Building trust in food begins with empowering farmers through one of the largest and most diverse conservation- and sustainability-focused public-private partnerships in our nation’s history: America’s Conservation Ag Movement. To find the latest news and resources related to the Movement, visit AgWeb.com/ACAM.
An old adage suggests it’s lonely at the top for leaders — including farmers, who often operate with lean teams and grueling hours. But when it comes to making conservation work for your farm, you’re in good company: Overseeing the dozens of state conservationists and hundreds of field staff of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service are four regional conservationists. Their passion for helping farmers runs as deep as their commitment to stewarding soil and water. The conservationists maintain close contact both with leadership on the ground and in Washington, D.C. They support the implementation of farm bill programs and help guide near- and long-term conservation strategy. Here’s a quick primer on each of the leaders. By Nate Birt
West Region: Astor Boozer
Serving in This Role Since: 2011
I grew up on a cow-calf operation with small truck crop production and forestland management. My early memories of conservation were rotational grazing and forest management. My father always said, “If you take care of the land, it will take care of you.” Working the land, water, soil resource and habitat are all our responsibility.
While here in the D.C. area, weekends associated with conservation are more related to my yard and overall management and water quality. Drains on the street flow into the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
In the West Region, some of the unique conservation resource considerations facing producers are water quantity and quality, drought, fires and invasive species. We help landowners address these issues through direct conservation planning. We have accomplished major projects associated with water quality and quantity by partnering with state, county and federal agencies.
In the future, I hope to see more adoption of soil health management practices. It continues to inspire me to see conservation practices implemented that save a farmer’s operation and secure the future of it for his or her sons and daughters.
Central Region: Salvador Salinas
Serving in This Role Since: 2020
My father was a district director on the Starr County Soil and Water Conservation District in Texas. I remember NRCS (formerly the Soil Conservation Service) personnel developing a conservation plan with my father on the family ranch. We first installed a terrace system, which still stands today.
I saw firsthand the benefits of a conservation plan and the technical assistance NRCS staff provided my father. With livestock water distribution systems and prescribed grazing, I saw gullies heal and witnessed healthy cattle and native grasses return to the ranch. Because of those changes, precision brush management and wildlife upland habitat management practices, I’ve seen the number and quality of deer, quail, doves and turkeys increase on the ranch.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic spread like wildfire, affecting meatpacking plant workers and causing plant closures. Swine producers with pigs ready for market did not have a place to market their pigs. We quickly developed a program to help producers that depopulated their pig production. This effort is an example of true collaboration between NRCS, APHIS, swine producers and other local, federal and state agencies.
Southeast Region: James Tillman
Serving in This Role Since: 2014
I have always loved the outdoors. My family and grandparents, who lived in the same neighborhood in Arkansas, always had a garden. My parents made sure we respected the land. They would say, “Boys, this land is ours. Take care of it.”
Many of the challenges in the Southeast Region include irrigation needs, grazing lands and managing the forestlands. NRCS has developed conservation strategies to address irrigation concerns by retrofitting systems and providing certified foresters to work one-on-one with landowners to maximize forestry resources.
Recently, I visited with a farmer who had moved to Georgia. He used all of his available funds to purchase a small farm for his family. After a few years of marginal crop production, he was on the verge of losing the farm. A neighbor suggested he visit with NRCS. As a result, he was approved for an Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) contract and implemented some critical irrigation practices, which allowed his crops to get the needed moisture at the right time of crop growth.
My experiences with this farmer and others remind me how fortunate I am to be able to work right there in the trenches with America’s farmers and ranchers.
Northeast Region: Terrell Erickson
Serving in This Role Since: 2018
I grew up in the woods — a pine forest up a canyon near Missoula, Mont. The outside was my life, and it shaped my passion about conservation of animals, plants and water. Today, I have a fishpond and have planted 100 local native plant species around our home. I enjoy a vegetable garden every year. My husband runs a nonprofit native plant nursery.
In the Northeast Region, water quality is a top priority. We have the Chesapeake Bay, the Great Lakes and Western Lake Erie Basin and Lake Champlain. A second issue is food deserts, both rural and urban. Third, urban agriculture is happening, with state conservationists taking on projects to bring healthy living to the cities. Fourth, forestry and wildlife conservation must persist. Fifth, livestock operations need our continued help.
NRCS has more than 170 conservation practices for farmers. We must continue to promote and implement these practices with farmers.
It’s been a remarkable year of struggle, yet great conservation work has happened. The most noteworthy experience for me has been watching farmers be creative, switch gears, diversify their operations and expand their conservation work. Thank you, farmers — continue on!
