water Summit is an opportunity for our organizations to connect with stakeholders in the drinking and wastewater sectors about opportunities to collaborate with our members—conservation professionals, districts, and state conservation agencies—who are implementing water solutions through their work on watersheds, working and natural lands, source water protection, and more.
Participants of Soil and Water Conservation Delegation will receive a discounted registration and a curated summit experience that aligns with soil and water conservation issues and opportunities. Together, through our shared summit experience, our delegation will identify and develop new strategies to tackle challenges back home.
Learn more about the summit and how to register here.
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Brubaker Farms is a family operation in Mount Joy, PA run by brother Mike and Tony and Mike’s son Josh. Mike and Tony’s father Luke still plays an active and key advisory role in making their dairy farm the sustainable operation it is today. His sons and grandson continue to follow in his footsteps and carry his passion forward.
The farm is situated on 1,000+ acres in an urban-rural interface, surrounded by residential developments. This provides the Brubakers with some unique challenges as they look to be good neighbors and choose conservation projects with both economic and environmental benefits.
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One such project is the building of their anaerobic digester. The Brubakers leveraged grants from the USDA and the State of Pennsylvania and a partnership with the local power company NativeEnergy to finance about one-third of the project. With a growing herd of dairy cows, the digester helps the Brubakers store, handle, and apply manure in ways that minimize the environmental impact and maximize the value as fertilizer for the fields. The Brubakers “ dragline apply” and incorporate the manure on about 500 acres which lowers their fertilizer inputs and minimizes soil compaction because they are not using large farm equipment for this method of application.
The digester is a source of renewable energy – sending some to the local electric power grid and some powering the farm’s operation. The excess heat from the generator is captured and used to heat the farm buildings as well as pasteurize the milk fed to calves. In addition, the Brubakers have fitted their roofs with solar panels throughout the farm which help supply some of the energy needed to run their operation. Both the digester and solar panels combined produce enough energy to power 475 homes. The Brubakers believe that they are about carbon neutral now because of their conservation practices, solar, and recovery of credits benefitted from the digester.
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The Brubakers are considered early adopters of soil health and nutrient management practices and energy-producing technologies, and as a result, their farm is a frequent site for tours on conservation, sustainability, animal welfare, and modern farming practices. And in January of 2022, the Brubakers were awarded the 2021 Leopold Conservation Award in Pennsylvania.
If you or someone you know would like to become an NACD Soil Health Champion, please visit the NACD website or contact NACD North Central Region Representative Beth Mason at beth-mason@nacdnet.org or 317-946-4463.
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Save the Date:
NACD 2023 Stewardship Week
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Next Year's NACD Stewardship Week will be held April 30 - May 7, 2023 and will celebrate the theme "One Water!" Stay tuned for educational resources to share as students head back to school, coming this fall.
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NACD Leadership to Participate in Farm-Bill Panel
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Today, Tuesday, August 2, at 1:15 p.m. CST, NACD Second Vice President Ian Cunningham will participate in panel discussion titled “Must-Haves in the Next Farm Bill,” as part of Farmfest in Redwood County, MN.
You can tune in using this link! The panel will bring together national and state agricultural leaders to discuss the 2023 Farm Bill.
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Upcoming: NACD South Central Region Meeting
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The Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts will be hosting the National Association of Conservation District, South Central Region Meeting at the Crowne Plaza in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on August 28-30, 2022. Grab your hot sauce, jump in your pirogue and come pass a good time with us! Topics discussed include feral swine programs, the Red River compact, and coastal conservation as well as a trip to The Water Campus.
Early bird registration is open until August 17. A registration form and draft agenda for the South Central Region meeting are available here. A room block is available at the Crowne Plaza by calling 225-925-2244 and requesting room block: ACD. Please contact Joey Breaux of LACD at joey_b@ldaf.state.la.us or Wesley Gibson, NACD South Central Region Representative at wesley-gibson@nacdnet.org with any questions.
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Registration Now Open: Pacific & Southwest Joint Region Meeting
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On September 7-9, 2022, the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts (HACD) and the Maui Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) will welcome the Pacific and Southwest Regions to Maui for the 2022 joint Region Meeting.
I M U A is the theme for the meeting; in Hawaiian, “Imua” means “to move forward toward a goal.” For the past 75 years, the SWCDs in Hawai'i have used their collaborative efforts with partners to share fellowship and ideas for the improvement of our collective conservation capacity. During this conference, there will be opportunity to discuss and collaborate with other Pacific and Southwest conservation districts and partners on common struggles, themes, and goals. An agenda awaits that encourages participation through Imua, to carry out our mission to protect our natural resources for future generations.
Attendees will be able to network and celebrate their work over the three days through tours, targeted work groups, and discussions. The tour will include a visit to Haleakala Ranch, an agroforestry system on the side of a volcano, which will provide opportunities to see conservation practices in place on the ranch, as well as the effects of the invasive axis deer.
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Registration (before August. 19 - $300) will include all conference breakfasts, two lunches, and appetizers on the last evening. Registration for the tour is separate ($200) and will include all transportation to the ranch, and dinner on site. Tour seats are limited to 75, so register early! The first night’s dinner ($70) will also be a celebration of conservation district work and will include a silent auction. Guests are ask to bring an item to donate, with proceeds benefitting the local work of the Maui SWCDs. Attendees may register and pay for all events online.
The main meeting events will take place at the Royal Lahaina Resort and Bungalows in Maui, with rooms available before and after the conference for those wishing to come early or stay later. To take full advantage of the meeting, plan to arrive in Maui on September 6, departing on September 10. Click here to Book Your Stay.
For any questions, reach out to Ariel Rivers, PhD, NACD Pacific Region Representative, or Rachel Theler, NACD Southwest Region Representative.
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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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