County conservation partners host annual meeting

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Hays County Soil and Water Conservation Districts are seeking input from the public on how to best serve local citizens through Farm Bill conservation programs and technical assistance.

The public is invited to attend their Fiscal Year 2024 Local Working Group meeting on March 30, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. This meeting — hosted in Dripping Springs at 2715 Gatlin Creek Road — is an opportunity to bring farmers, ranchers, conservationists and others together to discuss natural resource needs and set local conservation priorities.

The information gathered at these listening sessions helps provide NRCS and the districts the necessary technical and financial support to help land managers make on-the ground management decisions that produce positive ecological outcomes at the local and state level. This input helps determine collaborative efforts for natural resource priorities and identifies opportunities to address them with conservation practices that improve soils, watershed health, biodiversity and farmers’ livelihoods.

Conservation stakeholders and others interested in obtaining federal technical and financial assistance to improve private land in Hays County are encouraged to participate in this meeting. For additional information, contact Kenda Thompson-Grosenbacher, district conservationist, at (512) 392-4050 or via email at kenda. thompson-grosenbacher@ usda.gov. A request for accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting. For more, visit the NRCS website at tx.nrcs. usda.gov.