LCNRD hosts meeting for local working group

HARTINGTON — The March 28 Local Working Group meeting was hosted by Lewis & Clark Natural Resources District and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The meeting provides a platform for producers, stakeholders, and partner organizations from Cedar, Knox, and Dixon County to participate in the NRCS conservation planning efforts, to provide input on prioritization of local resource concerns, and to make recommendations to enhance programs and practices available through NRCS. In attendance were 15 local producers and representatives from a number of conservation organizations, including UNL Extension, NE Game and Parks Commission, NE Forest Service, Ponca Tribe of NE, Santee Sioux Nation, and the Farm Service Agency.

The purpose of this meeting was to gather input to adjust USDA programs to better serve local producers and natural resources. The participants act as an advisory committee and their recommendations are passed on to the State Technical Committee for consideration. In LCNRD, we are fortunate to have a number of producers and conservation partners that attend this meeting and share their insight.

Recommendations typically include changes to prioritization tools, cost share rates, addition of new conservation practices or scenarios, etc.

This meeting also provides an opportunity for all local conservation partners to discuss collaboration opportunities for the year ahead.