May 7, 2008 eNotes - National Association of Conservation Districts

May 7, 2008
index to previous eNotes

1. Farm Bill Conference Meets
Last Thursday, Farm Bill Conferees met late into the night and reached an agreement on the majority of the 13 titles of the Farm Bill proposal. Several issues and tax measures were left for further discussion, and specific details of the Farm Bill proposal have not yet been released.

In a Tuesday meeting attended by NACD Director of Legislative Affairs Keira Franz, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson indicated there would be additional private member meetings but was uncertain if there would be another public meeting. Conferees were trying to finalize issues by Wednesday with the hope of passing a final bill next week to send to the President for his signature. It is still uncertain if the President will veto the measure.

Part of the ongoing negotiations centers on payment limitations and the adjusted gross income (AGI) cap for participants in commodity and conservation programs. NACD joined with other conservation groups, as well as livestock, fruit and vegetable, and other agriculture groups, in sending a letter to conferees late Monday asking that conservation programs not be subject to the same AGI caps. To see a copy of this letter, go to http://www.nacdnet.org/policy/input/letters/farm_bill_agi_05-05-08.pdf.

NACD will continue to keep you apprised of any developments.

2. Conservation and Agriculture Groups Address Climate Change Legislation
NACD, along with other conservation and agriculture groups, sent a letter yesterday to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Barbara Boxer and Ranking Member James Inhofe regarding the American Climate Security Act of 2007.

This legislation, introduced by Senators Lieberman and Warner, was passed by the Senate Environment Committee last December and is scheduled to come up for debate in the full Senate during the first few weeks of June. The joint letter addresses several issues including the role of USDA in addressing climate change and recognition of early actions by agricultural producers to sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The letter also expresses a desire to work with the Committee to ensure that any voluntary agricultural offset program is workable for agriculture and results in green house gas reductions.

Conservation districts across the country are currently working on carbon sequestration and other greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts, and NACD will work to ensure that federal legislation coordinates with these ongoing efforts. A copy of this joint letter is available on NACD's website at http://www.nacdnet.org/policy/input/letters/climate_change_05-06-08.pdf.

3. NACD Staffers Plan to Bike to Work
America's Voice Logo May is National Bike Month, and next week people around the country will get on their two-wheeled, self-propelled machines and pedal to work. May 12-16 is National Bike to Work Week, and May 16 is National Bike to Work Day. A few NACD staff will participate in the national event next week, and we hope you will, too!

In addition, in two months, five NACD staff will not only bike to work, but, in an effort to raise money for NACD’s 509 Capitol Court Campaign, they will bicycle from Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania to where they work in Washington, D.C. The 258-mile ride, appropriately dubbed the Renovation Ride, will be held July 12-18 and will end back in D.C. at the kickoff of NACD’s Summer Board Meeting and Legislative Conference. Click here to hear what NACD President John Redding has to say about the event in the May edition of America’s Voice.

Check out http://www.nacdnet.org/events/509campaign/ride/ to learn more about the Renovation Ride and how you can to donate or help spread awareness. More information about National Bike Month and National Bike to Work events is available at http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bikemonth/.

4. National Conservation Partner Leaders Meet in D.C.
NACD President John Redding met with leaders of the Conservation Partnership last week to discuss a number of Partnership issues. The group, which included Redding, NARC&DC President Joan Smith Freeman, NCDEA President Cindy Moon, NASCA President Mike Brown and NRCS Chief Arlen Lancaster, along with staff from each of the organizations, reviewed the purpose and role of the Mutual Agreements between the Secretary of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), governors and individual conservation districts. They also reviewed the Cooperative Working Agreements and other tools that are used to outline the responsibilities and commitments made by each of the signers.

Other topics addressed included the progress of the Conservation Environmental Effects Program (CEAP), the conservation provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill, information technology, Landcare, budget updates, organizational updates and continued work on overarching objectives the partners have agreed to work on over the next few years. Four key areas of the objectives include: communicating on conservation, improving conservation delivery, training for Partnership members, and maintaining and improving coordination efforts among the Partners, at the national, state and local levels.

5. Senate Subcommittee Conducts Field Hearing
The President’s Fiscal Year 2009 (FY09) budget for State and Private Forestry (S&PF) was part of the discussion this week during a field hearing in Eagle, Colo. The Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee assembled to discuss the mountain pine beetle infestation in the West and how federal resources are being used to address the situation.

For at least the last decade, most forests across the West have experienced unprecedented mortality caused by bark beetles and S&PF funds have been used to address the situation on lands of all ownerships. The President’s FY09 budget proposes a greater than 50 percent cut for State & Private Forestry.

In contrast to the President’s proposed budget, NACD advocates funding levels above those enacted in Fiscal Year 2008. Further details about NACD’s position on FY09 S&PF funding are available on NACD’s website at http://www.nacdnet.org/policy/issues/2009/S&PF.pdf. For more information on Monday’s field hearing, click here.

6. D.C. Sights—Get a Closer Look
Attendees at NACD’s Summer Legislative Conference will have an opportunity to get a closer look at some of Washington’s finest in July. NACD has arranged three tours during the conference to give participants a chance to enjoy what our nation’s capital has to offer.

First, NACD has coordinated with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History to arrange two private, guided tours of the “Dig It! The Secrets of Soil” exhibit during the exhibit’s opening week. Be among the first to see the dioramas, soil cross-sections or monoliths, cultural artifacts and hands-on activities that make up the exhibit. Tours are available Monday, July 21 from 5 – 6 p.m. and Tuesday, July 22 from 9 – 10 a.m. The tour is free of charge. However, space is very limited and reservations are made on a first come, first served basis by indicating your interest on your registration form.

NACD has also arranged a “War and Remembrance” tour for conference attendees. Participants will visit Arlington National Cemetery, the Marine Corps Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the World War II Veterans Memorial or the Roosevelt Memorial. The tour will be held Monday, July 21 from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. There is a $48 charge per person. Transportation will be provided from the conference hotel.

For more information about the tours, or to register for the conference and tours, go to http://www.nacdnet.org/events/legconference/. Sign up today before the tours fill up!

7. NRCS Honors Dee River Ranch with 2008 Excellence in Conservation Award
Last Wednesday, as part of NACD’s Stewardship Week, the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) awarded its annual 2008 Excellence in Conservation Award to a brother and sister farming team in Alabama. Mike and Annie Dee were recognized for their commitment to stewardship on the 10,000 acre Dee River Ranch in Aliceville, Ala., a profitable commodity farm with corn, wheat, soybeans and cattle. The Dees employ a variety of conservation techniques on their land, including winter cover cropping, conservation tillage, field borders and buffers, improved pasture management and supplementation of commercial fertilizer with poultry litter. They believe that land should be used in the manner for which it is best suited and apply appropriate stewardship practices for crop production, hay/pasture and highly erodible land on their property. In addition to the conservation benefits, these measures ensure the long-term profitability of the farm by improving soil quality.

Not content to rest on their laurels, the Dees are actively involved in conservation outreach efforts throughout the state of Alabama and frequently welcome students and tours to their ranch to share what they have learned with others. Read more about the Dee River Ranch at http://www.al.nrcs.usda.gov/news/feature/7-07dee_river_ranch_cfn.html.

8. EPA Watershed Handbook Available Online
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds recently released the "Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters." The online handbook is designed to help communities, watershed organizations and local, state, tribal and federal environmental agencies in watershed planning to meet water quality standards and protect water resources, particularly related to impaired or threatened waters.

The handbook contains guidance on quantifying existing pollutant loads, developing estimates of the load reductions required to meet water quality standards, developing effective management measures and tracking progress once a plan is implemented. It also includes new materials on ways to protect important elements of the landscape and aquatic habitats within a watershed.

The Watershed Handbook is available online at http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/watershed_handbook/.

9. Upcoming Webcasts on Water, Wetlands and Climate Change
This week, EPA will host two free webcasts for those interested in the relationship between water and climate change.

The Thursday, May 8 webcast will focus on EPA’s Draft Water Climate Change Strategy. This recently released document identifies potential impacts of climate change on clean water and drinking water programs and identifies actions to adapt as well as mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. The webcast will highlight the findings of the draft strategy, which is open for public comment until May 27, 2008. To read a copy of the draft or for more information about the webcast, visit http://www.epa.gov/water/climatechange/.

The Tuesday, May 13 webcast will focus on wetlands and climate change. This presentation will identify the challenges posed to wetlands by climate change, including rising sea levels and variable temperature and precipitation patterns. Experts with a variety of perspectives will be present to address the many dimensions of this issue. For more information or to register, go to http://www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts.

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.
August 3-5, Northeast Region Meeting, Portsmouth, NH
August 10-12, Southeast Region Meeting, Biloxi, MS
August 21-23, South Central Region Meeting, Hot Springs, AR

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