July 3, 2007
index to previous eNotes
- NACD Participates in Inaugural National Pollinator Week Activities
- NACD Executive Board Reaches out to States
- Agriculture Committee Schedules Farm Bill Action
- NACD Online Store Holds Summer Sale-Shop Today!
- NACD Legislative Conference-7 Days Left to Register!
- America's Voice for Conservation: Speaking out on Land Fragmentation
- Biomass Removal Research Funding Opportunity
- USDA Awards Nearly $20 Million in Conservation Innovation Grants
- USDA Reports Largest Corn Acreage Planted in 63 Years
- New Tools Available from EPA
- Forestry Notes Online
- New Districts on the Web
1. NACD Participates in Inaugural National Pollinator Week Activities
NACD Board Member and Maryland Association President Lee McDaniel participated in the issue of a new stamp to highlight the importance of pollinators last week.
McDaniel focused on the important contributions of pollinators to agriculture, pointing out that 80% of all food producing plants require pollination in order to produce a crop. He also cautioned their decline, noting that half of the domesticated honeybee population has been lost in the last 50 years. Issuing the stamp along with McDaniel were USDA Secretary Mike Johanns, North American Pollinator Protection Campaign Co-chair Paul Growald, Coevolution Institute Executive Director Laurie Davies Adams and U.S. Postal Service Deputy Postmaster General Pat Donohoe.
The ceremony capped off National Pollinator Week, which included several events aimed at raising awareness and protection of pollinators. In addition to the stamp issuance, the week’s activities included a lecture and reception featuring Dr. E.O. Wilson, a Pulitzer-Prize-winning scientist and pollinator expert, and the introduction of two pollinator-friendly pieces of legislation in the House and Senate.
More information on pollinators and National Pollinator Week can be found at http://www.pollinator.org.
2. NACD Executive Board Reaches out to States
The NACD Executive Board continues state outreach calls throughout the summer. At least 18 states have held them so far, reaching a wide number of district officials and employees across the country. The topics drawing the most questions have been 2007 Farm Bill, urban conservation and federal appropriations. Questions have also been asked about Stewardship materials, the Region Task Force report and NACD's budget.
All participants expressed appreciation for this opportunity to visit with NACD officers and region leaders by teleconference, noting it helps them better understand what NACD does for them. Contact your state association president or representative to find out when your state's teleconference is scheduled.
3. Agriculture Committee Schedules Farm Bill Action
The House Agriculture Committee has rescheduled its review of the 2007 Farm Bill for July 17, 18 and 19. The committee had originally scheduled action for the end of June. Chairman Peterson (D-MN) has indicated that the committee will review two different proposals, one under current budget limitations and one with additional funding. To increase farm bill spending under the new budget rules, offsets—funding decreases in other programs—must be identified. The Committee has been working to secure additional funding, but it is not yet certain a funding source will be identified.
Meanwhile in the Senate, the Agriculture Committee is working on their proposals for the 2007 Farm Bill and will likely release documents, conservation and other farm bill titles, for review shortly.
4. NACD Online Store Holds Summer Sale-Shop Today!
NACD is hosting a summer sale on our Online Store. Now is a great time to pick up educational materials, wearables, mugs and more at deeply discounted prices! Below is a quick sampling of what’s available.
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Embroidered polos |
Caps with Logo |
Corn Plastic Coffee Mugs |
Embossed Desk Folders |
Educational Products |
Be sure to take advantage of the deep discounts. NACD is clearing off the shelves to make room for new items and materials. The association will be expanding our relationship with FFA and combining our existing online store with the NACD Marketplace, which is used to distribute the 2007 Stewardship materials.
Shop today at http://63.111.49.162/nacd/welcome.asp. Discount prices will apply to orders placed July 4 through August 31.The sale does not apply to 2007 Stewardship materials. Your business is appreciated.
5. NACD Legislative Conference-7 Days Left to Register!
Time is running out to pre-register for NACD’s 2007 Legislative Conference. Registration closes July 10, 2007. The Conference features presentations by agency and Congressional leaders, a Hill Staff Panel, a training workshop by Advocacy Guru Stephanie Vance, a Congressional Reception, tours and much more. Go to http://www.nacdnet.org/meetings/2007Summer/ for more information and to register.
6. America's Voice for Conservation: Speaking out on Land Fragmentation
NACD President Olin Sims discusses land fragmentation in his monthly “America’s Voice for Conservation” address. Fragmentation is occurring on agricultural lands, grazing lands and forested lands. Conservation districts have a heavy load helping these new landowners address their natural resource issues, but they are finding ways to meet the need. Click here to hear what Sims has to say. |
7. Biomass Removal Research Funding Opportunity
As a result of customer needs expressed through its Biomass Removal Roundtable, the Joint Fire Science Program is offering a research funding opportunity for biomass removal. The Announcement for Proposals contains three specific tasks under the broad heading of biomass removal: biomass estimators, biomass removal case studies and economic and financial effects of biomass removal as a fire hazard treatment. The deadline for submitting proposals is July 25, 2007 and funding decisions will be made by the end of July. Complete information, directions and forms can be found at http://www.firescience.gov.
8. USDA Awards Nearly $20 Million in Conservation Innovation Grants
Agriculture Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Mark Rey recently announced the award of nearly $20 million in Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to 36 states to fund 51 projects designed to develop and refine cutting-edge technologies and approaches that can help producers maintain viable agricultural operations.
Among the grant recipients this fiscal year are the Kennebec County Soil and Water Conservation District in Maine, receiving a grant for a pilot project for Energy Audit and Energy Conservation Practice Adoption, and the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts, who received a grant for a Dust Control Unit.
Additional information about CIG, including summaries of approved projects, is available at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig. A chart for a listing of FY 2007 CIG projects (PDF) can be found at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig/2007awards.html.
9. USDA Reports Largest Corn Acreage Planted in 63 Years
U.S. farmers planted 92.9 million acres of corn in 2007, exceeding last year’s planted area by 19 percent and surpassing the March projection by 3 million acres, the Department of Agriculture reports.
Driven by favorable prices, growing ethanol demand and strong export sales, farmers in nearly all states increased their corn acreage, says USDA. They set state records in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and North Dakota, while Iowa continued to lead all states in total corn acres. Most of the corn, cotton and soybeans planted by farmers came from genetically modified seeds. Nearly three-fourths of the corn crop is from biotech seed varieties, 12 percent more than last year. This acreage report by the National Agricultural Statistics Service is available online at www.nass.usda.gov.
10. New Tools Available from EPA
EPA has released tools to help individuals become more environmentally responsible. EPA recently launched its new online consumer newsletter. Known as the Go Green! Newsletter, it will include information on activities and events that everyone can use to make a difference just about anywhere - in homes, workplaces, schools and communities.
This month’s newsletter includes information on how consumers can calculate how individual energy use contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. To calculate your individual energy use, visit http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/powerprofiler. With information from the calculator on their monthly electricity use, consumers can assess their annual emissions. The site also guides users to other web-based information showing how to reduce emissions from one's home or business through greater energy efficiency and use of renewable energy.
To learn more about the Go Green! Newsletter and how to subscribe, visit http://www.epa.gov/newsroom/gogreen.
11. Forestry Notes Online
Check out the June issue of Forestry Notes at http://nacdnet.org/news/publications/forestrynotes/ and, among other items:
- Learn about the booklet “Conservation Districts' Role in Implementing National Fire Plan,” recently produced by NACD in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Department of Interior;
- See more about the handbook for rural landowners developed by a district in Oregon. The handbook offers a variety of tips and facts needed to live successfully in the countryside; and
- Find out whythe U.S. Forest Service and some state forestry agencies are asking campers not bring their own firewood to campgrounds.
12. New Districts on the Web
Listed below are the latest districts to publish websites. Many of them are hosted on our NACD server. As more districts are recognizing the value of a website as a way to better communicate with their customers, NACD is happy to assist them by registering domain names and providing server space. Go to http://nacdnet.org/resources/webhosting/ for information about NACD’s web hosting services or send an email to Linda-Campbell@email.nacdnet.org.