March 4, 2008
index to previous eNotes
- NACD Urges Congress to Complete New Farm Bill
- USDA Analyzes Impact to Farm Programs without a New Farm Bill
- NACD Urges Support for Appropriations Priorities
- Conservation District Leaders Make the Rounds on the Hill
- District Officials Participate in Great Lakes Day
- FWS Initiates Status Review of Sage Grouse
- EPA Seeks Applications for Smart Growth Assistance
- March Forestry Notes Available Online
- New Districts on the Web
- NACD Calendar of Events
1. NACD Urges Congress to Complete New Farm Bill
For over two years, NACD has been actively engaged in the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, developing internal policy and priorities and carrying that message to Congress. The 2002 Farm Bill expired on September 30, 2007, and a short-term extension that was passed by Congress is set to expire on March 15, 2008.
With time running short, NACD has again urged the House and Senate Agriculture Committee to quickly finalize a new Farm Bill, one with a strong Conservation Title. In a letter to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, NACD President John Redding emphasized that producers need consistency in conservation programs and a long-term approach to a Farm Bill, not a piecemeal approach, is crucial. Producers must know their options and have the ability to plan for and participate in conservation programs. Redding also stressed the importance of technical assistance, technical service providers and the locally-led delivery of conservation programs. Each are key provisions in both the House and Senate bills that NACD recommends for the final Farm Bill.
While the House and Senate continue negotiations toward a final bill, it is uncertain if there will be a month-long extension to allow more time to finalize a new bill, or if there will be a longer extension of the 2002 Bill.
Click here to listen to more of Redding’s comments regarding the 2008 Farm Bill in the March edition of America’s Voice for Conservation.
2. USDA Analyzes Impact to Farm Programs without a New Farm Bill
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently provided an analysis on how current USDA programs would be impacted should a new farm bill or an extension of the 2002 Farm Bill not occur by the March 15, 2008 deadline. USDA provided the analysis at the request of House and Senate Agriculture Committee staff.
According to the analysis, if the current Farm Bill is allowed to expire without a new bill or extension, current farm policy would revert to the provisions of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 and the Agricultural Act of 1949. Conservation programs would be severely impacted under this scenario. Funding would be available to honor existing contracts for most programs, but there would be no provisions in place to enroll producers in future contracts. This analysis represents a worst-case scenario absent any action by Congress on farm policy.
3. NACD Urges Support for Appropriations Priorities
With fiscal year 2009 appropriations activity increasing in Congress, NACD recently issued an alert to our members requesting support for the Association’s three appropriations priority programs: Conservation Technical Assistance, State and Private Forestry and EPA 319 Nonpoint Source Grants. The NACD Board of Directors approved these programs as priorities at the July 2007 NACD board meeting.
Appropriations subcommittee deadlines are approaching this month for members of Congress to make requests for specific program funding. Specific subcommittees and deadlines include:
House Agriculture Appropriations: March 19
House Interior and Environment Appropriations: March 19
Senate Agriculture Appropriations: March 20
Senate Interior and Environment Appropriations: March 28
Contacts with members of Congress are critical to ensure support for programs as appropriators begin to set funding levels for the next fiscal year. The three programs identified all provide substantial technical support to landowners seeking to implement conservation practices for clean water, healthy soils and productive forestland.
For more detailed information on the programs, visit NACD’s website at http://nacdnet.org/policy/appropriations/fy09/ or to view NACD’s Action Alert, visit http://www.nacdnet.org/policy/action/alert_03-03-08.phtml.
4. Conservation District Leaders Make the Rounds on the Hill
March is a busy month in Washington, D.C., and conservation district leaders from several states are contributing to the buzz. Over the last week, district officials and employees from California, Georgia, Minnesota, Arkansas and Kentucky have all been in town meeting with their Congressional members and staff. Spring is traditionally a time when folks meet with their members of Congress to discuss appropriations priorities and requests (see eNotes article #3). Visiting district leaders are also dropping by NACD’s Washington, D.C. headquarters to talk policy, learn about NACD’s 509 Capitol Court Campaign and visit with staff. NACD encourages districts to keep up the good work building relationships with lawmakers. If your district or state association has plans to come to Washington, be sure to swing by your national office. NACD staff is glad to have you.
5. District Officials Participate in Great Lakes Day
Conservation district officials from Great Lakes states were in town this week for Great Lakes Day events. Meetings were held with the Great Lakes Commission and partners. Several interest groups came together for the meeting with the goal of reporting on basin issues, drawing in key legislators to speak to the group and networking amongst the many partners. The groups also focused on streamlining their message in support of the Great Lakes into something the attendees could take with them as they conducted visits with their legislators.
While in Washington, district officials discussed state priorities and the change in NACD structure, including the formation of a Great Lakes Resource Policy Group. Keira Franz, NACD’s Director of Legislative Affairs, spent time with the group to discuss and brief them on legislative issues that deal directly with the Great Lakes Basin, helping them to prepare for their congressional visits the following day.
NACD’s Natural Resource Policy Committee approved the formation of the new Great Lake group and appointments to this Resource Policy Group are expected soon from NACD President John Redding.
6. FWS Initiates Status Review of Sage Grouse
NACD is leading an effort with western states to coordinate comments regarding the recent Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) status review of sage grouse. On February 26, 2007, FWS published their notice in the Federal Register to initiate a status review and collect new information on sage grouse as a threatened or endangered species. FWS is encouraging the public or other interested parties to submit any information on sage grouse across its range. The sage grouse range includes portions of Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.
Both the Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts and Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts have begun dialog with conservation districts within their respective states to prepare submissions. NACD will coordinate activities among the state associations, assist with formatting responses and provide a general response to the FWS request. The deadline for submission is May 27, 2008. Click here for specific directions, which are listed in the Federal Register notice.
7. EPA Seeks Applications for Smart Growth Assistance
Is your conservation district interested in working with growing communities and developers on more sustainable practices? The Development, Community and Environment Division (DCED) in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Policy Economics and Innovation is seeking applications from tribal, local, regional and state governments who want to develop in ways that meet environmental and other goals. EPA is offering technical assistance from national experts on policy analysis or public participatory processes to help applicants overcome roadblocks by providing evaluation tools and expert analysis. Development practices that reflect the principles of smart growth protect sensitive watersheds, minimize water quality impacts, reduce air emissions by increasing transportation choices, lower greenhouse gas emissions through more compact development patterns and encourage clean-up and sustainable redevelopment of brownfields.
Conservation districts are eligible to apply for this technical assistance opportunity. The application deadline is May 8, 2008. For more information and application guidelines, go to www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/2008_sgia_rfa.htm.
8. March Forestry Notes Available Online
The March edition of Forestry Notes is now online. Read articles on a new interagency collaboration that is benefiting Ohio forest owners; how grant funds and partners are helping one Michigan RC&D maximize wood-utilization efforts; and NACD’s 2008 Annual Meeting, including an article and interview with retiring USFS Director of Cooperative Forestry Larry Payne. Go to http://nacdnet.org/news/publications/forestrynotes/march08.phtml to read these articles and more!
9. New Districts on the Web
Listed below are the latest conservation districts to be added to the Districts on the Web page on NACD’s website. If your district’s website is not listed on your state’s District’s on the Web page and you would like it to be, contact NACD Communications Associate, Mary Hammon at mary-hammon@nacdnet.org.
10. NACD Calendar of Events
May 14-17, 2008 Executive Directors’ Conference, Saratoga, WY
June 8-10, NACD Northern Plains Region Leaders Meeting, Nebraska City, NE
July 18-23, NACD Summer Board Meeting and Legislative Conference, Washington, D.C.
Aug. 3-5, Northeast Region Meeting, Portsmouth, NH
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