NACD Hits Success Stories During Missouri Meetings

Conservation is a top priority farmers and ranchers across the nation.  Agriculturists have been a part of voluntary conservation practices for decades.  Last week, the National Association of State Conservation agencies met in Branson, Missouri.

NACD President, Lee McDaniel was one of the key note speakers.  His message centered around sustaining voluntary conservation practices on our farms and ranches, which they have had in place since the 1930s.

“And we have a success story to tell there.  We didn’t need regulation then, and I would say we don’t need it now as well.  One thing with voluntary conservation and not mandatory I think you get more for getting conservation on the ground, because it’s the carrot approach rather than the stick approach.”

McDaniel said results are typically better in a voluntary program, because participants want to join, compared to when standards are mandated from the government.  McDaniel added they also must to a better job sharing their story with the ag and non-ag community alike how conservation benefits the environments, nearby communities and others.

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