Statewide Local Working Group

Purpose
Local Working Groups (LWG) are a key part of NRCS’ locally-led conservation process. They provide essential input to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Conservation Districts (CDs) on the most important natural resource concerns and management strategies in their region. NRCS and the CDs use these recommendations to develop conservation solutions and in the case of NRCS to guide the agency’s technical and financial assistance programs. While LWG meetings were formerly conducted at the county level, MACD, in coordination with NRCS, has developed a statewide LWG process involving wide-ranging representation at a single annual meeting.  
Participation
In general, anyone who can provide input on agricultural and natural resource concerns in their community can participate in the Statewide Local Working Group process. That may include various types of agricultural producers, nonindustrial private forest landowners, professionals representing relevant agricultural and conservation interests, and others who are familiar with natural resource concerns in their community.
Agenda
The 2024 Statewide Local Working Group meeting will begin with a brief overview of NRCS programming and a summary of the results from last year’s Local Working Group. The bulk of the meeting will then be devoted to a discussion of natural resource concerns among participants split into breakout groups. There will be two breakout sessions: one organized by sector– cropland, forestry, livestock, aquaculture, urban ag, etc.—and by one organized by region/county. An open discussion amongst all participants will follow, and the meeting will conclude with an outline of next steps.
Outcomes
Understanding which issues are considered most important to local stakeholders helps NRCS identify program funding needs for Massachusetts’ various communities, as well as conservation practices most useful to each region of the state. In addition, by giving a voice to diverse communities, the LWG process ensures that the agency is aware of all resource concerns and management strategies that include new technologies or innovative approaches. Following the Statewide LWG meeting, all input will be compiled, analyzed, and summarized in a final summary report containing recommendations for both NRCS and the conservation districts. The report will be publicly available. The summary reports from the past two meetings can be accessed on the MACD website here.

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For more information, contact Austin Miles, MACD Outreach Coordinator: [email protected]