NCGA
Joins U.S. Landcare Initiative to Promote Responsible Conservation (9-17-04)
In an effort to promote conservation among farmers and their communities,
the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) recently joined the
U.S. Landcare Initiative, a nonprofit organization that promotes
local conservation.
“Farmers have practiced innovative conservation for decades,
conserving and enhancing America’s soil, water and wildlife
resources, and will continue to do so long into the future,” said
Leon Corzine, NCGA first vice president. “We want to share
our efforts in conservation and encourage farmers and other landowners
to do more.”
NCGA is the first farm commodity organization to join the initiative,
which strives to promote and enhance conservation ethics across
the United States. According to the U.S. Landcare Initiative, recent
surveys show 86 percent of Americans have a keen interest in conservation
of natural resources, yet only a small fraction are aware of private
and public sector investments. The campaign will encourage partnerships
between landowners and communities, businesses and government.
Mike Brubaker, U.S.
Landcare Initiative’s executive director
thanked NCGA for its support of the initiatives goals of conservation. “U.S.
Landcare welcomes the support of NCGA as it works to forge public/private
partnerships to encourage and expand a voluntary, community conservation
ethic throughout the nation,” said Brubaker. “Our partnership
with the corn growers, who have demonstrated their commitment to
protecting our environment, is a natural and important alliance
for U.S. Landcare. We look forward to working together as active
stewards of our natural resources.”
“Corn growers are excited about Landcare and will be working
to spread the word about the initiative to all farmers .NCGA especially
encourages other farm organizations to learn about Landcare and
to become involved in this special effort,” Corzine said.
The U.S. Landcare Initiative will recruit corporate sponsors interested
in participating in local conservation efforts and will match these
sponsors with projects and communities to address local natural
resource issues. In addition, the initiative will help communities
create their own Landcare organizations to address local concerns.
Earlier this week, NCGA Director of Policy Betsy Croker attended
the Landcare Pioneers meeting in Philadelphia, Penn. The pioneers
are a group of people dedicated to conservation who are coordinating
the development of the initiative here in the United States.
NCGA is encouraging its members and their communities to get involved
with the U.S. Landcare Initiative. For more information, go to
www.landcareusa.com.