National RC&D Week

New York Federation of Resource Conservation & Development Councils Celebrates National RC&D Week-September 23-29, 2007

Bernardina C. Torrey, president of the NY Federation of RC&D's pictured with Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand (NY-20). Rep. Gillibrand has been a strong advocate for RC&D councils and has co-sponsored legislation to continue funding of the RC&D program."

The New York Federation of Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Councils join the 375 RC&D Councils across the country in celebrating "RC&D Week". RC&D week was declared in recognition of the anniversary of the designation of the first 10 RC&D areas. In the past 43 years the program has grown from 10 designated areas to 375 designated areas that cover over 85% of the United States and its territories, and 100% of the area in New York. RC&D councils work in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service on community projects.

Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand (NY 20), a member of the House Agriculture Committee, showed her support for the program by saying, "RC&D's are a great value. With a little bit of funding through the USDA, local RC&D's leverage those dollars 8 times over through volunteers and private and public funding sources to address the economic development and conservation needs of their communities."

Bernardina C. Torrey, President of the New York Federation of RC&D’s and vice-chair of the Hudson Mohawk RC&D Council stated, "Agricultural based businesses and farmers play a key role in protecting the environment in addition to strengthening the state’s economic base with the practice of sustainable agricultural management. RC&D projects in New York helps these farmers and others."

The NY Federation of RC&Ds is an umbrella organization representing the eight local RC&Ds in New York State including: Lake Plains, Seneca Trail, Finger Lakes, Lower Hudson-Long Island, Hudson Mohawk, Black River St. Lawrence, Central New York, and the Greater Adirondack RC&D Councils. The mission of The New York Federation of Resource Conservation & Development Councils is to coordinate and support local, state, regional and national priorities for resource, conservation and development.

In addition to supporting RC&D Councils in New York, the NY Federation has been involved in a venison donation program. Deer hunters and farmers can donate venison to be processed and distributed to help feed those in need throughout New York State. Because donated deer must be professionally processed, the NY Federation of RC&Ds, in partnership with NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the Venison Donation Coalition has coordinated a program where legally harvested and properly field-dressed deer can be taken to participating processors at no cost to the hunter or farmer. Custom processors are recruited to participate and paid to process the donated deer. The venison is processed and packaged according to the Environmental Conservation Law. This highly nutritious meat is picked up by Food Banks for delivery to soup kitchens, food pantries, and needy families throughout New York. Since 1999, over 400,000 pounds of venison has been donated in New York State representing approximately 1.6 million meals. For more information about the program or to find out how to donate venison, please visit www.venisondonation.org

Resource Conservation and Development Councils are made up of volunteers who serve their communities in all 50 states and US territories. RC&D Councils identify, address and solve the challenges needed to sustain and improve the quality of life in their own communities. To learn more about the New York Federation of RC&D’s and about your local RC&D Council visit www.nyrcd.org

To find the RC&D Council in your area, click on your county on the map above.

What is the RC&D program?

Over 40 years ago, Congress established a unique program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture called the Resource Conservation and Development Program (RC&D) that empowered rural people to help themselves. First authorized in 1962 through the Food and Agriculture Act (P.L. 87-703), the RC&D program was created to carry out projects for natural resource conservation and community development. Projects relate to the following four areas: (1) Land Conservation (2) Community Development (3) Land Management and (4) Water Management.

The purpose of the RC&D Program is to encourage and improve the capability of volunteer and local elected and civic leaders in designated RC&D Areas to plan and carry out project activities. Such activities lead to sustainable communities, prudent land use and the sound management and conservation of natural resources. To carry out the RC&D concept, diverse groups of local volunteers (The RC&D Council) are brought together in a unique partnership to find solutions to their problems The focus on local direction and control has made RC&D one of the most successful rural development programs of the Federal Government.

Partnership With USDA NRCS

Partial funding for the RC&D program is derived from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. This funding supports one staff position for each council, clerical support and office expenses. Congress created this public/private partnership as a way of engaging local leaders to promote their local economy by leveraging limited federal dollars. Projects, and in some cases additional staff, are funded through grants and community partnerships.

Nationally, there are 375 RC&D Areas serving 85% of the counties in the United States. Most of the remaining 15% of the country has applied for inclusion in the RC&D program and is pending approval from the Secretary of Agriculture. In New York there are 8 RC&D Councils covering all counties in the state.

New York Federation of RC&Ds

The NY Federation of RC&Ds is an umbrella organization representing the eight local RC&Ds in New York State including: Lake Plains, Seneca Trail, Finger Lakes, Lower Hudson-Long Island, Hudson Mohawk, Black River St. Lawrence, Central New York, and the Greater Adirondack RC&D Councils. The mission of The New York Federation of Resource Conservation & Development Councils is to coordinate and support local, state, regional and national priorities for resource, conservation and development.