Conservation districts discuss many topics at Lubbock meeting

LUBBOCK – From feral hogs to the Gulf oil spill to irrigation practices, members of the South Central region of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) recently covered a wide array of topics at an annual three-day meeting. The focus of the meeting was to update participants on NACD news, legislative outlooks and various conservation issues facing the region.

Soil and water conservation district board members from Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas meet each year to discuss issues and policies concerning soil and water conservation.

“We were excited to have the opportunity to host this year’s meeting,” said Scott Buckles, president of the Association of Texas Soil and Water Conservation Districts. “This meeting is about dissemination of information, discussing issues and updating members.”

NACD CEO Jeff Eisenberg and NACD president elect, Gene Schmidt, both stressed the influence a grassroots organization can have on legislative action. Schmidt mentioned the significant contribution agriculture makes to the American economy and commended conservation districts for their financial transparency.

“Dollars spent for conservation are among the most accountable dollars spent period,” Schmidt said. “We do have some friends in Washington (D.C.) and they are fighting for our cause but we must continue to stand up and speak out about conservation.”
Josh Winegarner, Texas Cattle Feeders Association director of government relations, spoke to the audience about upcoming Environmental Protection Agency agendas and regulations along with legislation concerning agriculture, conservation and environmental issues.

Participants heard reports on measures soil and water conservation districts in Louisiana are taking to combat the Deepwater Horizon oil leak and its impact on natural resources. An invasive species panel with members from all four states gave reports on various threats to natural resources from respective areas including Eastern Red Cedar trees and feral hogs.

“The ecological landscape of Texas is as diverse as the citizens so developing an idea of what is truly an invasive species is challenging,” said panel member Johnny Oswald, Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board – Water Quality Enhancement Program supervisor. “Feral hogs, Carrizo Cane Chinese Tallon, Giant Salvinia and salt cedar trees are on the top of most Texans list of invasive species. Hearing about other states’ challenges allows productive discussions to occur.”

Don Gohmert, state conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Texas reported on NRCS programs and the continued need for more statewide conservation awareness.

In addition to the sessions, field trips to the USDA Agricultural Research Service Center in Lubbock and to a local cotton producer’s farm gave the participants the opportunity to see conservation practices and research in action.

“The sessions were extremely productive and having the meeting here in Lubbock gave folks a chance to see some things they might not normally see,” said Buckles, citing the above average rainfall causing higher projected cotton yields.
The group had the opportunity to visit with a cotton producer who is implementing conservation practices on his farms and is also using efficient irrigation technology to reduce water runoff..

The Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board is the lead agency for planning, implementing, and managing programs and practices for preventing and abating agricultural and silvicultural non-point source water pollution. The Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board also coordinates the programs of the state’s 216 soil and water conservation districts and administers a Water Supply Enhancement Program.
For more information about the Texas Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts visit http://www.tsswcb.state.tx.us/en/swcds/atswcd. For more information about NACD visit www.nacdnet.org/ or call (202) 547-NACD (6223).