National Association of Conservation Districts

NACD Farm Bill Core Statements

NACD's Farm Bill Core Statements were adopted by the NACD Board of Directors on February 7, 2007.

NACD supports a greater emphasis on working lands conservation programs in the 2007 Farm Bill.

NACD supports maintaining a strong locally led implementation process for all Farm Bill conservation programs. Working lands conservation programs must be accessible for all private working lands. NACD believes in the overarching goals of improved air, water and soil quality, and improved habitat, but techniques for reaching those goals are specific to localized conditions. Efforts to expand the goals of conservation programs, such as providing increased endangered species habitat, should also be left to the decision of local work groups. We do not support bonus funding for states that undertake specific national standards that are program specific.

The delivery of technical assistance is the most critical element to the adoption of conservation practices and participation in Farm Bill conservation programs. NACD supports efficiencies and allocation of assets to allow technical personnel more time in the field.

NACD will work with Congress and USDA on efforts to streamline conservation programs and ensure that landowners have a full range of program options to meet their conservation and resource needs. If the alteration of a conservation program results in a cost savings, that funding must remain within the overall conservation title allocation.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) remains a priority program for NACD. It is important that all private landowners and operators be able to access funding to address environmental resource concerns. Localized priorities and practices should be identified by the local work groups and addressed by the state technical committees supporting the locally led process that is the foundation of conservation districts across the country.

NACD supports Conservation Security Program (CSP) as a working lands conservation incentive program and believes all private landowners and operators should have access to the program. CSP was established as an uncapped program and needs to be funded accordingly.

NACD believes that the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) been very successful in recent years in targeting the most environmentally sensitive lands through Conservation Reserve Enhancement Programs (CREP) and continuous sign-up. In the 2007 Farm Bill we support this continued focus on environmentally sensitive areas and placing more focus on working lands programs rather than large land retirement programs and future general sign-ups under CRP.

NACD supports technical and financial assistance for private, non-industrial forestlands. We believe that these lands and their active management are critical to the resources base of our nation and that this assistance should be integrated into all Farm Bill conservation programs for the benefit of working lands.

NACD supports the development of comprehensive conservation plans for all private working land participating in farm bill programs, and adequate technical assistance funding to develop these plans, including increased technology and self assessments.

NACD supports the continued flexibility of the use of Technical Service Providers (TSP) or third party vendors in the delivery of conservation technical assistance and Farm Bill conservation programs. NACD encourages state associations and districts to participate under the TSP initiative as a part of the conservation delivery system.

In the case that Congress creates an energy crop production program, NACD supports a stand alone energy program with conservation compliance and conservation technical assistance for proper management of the land in this program.

Conservation program funding should be available for landowners that are converting former CRP acres that are not environmentally sensitive into crop rotations and other agricultural uses to maintain proper management of those lands.

Conservation Program Recommendations

• Create an Enhanced Environmental Qualities Incentives Program that combines the working lands programs including Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, Forest Land Enhancement Program, Agricultural Management Assistance and Grasslands Reserve Program.
• Restructure Conservation Security Program into a two tier program, maintaining what is today known as tier II and tier III.
• Maintain an independent Conservation Reserve Program.
• Maintain an independent Wetlands Reserve Program.
• Restructure the easement programs into one program including Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program and the Healthy Forest Reserve Program.

• Support reauthorization of the Great Lakes Basin Program for Sediment and Erosion Control.
• Support reauthorization of the Watershed Rehabilitation Program.
• Support reauthorization of the Resource Conservation and Development Program.