NACD

This week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack appointed eight new members to the Forest Resource Coordinating Committee (FRCC). These members join the committee’s already appointed members, including conservation districts representative Doug Rushton from Washington, and the heads of four USDA agencies—Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, and the National Institute of Food and… [...]

To read more click here.

Early registration is now available for the Annual Gathering of the Women's Farm & Forestry Alliance (WFFA) on March 11-12 at the Saint Paul Hotel in St. Paul, Minn. This event is a gathering of leading women in agriculture and forestry, and it provides an opportunity to build new relationships. In addition, attendees can share… [...]

To read more click here.

The USDA Forest Service and NRCS have opened nominations for this year’s Two Chief’s Partnership Award. The awards recognize outstanding forestry and conservation employees or officials who have worked together to support conservation and forest stewardship. Nominees must have worked jointly, for a minimum of six months, to enhance forestry-related conservation with at least two… [...]

To read more click here.

This weekend, the Western Governors’ Association (WGA) held its annual winter meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz. NACD Western Issues Specialist Mark Truax participated in the meeting, which was focused on forests, wildfire and energy development. Saturday afternoon focused on the need for quick action to wildfire and forest health. In addition to remarks from governors, presenters… [...]

To read more click here.

Monday, the U. S. Supreme Court heard arguments on the “forest roads” case. Under the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision, timber operations are now considered point source pollution, rather than nonpoint source pollution, and are subject to stormwater permits under the Clean Water Act. NACD supports forest roads as nonpoint source pollution and has… [...]

To read more click here.

Last week, the Forests in the Farm Bill Coalition (FIFB) sent a letter to Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) calling for the passage of a five-year Farm Bill. The letter cited that the nation’s forests and the associated forest industry employ over 900,000 people in… [...]

To read more click here.

Last week, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) held its annual meeting in Milwaukee, Wis. The meeting covered a wide range of topics on sustainable forestry, including forestry and water restoration, partners and bioenergy. NACD Western Issues Specialist Mark Truax attended and presented at the conference. Truax, speaking to the SFI Implementation Committees (SICs), outlined how… [...]

To read more click here.

On August 1, NACD issued a press release applauding the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for its bipartisan passage of legislation to preserve the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 35 years of successful regulation of forest roads under the Clean Water Act (CWA). H.R. 2541, reported unanimously out of Committee last week, would overturn a… [...]

To read more click here.

The NACD Forest Resource Policy Group (RPG) gathered in Missoula, Mont. last week for a joint meeting with the National Association of State Foresters’ (NASF) Forest Resources Management Committee. The meeting also included numerous federal and state agencies and non-governmental organizations. Attendees were treated to a welcome reception at Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation headquarters. The… [...]

To read more click here.

On July 16, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan released an agroforestry handbook to help farmers and woodland owners establish, manage, and market agroforestry projects that are both profitable and sustainable. This first-of-its kind handbook, “Profitable Farms and Woodlands,” helps to guide producers through five main agroforestry practices: alley cropping, forest farming, riparian buffer strips, silvopasture,… [...]

To read more click here.