In 1932, an event named the “Dust Bowl” devastated the Great Plains. Persistent drought caused widespread crop failures and with the soil exposed the winds picked it up causing large dust storms. These storms became more frequent and intense. Dr. Hugh Bennett, the Father of Soil Science, began
explaining the storms and offering a solution, urging Congress to create a permanent soil conservation agency. On April 27, 1935, President Roosevelt signed the Soil Conservation Act creating the Soil Conservation Service (SCS). This act gave states a step-by-step guide to create conservation districts and listing their powers and responsibilities.
In 1937, the first Soil Conservation District (SCD)was organized in the Brown Creek watershed in North Carolina. Now, there are nearly 3,000 Conservation districts in all 50 states and have a more powerful national voice than ever before.
The National Association of Conservation Districts ( NACD) and conservation districts have continued developing long-term goals focused on locally-led, voluntary conservation, providing leadership in communities, and on Capitol Hill.
NACD is the unified voice for conservation districts through grassroots advocacy, educating future generations, improving district capacity, providing networking opportunities and leadership training, and supporting outreach to underserved communities.
With the reorganization of the USDA in 1994, the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) was renamed the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) which offers technical and financial assistance to farmers and ranchers. The financial assistance is authorized by the “Farm Bill”, a law that is renewed every five years. NRCS offers these services to private land owners, conservation districts, tribes, and other types of organizations. NRCS also collects and shares information on the nation’s soil, water, air, and plants.
Watch this great video below!
“One of the best, and certainly the most promising, of the devices yet invented by man for dealing democratically and effectively with maladjustment in land use, as well as for carrying forward positive programs of desirable conservation, and for maintaining the work, is the soil conservation district.” – Hugh Hammond Bennett
