opinion
Conservation Should be Locally Led Guest Column by Jimmy Bramblett
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need for local leadership in natural resources management was one of the most important factors leading to the establishment of Conservation Districts almost 80 years ago. Wisconsin has a proud history of leading this locally-led effort through a 1934 Soil Conservation Demonstration Project in the Coon Creek Watershed (Vernon County). Shortly thereafter, the federal Soil Conservation Service was formed and local Conservation Districts were created as a local focal point for coordinating and delivering technical assistance and prioritizing conservation funding to private landowners based on local conditions and needs. Multiple legislative enactments by Congress in the mid-to-late 1980s changed how the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, formerly Soil Conservation Service) addressed conservation and natural resource management needs. Programs were largely driven by national priorities and
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Rural Route
federal conservation efforts focused on a narrower range of natural resource concerns. Fortunately, the Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (the 1996 Farm Bill) signaled a shift back to the original idea of locally led conservation. Subsequent farm bills have further reinforced this return to locally led conservation. During Federal Fiscal Year 2013, NRCS in Wisconsin obligated more than $35 million for new conservation investments with farmers across the state. In fact, there are currently more than 5,100 farmers working to install over $120 million worth of conservation practices on their farms. Despite recent farm bills, farmers and other local conservation partners in Wisconsin have expressed concerns about these investments. Specifically, private landowners and other local conservation interests have indicated a desire for more input to help prioritize conservation funding based on local conditions and needs. In response, NRCS in Wisconsin will fully embrace this original, and recently reinforced, concept of locally led voluntary conservation. Farmers and other private landowners will be invited to participate in Local Work Groups (LWGs) this summer. LWGs include local USDA representatives, local University of Wisconsin-Extension representatives, local farmers and others with an interest in voluntary local conservation. Each LWG will receive a minimum amount of federal dollars through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to determine local priorities including, but not limited to: Funding Allocations: LWGs will be asked to identify what “type� of funding is desired. Choices will include cropland,
pasture, forest and farmstead (i.e. barnyards) at a minimum. It is reasonable to speculate LWGs in the far northwoods might like most of their funding to address forestry needs as an example; while LWGs in the Fox Valley area may want a mix of cropland and farmstead funding. The bottom line is LWGs (including local farmers) will prioritize what type of funding they receive based on local conditions and needs. Practices Desired: In addition to making decisions on what type of funds each LWG should receive, LWG participants will also highlight the most appropriate conservation practices for their area. For example, a LWG choosing to receive pasture funds might want to prioritize the conservation practice pasture and hayland planting (now called forage and biomass planting) or watering facility for livestock. LWGs will be given an opportunity to request practices based on fund types solicited to address their local concerns. Prioritization of Applications: Each application is also prioritized for funding based on a set of national priorities, state priorities and local priorities. LWGs can set local questions to help ensure conservation dollars are directed to fund types requested and practices desired. In short, successful voluntary conservation works best when it is locally-led. LWG meetings will be widely publicized so you can participate. We look forward to working with you and learning from you on how conservation in your area should be locally led. Bramblett is the state conservationist for the USDA – Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Wisconsin farm bureau federation