March 11, 2008
index to previous eNotes
- Farm Bill Could Be Extended until April
- NACD Leaders Roll up their Sleeves to Tackle Issues
- Appropriations Work Continues in Washington
- EPA Seeks Comment on Additional Options for CAFO Rule
- Energy Summit Looks at Opportunities for Renewables
- Conservation Districts Can Assist with Energy Efficiency
- Have You Placed Your 2008 Stewardship Order Yet?
- 2008 Wetlands Conference Calls for Papers
- NACD Calendar of Events
1. Farm Bill Could Be Extended until April
This week Congress is likely to pass a short-term extension of the 2002 Farm Bill until April 18, 2008, giving the Agriculture Committees an additional month to finalize a bill. Work is still under way with the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee to work out funding issues to secure additional funds for a new Farm Bill. Once funding is resolved, the details of a new bill will be decided. The current extension of the Farm Bill will expire this Saturday, March 15, unless Congress takes action. NACD continues to emphasize board-approved Farm Bill priorities that encourage maintaining the locally-led conservation program delivery system.
2. NACD Leaders Roll up their Sleeves to Tackle Issues
NACD’s officer team is gathering this week in Washington, D.C., for their first full official meeting following February’s elections. President John Redding, President Elect Steve Robinson, Second Vice President Bob Cordova and Secretary/Treasurer Gene Schmidt are all meeting in the nation’s capitol to discuss budget issues, outline annual priorities, meet with NACD staff and participate in meetings with agency partners and members of Congress. Additional details will be provided about the officers’ meetings in next week’s eNotes.
NACD leadership is not the only crew in Washington this week. NACD CEO Krysta Harden was the first presenter on the agenda at the Nebraska Natural Resource Districts’ Washington, D.C. Conference early this week, where she discussed the 2008 Farm Bill and the importance of technical assistance. The group of 60 leaders heard from agency leaders and other conservation-related organizations, and is meeting with each member of their Congressional delegation to stress the importance of conservation not only in Nebraska but also across the country.
3. Appropriations Work Continues in Washington
Congress continues work on fiscal year 2009 appropriations as House and Senate committees hold hearings and begin to formulate legislation. NACD’s officer team and staff are holding meetings this week with members of Congress and their staffs on a variety of issues, including appropriations.
Next week Congress will begin the Spring District Work Period, and members will be home to visit with constituents from March 17 – 28. Recess is an excellent opportunity to meet with your members of Congress to share the work of your conservation district and the importance of conservation programs and technical assistance. Invite your members to meet with your conservation district, and check local newspapers for announcements of town hall meetings or other opportunities to meet your members.
For more information on NACD’s appropriations priorities, visit the NACD website at http://www.nacdnet.org/policy/appropriations/fy09/.
4. EPA Seeks Comment on Additional Options for CAFO Rule
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requesting comments regarding options being proposed for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Clean Water Act permitting requirements. EPA’s action supplements their 2006 proposed rule relating to water quality permitting requirements for CAFOs.
Specifically, EPA is seeking comment on a voluntary option for CAFOs to certify that their operations do not discharge or propose to discharge waste. The agency is also seeking comment on a possible framework to identify terms of the nutrient management plan (NMP) relating to rate of land application. The comment period will close on April 7, 2008. For directions on submitting proposed CAFO rule comments, click here. NACD’s Natural Resource Policy Committee will be submitting comments on behalf of the association.
Additional information on the CAFO rulemaking can be found on EPA’s website at http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/afo/aforule.cfm. EPA will also offer a webcast on Friday, March 14, 2008 at 12 p.m. EDT to provide additional information on the supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking for the CAFO National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. Click here for more details and to register for the webcast.
5. Energy Summit Looks at Opportunities for Renewables
The 4th National 25x'25 Renewable Energy Summit program kicks off today in Omaha, Nebraska. The three-day summit will underscore opportunities and challenges of bringing the 25x'25 renewable energy vision to life and will address the latest in policy, research and marketplace developments. NACD is a member of the 25x’25 coalition, a group aiming for 25 percent of our resources coming from renewable sources by 2025. NACD Executive Board member Jack Majeres from South Dakota represents NACD on this effort and will be participating in the conference. For details on the Renewable Energy Summit and the 25x ’25 effort, go to http://www.25x25.org.
6. Conservation Districts Can Assist with Energy Efficiency
While it is sometimes difficult to identify the best options to bring energy efficiency to your communities, there is now a resource available to help conservation districts assist producers in becoming more energy efficient. NACD and EnSave, Inc.—a company with a 16-year track record in helping farms and rural communities become more energy efficient—have established a new partnership. EnSave specializes in designing and implementing programs to help farms save energy and reduce pollution. Additionally, they specialize in farm energy audits.
7. Have You Placed Your 2008 Stewardship Order Yet?
If you answered no, then you need to order soon to guarantee your materials will arrive in time for Stewardship Week! Stewardship Week will take place April 27 – May 4, 2008. To receive your Stewardship materials order by April 18, 2008, you must order by March 18 if paying with a by check, or by April 1 if paying with a by credit card. NACD cannot guarantee delivery by April 18 for check or credit card orders placed after these dates.
Don’t take a chance, go to the NACD Marketplace at http://www.nacdstore.org/ and order your 2008 Stewardship materials today. Additional NACD Stewardship outreach materials are available at NACD’s website at http://www.nacdnet.org/stewardship/2008/.
8. 2008 Wetlands Conference Calls for Papers
Conservation districts working with wetlands may be interested in attending or presenting at the 2008 Wetlands conference, “Wetlands and Global Climate Change.” Climate change will have potentially dramatic effects on wetlands through changing water levels and weather patterns, and wetlands may even contribute by releasing carbon and methane. The conference will help those who work with wetlands to understand these challenges and provide a forum for discussing solutions. The conference will be held September 16-18, 2008 in Portland, Oregon. The deadline for submitting papers is April 11, 2008. More information on the conference is available at http://www.aswm.org/calendar/wetlands2008/index.htm.
9. 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
Aug 10-12, Southeast Region Meeting, Biloxi, MS
Aug 21-23, South Central Region Meeting, Hot Springs, AR
To subscribe to eNotes, simply send a email with the word "subscribe" in the subject field to enotes-request@email.nacdnet.org.
For queries about this newsletter or if you are unable to automatically subscribe, contact editor Lisa Lerwick, NACD Director of Communications, at Lisa-Lerwick@nacdnet.org or 202-547-6223.