NRCS
Natural Resources Conservation Service is inviting the public to participate in a Local Work Group (LWG) meeting at 1 p.m. April 5 at Hays Public Library, 1205 Main. The meeting will last approximately two hours. This LWG meeting will be focusing on Ellis, Russell and Trego counties.
The purpose of the meeting is to gather information and make recommendations to the NRCS State Conservationist, as well as other state and local leaders, related to addressing natural resource concerns identified at local level. The recommendations gathered locally, as well as a consolidated report for the entire state of Kansas, will be shared with all interested parties.
“LWGs are important because they provide recommendations on local and state natural resource priorities and criteria for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation activities and programs. It is critical that the ‘boots on the ground’ have a voice in the process,” said Dan Meyerhoff, KACD executive director.
Topics to be covered at the LWG meeting will include:
- A review of a resource assessment completed by each Conservation District in the Management Unit.
- Identification of local priority resource concerns
- Training Needs in the Management Unit
- Outreach Opportunities in the Management Unit
- Other issues raised by meeting attendees
The NRCS would like the local workgroup to be diverse, and is hoping to include agricultural producers representing the variety of crops and livestock raised within the local area; representatives of agricultural and environmental organizations; governmental agencies carrying out agricultural and natural resource conservation and activities as well as anyone from the general public with an interest in their community’s natural resources. The LWG can also take into account concerns of particular historically underserved groups and individuals including but not limited to women, persons with disabilities, socially disadvantaged, and limited resource group.