This document discusses ways that conservation districts can engage with historically underserved groups like beginning farmers, limited resource farmers, and socially disadvantaged producers. It provides examples of conservation districts that have successfully partnered with these groups. The RCD of San Diego County manages community gardens with Latino and Asian immigrant farmers. The Kenton County CD in Kentucky helped secure funding to address deadly flooding. The Taos SWCD in New Mexico assists centuries-old indigenous irrigation groups. The Cuyahoga SWCD in Ohio worked with urban farmers and changed national NRCS policy. The Charleston SWCD in South Carolina protected natural resources and improved human health. The document advocates that conservation has a social dimension and local work can create national change.

1. Bill Berry, NACD communications specialist
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
billnick@charter.net
715 341 9119
www.nacdnet.org
Connecting with
Historically Underserved Customers
SWCS 2014
Lombard, Illinois

2. According to NRCS…
• The term "historically underserved" refers to
groups that have not participated in or that in
the past have received limited benefits from
USDA programs. These are:
– Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
– Limited Resource Farmer or Rancher
– Socially Disadvantaged Producers

3. Conservation districts
• Have a broader base
• Address local issues
– Array of settings
• Urban, suburban, exurban, interfaces
• Rural
– Agriculture
– Forestry
– Driven by local resource needs

4. NACD 2014 Report
• Captures work of districts
across US
• Includes tips on how to
engage
• Broadening partnerships
• Underscores that we are a
diverse nation

5. Findings
–Know your customers’ needs
–Be persistent
–Collaborate
–Conservation has a social services
dimension
–Local work can create national change
–Diversity is us

6. RCD of San Diego County
Community Garden

7. San Diego RCD gardens
• District manages with county
• 136 plots in Tijuana River Valley park
• Latinos, Hmong & other Asians
• Gardeners pay $100 per year (water and fence)
• Gardeners provide in‐kind services translating
quarterly newsletters
• District also clearing house for gardening info for
K‐12 teachers
• District receives county funding for programs

8. Kenton County CD, Kentucky
‘A matter of Life and Death’

9. Kenton County flooding
• Deadly flooding of Banklick Creek
• District engaged since 1960s (dams)
• Sought NRCS funding in 2009, didn’t receive
• Sought FEMA funding in 2011, received in ’13
• $2 million FEMA, $578,000 state
• 41 properties sold to county
• Conservation easement on land for floodplain

10. Taos SWCD, New Mexico
Serving centuries‐old irrigation organizations

11. Taos SWCD irrigation
• Communal systems called “acequias”
• Pre‐date Declaration of Independence
• Political subdivisions of state
• Vital to low‐income subsistence farmers,
ranchers in desert setting
• District staff assists with improvements to
ditches, pipelines, diversion gates, dams
• District has local levy authority

12. Cuyahoga SWCD, Ohio
Local need changes national policy
Avon Standard, first to receive NRCS incentive payment

13. Cuyahoga SWCD
• Saw needs of Cleveland residents in food
deserts
• 3,000 vacant lots = urban agriculture
• State Conservationist Terry Cosby reached out
to US Rep. Marcia Fudge
• Sought EQIP funds for urban high tunnels
• More than 50 high tunnels built
• NRCS now funds nationally

14. Charleston SWCD, SC
Protecting resources, helping people

15. Charleston SWCD
• Sewee to Santee Watershed failing septics
• Impacted humans and shellfish beds (closed)
• District used EPA 319 grant to repair or replace
more than 20 septic systems
• Also BMPs for farms, pet waste, marine
sanitary waste
• ‘Our Connected Coast’ outreach
• State reopened shellfish beds in 2011

16. “When you help those in
need, you help the whole
community and generations
to come.”
Bill Berry, NACD communications specialist
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
billnick@charter.net
715 341 9119
www.nacdnet.org
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