If you have never attended an NACD annual meeting in the past, you may be eligible for a first-timer scholarship!

Thanks to the generous support of AgriDrain Corporation, NACD will once again be offering selected first-timers complimentary meeting registration. Only one person per state or territory may receive a scholarship, and chosen individuals must stay in the NACD room block at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina.

Scholarships are limited to the first 20 individuals, and only conservation district board members are eligible. Each state or territory may select the candidate for the scholarship according to their own preferences and processes. Interested candidates should reach out to the NACD board member in their state or territory or the state or territory association executive director to express their interest in receiving the scholarship.

Once a state or territory association selects a scholarship recipient in cooperation with their NACD board member, they are asked to send the recipient’s name and email address to NACD Director of Membership Engagement Dr. Ariel Rivers at ariel-rivers@nacdnet.org. Only names sent by either the NACD state or territory board member or state or territory association executive director will be accepted for nomination for the scholarship. Dr. Rivers will notify the state-level leadership if the candidate has been accepted for a scholarship. NACD will complete the registration on behalf of the individual, but individuals are responsible for organizing and coordinating their own travel.

Learn more about the upcoming Annual Meeting here.

EPA SEEKS COMMENTS ON NONPOINT SOURCE GRANT GUIDELINES

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing for comment draft revisions to the guidelines to states, territories, and the District of Columbia for the award of section 319 grants under the Clean Water Act for the implementation of nonpoint source (NPS) management programs. According to the EPA, these revisions include new flexibilities and expectations to ensure the equitable delivery of §319 NPS program benefits for communities impacted by NPS water quality challenges. Among other updates and clarifications, the draft guidelines support the use of new science and information to advance climate resilience through NPS solutions.

EPA has spent the past two years engaging with stakeholders through listening sessions and dedicated work groups who suggested various pilot projects and long term suggestions to move closer to achieving greater equity and environmental justice in the implementation of section 319. The focus of this outreach was to gain an understanding of how the program has worked in the past and how to address challenges that certain communities face in attempting to access funding.

NACD and partners are working to develop comments to highlight and ensure that the implementation of the section 319 program continues to include local entities, including conservation districts, to develop equitable and balanced distribution and oversight of section 319 funds for NPS management. The deadline for comment is December 31, 2023.

Please contact Libby Wawro at libby-wawro@nacdnet.org with questions or comments.

DONATE ITEMS FOR THE

NCF LIVE AUCTION!

The National Conservation Foundation (NCF) will once again host their Live Auction during the NACD Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA on February 12, 2024. Funds raised at the NCF Live Auction are in support of the NCF-Envirothon program and the Next Generation Leadership Institute. Individuals, conservation districts, and state associations are encouraged to donate unique items to this year’s event. Donated items can feature local artists, a special product made only in your state or territory, or interesting items with a conservation theme. Successful items in past auctions include pottery, jewelry, and “made in” agriculture products.

The NCF Auction will be a live only format. If you would like to donate an item to the 2024 NCF Live Auction, please fill out the Auction Donation Form. After completing the form, donors will be provided with the shipping information for the meeting hotel and a date window to ship items as the Live Auction date approaches. Items can be brought along by NACD Annual Meeting attendees but will still need an Auction Donation Form entry. All items must be shipped or brought to the Live Auction site in San Diego and submitted by February 12, 2024. No items will be accepted after 10:00 a.m. that day.

You can also begin to explore donated items to get ready for bidding on the auction website! The auction catalog will continue to be updated as new items are added.

NCF thanks all donors and potential bidders for their support of conservation education. If you have questions please contact Keith Owen, NACD Director of Education at keith-owen@nacdnet.org.

WHAT'S UP IN WASHINGTON:

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS UPDATE

Today, the House of Representatives will vote on a continuing resolution (CR) to fund some federal agencies through mid-January and others through early February. To avoid a government shutdown, the House and Senate must agree on and pass a CR before midnight on Friday. NACD encourages districts to prepare for the possibility of a government shutdown by coordinating with your local NRCS offices on shutdown plans and procedures.

House and Senate leaders have agreed to attach a one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill to a CR. The extension would ensure support for commodity subsidies and USDA programs impacted by the expiration of 2018 Farm Bill, including the Feral Swine Eradication Program. Many important USDA programs, including crop insurance and NRCS conservation programs, have not been impacted by the expiration of the 2018 Farm Bill last month. 

Last week, USDA announced an increase in the minimum annual payments for producers participating in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) from $1,500 to $4,000 starting in fiscal year 2024. The increase is designed to better support underserved and urban producers and increase program equity for smaller operations. For more information check out USDA’s press release.  

OPPORTUNITIES TO RECOGNIZE CONSERVATION EXCELLENCE WITH NACD

District Officials State Training Recognition Program: Applications for NACD’s District Officials State Training Recognition Program are now being accepted through December 8, 2023. The program recognizes states and territories that have developed and implemented a district officials training program. To qualify, a district officials training program must include 50 percent or more of the elements in all 15 categories identified by NACD and the National Association of State Conservation Agencies (NASCA).

For states that have been recognized previously, you are required to re-submit a checklist every two years for recognition. To apply, visit here and fill out the online checklist. Recognition will take place during the 2024 NACD Annual Meeting.

Apply

NACD Hall of Distinction: NACD is currently seeking nominations for its Hall of Distinction! Through NACD’s Hall of Distinction, state and territory associations can recognize current and past conservation leaders for their extraordinary work to advance conservation at the national level.

States and territories may induct one person to the Hall of Distinction every year. To make an induction, state and territory associations are asked to send NACD information via this form by December 8, 2023.

Learn more about the Hall of Distinction, including eligibility criteria, here.