National Association of Conservation Districts

2008 NACD Legislative Conference

2008 NACD Legislative Conference • July 18 - 23, 2008 • Washington, D.C.

Conservation district leaders from nearly every state and territory joined together in Washington, D.C., July 18-23, 2008, for NACD's 2008 Board Meeting and Legislative Conference. The event was a great success and NACD members took home with them renewed energy to speak with one voice as America's voice for conservation.

The conference kicked off Sunday night, followed by two days of informative speakers, an NACD open house and visits to Capitol Hill. The speaker line-up included USDA Deputy Undersecretary Gary Mast, Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dale Hall, NRCS Associate Chief Dana York, Forest Service Associate Chief Sally Collins, NRCS Indiana State Conservationist Jane Hardisty, FSA Conservation and Environmental Protection Division Deputy Director Mike Linsenbigler, DRD Associates Owner Debbie Reed, and American Farm Bureau Federation Chief Economist Bob Young.

The meeting concluded Tuesday night with NACD's 2nd Annual Congressional Reception, which was held in the historic Mansfield room inside the Capitol building.

Post Conference Resources

NACD Press Release
District Leaders Stress Need for Locally-Led Conservation on Capitol Hill – July 23, 2008 – Washington, D.C.

District Adaptable Press Release
Customize this press release for use in your district or association newsletter or local newspaper to cover your district or state’s attendance at NACD’s 2008 Board Meeting and Legislative Conference. To download the adaptable press release, click here.

Conference Photos
Click here to view a slide show of photos from the conference.

Meeting Program and Agenda
Click here to view the conference program booklet, complete with a full meeting agenda.

Presentations and Speaker Remarks

Panel - Follow the Money - What Happens After Congress Passes the Appropriations Bills?
• Fire/Non-Fire Budget Relationship
  Sally Collins, Associate Chief, U.S. Forest Service
• Agency Apportionment to State Allocation
  Dana York, Associate Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service
• How States Survive the Appropriations Process
  Jane Hardisty, State Conservationist, Indiana Natural Resources Conservation Service
  
  
• What is the Future of the Conservation Reserve Program?
  Mike Linsenbigler, Deputy Director, Farm Service Agency Conservation and Environmental Protection Programs Division
  Hear about changes in the Conservation Reserve Program resulting from the 2008 Farm Bill. What enrollments continue and what is the future of the program? What additional options are available to landowners through other FSA programs?
  
  
• Carbon Cap and Trade: What's in it for Agriculture?
  Debbie Reed, President, DRD Associates
  Global Climate Change is at the forefront of all environmental discussions, and hot topic on the 2008 Presidential campaign trail. Where do districts fit in and what does all this mean for your local community?
  
  
• Producing Energy
  Bob Young, Chief Economist, American Farm Bureau Federation
  How does conservation fit into the growing production of biofuels? Where can Districts target outreach efforts and which areas of the country will feel the greatest long-term impact of the growing biofuels market?



• Conservation Quiz (PowerPoint)
  Test your knowledge of the Legislative Process, Appropriations, 2008 Farm Bill, Climate Change and NACD with this Jeopordy-inspired quiz game.