National Association of Conservation Districts

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NACD STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVATION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO CONGRESS

WASHINGTON, D.C.—July, 2010—In testimony before the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy and Research, NACD President Steve Robinson, a producer from Marysville, Ohio, expressed conservation districts’ support for full funding for NRCS to deliver farm bill conservation programs and meet the growing demand and need for technical assistance in concert with conservation districts, technical service providers (TSPs) and other partners.

“Conservation districts are uniquely positioned to work with NRCS, TSPs and others to expand technical assistance capacity,” Robinson said. “As we broaden and strengthen the traditional conservation partnership, conservation districts are already leveraging federal funding to accelerate conservation application on the ground.”

Producers need quality technical assistance to maximize the effectiveness of the financial assistance they receive, Robinson said. Even without financial help, many producers still need technical help to ensure proper land quality practices. Financial and technical assistance make America’s conservation delivery system both efficient and effective.

The Subcommittee held today's hearing to review the administration and delivery of conservation programs. Testifying from the Department of Agriculture were Dave White, Chief of Natural Resources Conservation Service and Jonathan W. Coppess, Administrator of Farm Service Agency.

Additional testimony was delivered by John Lohr of the National Association of FSA County Office Employees; Ron Leathers of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever; Dr. Scott Manley of Ducks Unlimited; Dr. Robert T. Burns of The University of Tennessee Extension in Knoxville; Steve Dlugosz on behalf of the International Certified Crop Adviser (ICCA) Program and the American Society of Agronomy; and William L. Braford of Natural Bridge Station in Virginia.

Robinson's full testimony is available here.

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The National Association of Conservation Districts is the non-profit organization that represents the nation's 3,000 conservation districts and 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. For almost 70 years, local conservation districts have worked with cooperating landowners and managers of private working lands to help them plan and apply effective conservation practices. NACD's website is at www.nacdnet.org.