Tim Palmer, President of the National Association of Conservation Districts, testified before the House Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry about 2020 conservation programs. He detailed the successes and challenges of the programs brought on by COVID-19. Palmer, who farms in Iowa, says it’s vital that the Committee understands how important Conservation Technical Assistance is to the successful implementation of conservation planning and farm bill conservation programs. During his testimony, he highlighted the impact of state and local budget cuts caused by COVID-19 on conservation districts. He also described the success of NACD’s Technical Assistance Grants Program, funded in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, in helping to boost technical capacity in conservation districts across the country. Palmer emphasized the role conservation districts play in coordinating locally-led conservation delivery with NRCS, and that the agency needs greater federal hiring authority to address their staff shortages. “Budget shortfalls or associated budget cuts often trickle down, causing conservation districts to furlough staff members who are often responsible for customer service,” Palmer added.
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