NACD’s Virtual Advocacy Week is only three weeks away, and NACD's Government Affairs team has finalized this year's issue papers, which can be found on NACD’s Advocacy Week webpage.

NACD’s Government Affairs team will be hosting a Zoom briefing at 2:00 p.m. Eastern on March 16 for members and partners participating in the Virtual Advocacy Week. This briefing will be a substitute for the breakfast briefing we normally host in Washington, D.C., where we will review the issue papers and answer any questions that people who are participating in the following week’s meetings may have.

As your state or territory works to schedule meetings, be sure to visit our “Tips and Tricks” document on NACD’s Advocacy Week webpage. Please contact NACD Director of Government Affairs Coleman Garrison at coleman-garrison@nacdnet.org if you have any questions about NACD’s Virtual Advocacy Week, the Zoom briefing or if you or need additional information.

NACD'S FORESTRY

NOTES TURNS 30

This year, NACD's Forestry Notes publication turns 30!

Forestry Notes is a monthly electronic publication produced in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters (NASF). It reaches more than 16,000 conservation professionals and includes examples of conservation district-led forestry projects and partnerships focused on finding and implementing solutions to modern forestry challenges. A print edition is mailed quarterly.

The publication is made possible through NACD's cooperative agreement with the U.S. Forest Service State and Private Forestry. To learn more and subscribe, visit NACD's Forestry Notes webpage. For any questions or ideas you'd like to submit for a future edition, contact NACD Forestry Specialist Mike Beacom.

The next NACD Urban and Community (U&C) Conservation webinar, scheduled for 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. Eastern on March 18, 2021, will feature the work of two conservation districts and how they support community green spaces.

This month, learn from two conservation districts on their contributions to local public green spaces. Dave Rupert, district manager of the Armstrong Conservation District in Pennsylvania, will share more about their Rails to Trails program, and Eric Williams of the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District in Nebraska will provide more information on their program to manage several trail systems along creeks in Omaha. Both programs involve partnerships with local entities while providing open spaces for humans and wildlife and contributions to the conservation of natural resources.

To register, click here. If you have difficulty, please contact NACD Pacific Region Representative Ariel Rivers.

Brian and Mitchell Hora (pictured left and right, respectively) run a father and son farming operation in Ainsworth, Iowa. As sixth- and seventh-generation farmers, the Horas are continuing their family’s legacy of working the land, while also incorporating a focus on soil health.

About 35 years ago, Brian began to incorporate no-till into his operation. That year, it was an extremely wet fall and heavy snowfall before they could finish harvesting, so they had to finish harvest in the spring, right before planting the new crop, without time to till. From that moment on, they began no-tilling their soybeans, and over time, they moved to 100 percent no-till throughout their operation.

Brian began experimenting with cover crops in 2013, but it wasn’t until the fall of 2015 that the Horas began their first cover crop trial, which Mitchell described as a “massive failure.” The Horas didn’t let that discourage them from trying to make it work, as they understood the benefits of incorporating cover crops into their crop rotation. By using cover crops, they’re keeping a living root in the ground and building up soil structure, which increases water infiltration rates and the soil’s holding capacity. This positive transformation means that the cash crop is more protected during a time of drought or flooding, reducing soil erosion. Additionally, the year-round root system increases the soil biological activity, leading to better nutrient conversion and lowering any need for additional fertilizer.

While in his junior year at Iowa State University, Mitchell founded Continuum Ag, an ag consulting business that uses computer software and data to map out the soil health of customers’ fields. Unlike traditional agronomic consulting, Mitchell has established Continuum Ag to go beyond addressing the chemical soil component and take a more holistic approach through addressing the physical and biological aspects of soil.

To assist farmers further, Mitchell and his team at Continuum Ag created a new tool called TopSoil, a web-integrated soil health data platform. Through tracking and evaluating on-farm data, farmers can assess opportunities to increase their profit and improve their regenerative farm management system.

Whether through Mitchell’s consulting business or on the family farm, the Horas continue to explore ways to improve and promote soil health. To read more about Brian and Mitchell Hora and their soil health journey, read their NACD Soil Health Champions profile on NACD's website.

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.

NACD is currently seeking an executive assistant/office coordinator. This position will be responsible for providing administrative support to the NACD CEO, officers and executive board.

This position is currently a telework position, due to the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Learn more about the position here. Please email a resume and two writing samples to hr@nacdnet.org by 

this Friday, March 5, to receive priority for interviews.

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, NACD’s Washington, D.C. office will be closed with staff teleworking through Monday, May 31.

The Native Youth Community Adaptation and Leadership Congress (NYCALC) is now accepting applications for their four-week program beginning this July.

As a federal and non-governmental collaborative, NYCALC invites Native communities to work together to address conservation challenges in a changing environment. Applicants must be groups of one adult community mentor and three to five rising high school seniors from any federally recognized tribe in the U.S. and Eastern time zone territories, from the same communities.

The application deadline is Wednesday, Apr. 21, 2021. See more information about NYCALC and apply online here.

The launch of the series coincides with the release of the latest 10-year State Forest Action Plans.

The series can be viewed on NASF's YouTube channel.

Between March 1–May 1, take advantage of the NACD Marketplace's Spring Promotion for Bass Pro Shops' True Timber Caps. 

Platinum, diamond and gold level NACD members making a single purchase of $100 or more from the Marketplace can benefit from 20 percent, 15 percent and 10 percent discounts, respectively. To learn more about NACD's membership incentives and levels of discounts, please visit NACD's Membership webpage or email us.

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