Registration for the NACD 2023 Summer Conservation Forum and Tours is now open! Hosted in partnership with the North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts, the 2023 Summer Meeting will take place in Bismarck, North Dakota from July 15-19, 2023

Early bird registration for the discounted price of $375 is open from now until June 23, 2023.

The Summer Meeting agenda includes a full NACD board meeting and is packed with opportunities for attendees to network and hear from a variety of conservation speakers. Throughout the week, expect opportunities to learn about ongoing conservation projects across the country and meet the leaders who make successful conservation possible.

There is a room block reserved at the meeting site, the Bismarck Hotel and Conference Center. The group hotel room rate is $119 per night. Reservations can be made by phone only. Attendees should call 701-660-8063 and identify themselves with the National Association of Conservation Districts for group rates. The deadline reserve your stay is June 23, 2023.

We can't wait to share another NACD Summer Meeting full of networking opportunities with experts from across the conservation field as well as numerous educational sessions and tours. We look forward to seeing you in Bismarck!

FRIENDS OF NACD DISTRICT GRANT HELPS MAINE DISTRICTS PROMOTE CONSERVATION

In Maine, the Waldo County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and Knox-Lincoln SWCD have created an innovative new program to promote the implementation of conservation best management practices on all lands called the Certified Conservation Landscape Program. This free certification program helps all types of landowners implement the many practices that soil and water conservation districts promote across the United States.

Landowners self-certify their property by completing a checklist of conservation practices they’ve implemented, working their way up to a Master Conservationist recognition level. Conservation district staff review the checklist, visit the property, and provide the landowner with a certificate.

The Friends of NACD District Grants Program recognized the potential of this new idea. A 2022 grant enabled the districts to offer a full set of tools and resources to our constituents, which included developing a smartphone app and developing the Conservation Landscape Resource Guide.

The Certified Conservation Landscape Program offers conservation district staff with tools, skills, and methods for guiding landowners and assessing conservation practices. Other partners are now working to use and enhance the program, including several school districts, land trusts, and statewide organizations in Maine, including Maine Audubon, Maine Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Read more about this project in this blog post and consider becoming a Friend of NACD today to help provide grant opportunities like this to conservation districts around the country! 

REGISTRATION OPENS FOR 2023 NCF-ENVIROTHON

Registration for the 2023 NCF-Envirothon New Brunswick competition is now open! The event, hosted by the National Conservation Foundation (NCF) and Envirothon New Brunswick, will be held from July 23-29, 2023, at Mount Allison University in in Tantramar, New Brunswick, Canada.

The 2023 NCF-Envirothon will spotlight the ecology and natural resources of New Brunswick, with a special focus on this year’s current issue of “Adapting to a Changing Climate.” Students will learn about the factors contributing to a changing climate, its impact on natural resources and human society, and actions that can be taken to mitigate those impacts. Students will also learn about the unique challenges facing natural-resource dependent communities and how these communities are adapting to maintain their ways of life.

The 2023 Team Registration fee is $1800.00 per team (five students + up to two advisors). In addition to students and advisors, guests are welcome and encouraged to join us in New Brunswick in July! Guest rates vary depending on your stay. Full event details and registration can be found at www.envirothon.org.

DESCHUTES SWCD DELIVERS ON LOCAL CONSERVATION GOALS

From extreme drought conditions, forest pest population booms, and the resultant wildland mega-fires, to depleted soil systems, aquifers, and surface water sources, Deschutes County, OR is no stranger to the complex and challenging resource concerns that impact so many transitional landscapes. Nestled along the eastern edge of the Cascade Mountain Range, the county boundary extends from forested mountain landscapes nearing 8,000’ in elevation through upland brush habitats to basin floodplains around 3,800’ in elevation. Addressing the diverse resource conservation needs of this service area has been facilitated through strategic capacity building and partnership efforts led and fostered by Deschutes SWCD. While the hard work is far from over, this district continues to strengthen its involvement and long-term resilience as a steadfast local leader in Deschutes County conservation.

With the support of NACD’s Technical Assistance Grants, Deschutes SWCD has developed three separate staff positions including a Conservation Technician, Field Office Assistant, and a (soon to come) Program and Operations Coordinator. These capacity increases have supported the district’s development of an Irrigation Water Management (IWM) Program in collaboration with five local irrigation districts, the NRCS – Redmond, and Deschutes River Conservancy. Through these critical efforts the district leveraged $300k of county-level fiscal support for water efficiency incentive projects affecting 15 growers managing 122 acres of irrigated farmland. To enhance local awareness and further extend services, the Deschutes SWCD hosted numerous IWM workshop events reaching 45 landowners in cooperation with multiple partner organizations.

Additionally, the capacity increases have enabled the district’s persistent contribution to the local “Buttes to Basin” Joint Chief’s Landscape Restoration Partnership project, resulting in 21 forest landowners receiving financial assistance, forest inventory support, and management planning services across 500 acres. Deschutes SWCD also sought and secured another $300k from Oregon Department of Forestry’s SB 762 Landscape Resiliency Program, providing expanded project funding for several forest landowners to complete more comprehensive forest health, fuels reduction, and wildlife practices.

Read more about these and other ongoing efforts in the district on NACD's blog.

NACD Soil Health Champion Bill Nelson and his wife Linda own the family farm in Lake County, South Dakota. When Nelson bought the farm from his father in the 1980s, he had to find ways to cut costs and make his fields work better for him. He did much of this through reducing tillage and eventually going to no-till, using less inputs, grazing cover crops, and diversifying his crop rotation. Over the years, he’s increased his organic matter in the soil to at least an additional four percent.

Nelson retired in 2020 and learned a lot from his time managing his operation with conservation and good soil health as a priority. He has shared the following as his 10 Top Tips for Boosting Soil Health:

1. Develop a soil health management plan with the help of NRCS or your local conservation district.
2. Talk to your family about the importance of soil health management techniques to restoring soil health.
3. Do your homework on soil health management techniques.
4. Set a goal for the amount of soil organic matter you’d like to achieve.
5. Try no-till on a few acres to start. (Nelson started no-till with 40 acres and converted the rest of his farm to no-till over the course of six years. “You’re not going to see results from no-till overnight,” he cautioned. “I started seeing an improvement in organic matter in about six years.”)
6. Implement non-chemical weed control where possible by adding cover crops to your rotation.
7. When corn or bean prices are predicted to be low, or a dry spring in on the horizon, be flexible. Look for cover or a specialty crop that will be beneficial to your crop rotation and maximize potential profit.
8. Scout your fields for weeds, plant health, and general field conditions.
9. Keep good records to evaluate your progress.
10. Don’t give up after a year. “Go into it with a minimum of a three-year commitment. You should see improvement by then,” Nelson said.

To read more about Bill Nelson’s time as an active farmer and advocate for soil health in South Dakota, you can access his profile on the NACD website.

If you know someone who would be a good addition to the NACD Soil Health Champions Network, please contact Beth Mason at beth-mason@nacdnet.org or visit the NACD website for more information.