Today, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) President Gary Blair provided testimony at the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing regarding “Perspectives from the Field, Part 4: Conservation.”
“Getting funding to local communities to assist producers with conservation plans and implement beneficial practices remains a mutual priority,” said President Blair. “NACD’s historic partnership is a prime example of ‘Farmers First’—local leadership, local priorities, and local decision-making are at the heart of our conservation delivery system.”
Producer demand for technical assistance and conservation programs is at an all-time high. In his testimony, President Blair emphasized the importance of maintaining adequate staffing levels in local offices. A lack of capacity can become a bottleneck in administering important financial assistance contracts to producers. He also emphasized the importance of conservation technical assistance in delivering important services to local communities across the country.
“Voluntary, incentive-based, and locally led Farm Bill conservation programs have long been cost-effective tools for helping landowners improve the health and productivity of their lands,” said NACD CEO Jeremy Peters. “Financial assistance offered through conservation programs is an investment in our nation’s lands and benefits the local communities.”
NACD’s top Farm Bill priority is to integrate Inflation Reduction Act investments into the Farm Bill conservation programs. Along with 120 conservation and agriculture groups, NACD recently requested $1.2 billion in Fiscal Year 2026 conservation operations funding, which also funds Conservation Technical Assistance nationwide.
To see President Gary Blair’s full testimony, click here, and to see the full hearing click here.
