The National Association of Conservation Districts applauds the appointment of Aubrey Bettencourt to serve as Chief of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. Bettencourt will lead NRCS staff and conservation programs that provide critical resources and technical assistance to America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners to invest in their operations to improve working lands conservation, increase the competitiveness of American agriculture, and improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitats.
“Our country’s 3,000 local conservation districts play a vital role in the effective administration of NRCS conservation programs, and they stand ready to work closely with Chief Bettencourt to serve our producers and champion the effectiveness of voluntary, locally led conservation,” says National Association of Conservation Districts President Gary Blair. “Her experience in farming, conservation, and government programs will enable her to be highly effective.” Bettencourt is a third-generation farmer and recently worked for an irrigation technology firm.
