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July 14, 2009
NACD Names Loudenslager CEO
NACD welcomed Doug Loudenslager, an administrator with
extensive association and financial management experience,
as its new Chief Executive Officer on Monday. “We are very
fortunate to have Doug joining us,” said NACD President Steve
Robinson. “He will bring new direction to the Association,
providing strengthened services to our members while continuing
to serve as America’s voice for conservation.”
Prior to joining NACD, Loudenslager served as Chief Operating
Officer for the National FFA Organization and the National FFA
Foundation, representing its student members in the pursuit of
careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture.
His time at FFA followed a 17-year career in sales, management
and new Investment Representative training with Edward Jones
Investments. He also served as Executive Director of the Ohio
Soybean Association and as Communications Manager for the Ohio
Farmers Grain and Supply Association.
Read more about Loudenslager at NACD's website.
NACD President Speaks at SWCS Annual Meeting
NACD President Steve Robinson spoke at a Resource Conservation
Act (RCA) symposium during the Soil and Water Conservation
Society (SWCS) meeting today in Dearborn, Mich. Robinson
discussed the role of local partnerships and the changing
clientele for conservation assistance. During the session,
Robinson highlighted results of NACD’s recent Urban and
Community Conservation Survey regarding the make-up of district
boards, staff expertise and duties, and focused on landscape
approaches to addressing resource issues. NACD will host an
RCA listening session next week during the 2009 Legislative
Conference. Additional information on the RCA and the Urban
and Community Conservation Survey can be found on the NACD
website at http://www.nacdnet.org.
Congress Moving Forward on Climate and Appropriations
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is continuing
its work on Climate Change legislation, focusing on agriculture
and forestry during a hearing held this morning. Bill Hohenstein,
head of the USDA Global Change office, testified on the roles
for agriculture and forestry in carbon offsets markets as well
as current activities at USDA regarding climate change.
Hohenstein will also be a featured speaker next week at the 2009
NACD Legislative Conference. Meanwhile, the Senate Agriculture
Committee has scheduled a hearing on climate change for Wednesday,
July 22. The Senate Committees will continue their work this
month, with discussions in the full Senate expected after the August recess.
Appropriations also continue to move in Congress. Last week,
the House of Representatives approved fiscal year 2010 spending
for agriculture, approving $874.397 million for Conservation
Operations, which includes Conservation Technical Assistance.
The Senate also worked on agriculture spending, approving
$898.847 million for Conservation Operations.
Both the Climate bill and FY10 appropriations promise to be hot
topics of debate as NACD’s Legislative Conference begins next week.
FSA Names New Administrator
Last week, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack named
Jonathan Coppess as Administrator for the Farm Service Agency
(FSA). Previously, Coppess served as Sen. Ben Nelson’s (D-Neb.)
Legislative Assistant for Agriculture, Energy and Environmental
policy. Coppess grew up on a corn and soybean farm in West-
Central Ohio.
As an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the FSA
administers and manages farm commodity, credit, conservation,
disaster and loan programs through a network of federal, state
and county offices. Visit the FSA website for more information
on the appointment of Administrator Coppess.
NACD congratulates Administrator Coppess and looks forward to
working with him.
On-Site Registration Available for NACD’s Legislative Conference
Still sitting on the fence about coming to NACD’s Legislative
Conference in Washington, D.C. next week? On-site registration
will be available so even last minute travelers can attend.
More details on the conference, including a detailed agenda,
are available on NACD’s website.
NACD Invoice Coming Your Way
Let us share a few facts about NACD:
100% of the work that NACD carries out directly supports the
work of conservation districts and their cooperators.
NACD membership is comprised of nearly 3,000 conservation districts.
Only 46% of America’s conservation districts actually pay any
dues to NACD.
We are currently in the final quarter of the 2009 fiscal year.
NACD Membership dues invoices are being mailed this week and we
hope that you, as a valued member of your national association,
value the work that NACD does on your behalf and will consider
supporting NACD through your membership payment. And we send a
big THANK YOU to all members who have already made 2009
payments.
$18.4 Million in Conservation Innovation Grants Awarded
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack recently announced more than
$18.4 million in Conservation Innovation Grants (CIGs), several
of which were awarded to state associations and local conservation
districts to fund projects to develop and refine cutting-edge
technologies and approaches to help farmers and ranchers conserve
and sustain natural resources.
Among the awardees are: Conservation Districts of Iowa, which
received a grant to fund “Landowners and Operators Care about
the Land,” a program to create incentives for operators to
implement conservation-friendly management on land owned by
absentee landowners; the Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District
(Calif.), for an “Insectaries for Pollinators and Farm Biodiversity”
program to create or enhance pollinator habitat on six working
farms in western Sonoma County; the Clinton Conservation District
(Mich.), for the “Filter Mound Milking Center Wastewater Treatment”
for the safe disposal of milking center wastewater at mid-size
dairies; and the Burnt River Soil and Water Conservation District
(Ore.), for the “Baker County Grassbank Project” to improve the
ecological function of grazing lands.
See the full list at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig/2009awards.html.
Last Chance to Register: CTIC Conservation in Action Tour
The Conservation Technology Information Center’s (CTIC)
Conservation in Action Tour is just around the corner. Have
you registered? The tour presents the opportunity to visit
successful farmers who have mastered innovative conservation
practices in their profitable operations. Join CTIC on June 29
in Western Illinois to learn about nutrient management through
no-till and strip-till systems, how to reduce nutrient input
costs and how to improve soil health. Click here for details and to
register.
NASCA Training and Certification Webinar to be Held Thursday
On July 16, NASCA will sponsor a nationwide, interactive webinar,
during which Conservation District representatives from 13 states
will discuss their programs and materials for Conservation
District technical employee certification and training. The
webinar address and log-in information are available on the NASCA
website at http://www.nascanet.org.
eNotes to Return on July 28
Due to the 2009 Legislative Conference, held July 19-21, the
next issue of eNotes will be delivered on July 28, and will
include highlights from this year’s meeting.
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