Attend HCSWCD’s Local Working Group 2024

In case you missed it

For those that could not make the meeting, you can access the recording of the meeting and view the presentations that were given at the 2024 Local Working Group (LWG) meeting:

• View the LWG meeting here on our recorded Zoom link.

• Here is the NRCS presentation by District Conservationist, Lyndsay Johnston-Fennell.

• Here is the HCSWCD presentation given by Board of Supervisors Chair, Mark Whiting.

Save the date for HCSWCD’s 2024 Local Working Group

• Date: Thursday, November 21st, 2024

• Time: 6-8pm

• Location: Ellsworth Extension Office, 63 Boggy Brook Road

• Also available on Zoom

• Register online, or call 207-667-8663, or email hcswcdinfo@hancockcountyswcd.org

We are holding our 2024 Local Working Group on Thursday, November 21st at 6pm at the Ellsworth Extension office (and on zoom).

The Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District (HCSWCD) and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) would like your help in identifying natural resource priorities for local NRCS farm bill programs. These programs provide local farmers, forest managers and other natural resource producers with federal funding to improve and protect natural resources on agricultural and forest land. Your input will help determine how federal farm bill funds are prioritized in Hancock County, and directly impact the resources available to local producers.

You are invited to join this year’s Local Working Group for:

• Introductions and Pizza & Beverages.

• Presentations from HSCWCD and the NRCS as to programs and statistics for our county.

• Breakout discussions on natural resource priorities.

Planning to attend? Here’s what you need:

• Register by phone 207-667-8663, email hcswcdinfo@hancockcounty.org, or register online.

• Review important documents:

  • Last year’s minutes

  • This years Agenda (also listed below)

Thank you, and we hope to see you there! Please make sure to register so we order enough pizza for all.

Sincerely,

Hancock County Soil & Water Conservation District Staff and Board

AGENDA - HCSWCD’s Local Working Group Agenda: November 21, 2024

6:00 PM Call to Order, Hancock Co. SWCD

• Introductions (and Pizza)

• Overview of Local Working Group Meeting

  • Purpose

  • The District - What do we do?

  • USDA – NRCS past prioritizations

• Conservation Program Delivery Update in Hancock County, NRCS District Conservationist

6:45 PM Breakout discussions

• Top three natural resource priorities and desired outcomes for Local Fund Pool percentages for FY25:

  • Crop – 45%

  • Pasture – 5%

  • AgWaste – 10%

  • Forestry – 40%

7:30 PM Group reports

• Groups report back

• Next steps

• Wrap up

8:00 PM Adjourn

About

Hancock County SWCD is a non-profit organization that provides local conservation leadership, encourages best practices, and helps to plan and implement voluntary programs. The District works alongside willing landowners to implement incentive-based voluntary conservation practices to conserve clean water and healthy soil.  

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that provides conservation technical assistance to farmers, private landowners, conservation districts, tribes, and other organizations.

Save your spot at this year’s LWG:

Register online, or call 207-667-8663, or Email hcswcdinfo@hancockcountyswcd.org