National Association of Conservation Districts

National Association of Conservation Districts

NACD's mission is to serve conservation districts by providing national leadership and a unified voice for natural resource conservation.

Letters

March 5, 2007 – Agriculture Appropriations Funding Request

TO:

 Senator Herb Kohl, Chair, Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration, Committee on Appropriations
  Senator Bob Bennett, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Food and Drug Administration, Committee on Appropriations
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Chair, Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development,and Food and Drug Administration, Committee on Appropriations
Congressman Jack Kingston, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Food and Drug Administration, Committee on Appropriations

Dear Chairpersons and Ranking Members:

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) represents the nation's 3,000 conservation districts. Conservation districts are local units of government established under state law to carry out natural resource management programs at the local level. They work with state and federal partners on a daily basis to ensure local delivery of conservation programs.

Conservation districts have existed for more than 60 years. In that time they have worked on a variety of conservation programs, issues and special initiatives, all with the single goal of conserving our natural resources. One basic program that USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) was founded on is still in existence today, Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA).

The CTA program provides the technical capability; including, conservation planning, design and implementation assistance that helps people plan and apply conservation to the land. This can be accomplished with out direct financial assistance. There is a strong demand for technical assistance from producers and landowners.

NACD respectfully requests that through the Conservation Operations account in the agriculture appropriations bill CTA be funded at a $903 million. Funding for this program has reached critical lows. Adequate funding for CTA ensures that each state and local conservation district has the flexibility to address natural resource concerns that are unique to their state or local area.

In the near future conservation districts from your area will be following up with you to provide specific information on CTA and the positive impact this increase in funding would have. In the mean time if you should have additional questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Olin Sims
NACD President



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