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NACD Soil Health 2015
NACD: Growing (v) Interest in Soil Health
Bethany ShivelyNACD Director of Communications
509 Capitol Ct, NE, Washington, DC 20002 [email protected]
202.547.6223 www.nacdnet.org
Bill Berry, NACD Communications Specialist
Stevens Point, [email protected]
715.341.9119
NACD Soil Health 2014
National Association of Conservation Districts
• Represents 3,000 conservation districts• Districts are local partner in traditional
conservation partnership• Dust Bowl was first soil health crisis• Soil health is return to our roots• Several NACD leaders are soil health pioneers• Locally-led, voluntary approach
NACD Soil Health 2015
Briefly…
• NACD, districts, partners working on soil health for several years
• Focus today on outreach, education, community engagement, and…
• 2014 CIG– Building team of Soil Health Champions– Cooperating with Datu on four research farms• Farms seek to quantify economic impacts of practices
NACD Soil Health 2015
Focus groups and survey said…
• Need more education• Need more outreach tools• Help producers lead the way• Help identify cost-sharing• Use soil health for weather
adaptation
NACD Soil Health 2015
Challenge and opportunityBig country, small staff
• Districts in many settings• Soil health messages vary
for different landscapes• Maintaining momentum • Educating our own staff• Tracking district activity• Leading from behind
NACD Soil Health 2015
Have a plan
• Developed by Communications staff
• Shared with all staff engaged on soil health
• Used as a tool to meet deliverables
• Doesn’t “reinvent the wheel”
NACD Soil Health 2015
2015 Soil health tour: Spokane
NACD Soil Health 2015
2014 Soil Health Forum, Indianapolis
NACD Soil Health 2015
Our tools and messages
NACD Soil Health 2015
Soil health resources
• Soil Health webpage includes:• Resources for districts
and partners• Education materials
News• Events• Emerging Research
NACD Soil Health 2015
Communications tools
NACD Soil Health 2015
Soil health materials
NACD Soil Health 2015
Then came the CIG
• 150 Soil Health Champions
• “Farmer advocates”• Increase producer and
public awareness• Increase adoption• Including underserved
NACD Soil Health 2015
Soil Health Champions
• Seeking diversity– Farm– Range– Forest– Small acreage– Urban– Limited resource
NACD Soil Health 2015
Soil Health Champions
• NACD developed a nomination process– Soil health practices– Willingness to share experiences– Willingness to have practices showcased
NACD Soil Health 2015
Soil health CIG: Research
Producers want to know economic impacts
NACD Soil Health 2015
In Summary…
• Work smart• Don’t reinvent the wheel• Identify members’ needs• Have a team• Have a plan• Revisit and modify as needed
NACD Soil Health 2015
Growing Interest in Soil HealthBill Berry, NACD communications specialist
Stevens Point, [email protected]
715 341 9119www.nacdnet.org
QUESTIONS?
Bethany ShivelyNACD Director of Communications
509 Capitol Ct, NE, Washington, DC 20002 [email protected]
202.547.6223 www.nacdnet.org
