Communication Campaigns Focused on Grasslands, Wetlands, and Water Quality

The RWBJV worked closely with multiple Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) and local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) staff to highlight grassland enhancement opportunities, as well as water quality and quantity conservation practices available through NRCS’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and other partner programs. Twelve different strategic mailings were completed based on input from the local NRCS District Conservationists, NRD staff, and partner biologists. This marketing campaign helped highlight the available practices and November sign-up deadline for EQIP and the Agriculture Conservation Easement Program (ACEP).

To support these outreach efforts, the RWBJV Geographic Information System (GIS) team used criteria from the field staff specific to practices to query tracts based on soil type, intersection with Groundwater Management Areas, habitat conditions, resource concern, and tract size. Grassland outreach related to the Great Plains Grassland Initiative focused on tracts in the Sandhills with >240 acres of contiguous ownership. Grassland promotion in the CPNRD focused on owners in the Central Loess Hills in Dawson and Custer Counties with >80 acres. Content in the different postcards and letters was tailored to the different programs and/or venues being promoted. For example, all landowners within 60 miles of Thedford and Dunning Nebraska received a postcard that highlighted the opportunities to attend grassland focused landowner luncheons hosted by NRCS. The CPNRD outreach the materials focused on NRD opportunities available as part of the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Program (NSWCP), NRCS EQIP, and RWBJV grants.

In total there were over 18,000 postcards mailed as well as a digital media campaign that pushed over 12,000 emails out to producers. The RWBJV webpage has an archive of outreach materials that have been used over the last 18 months.  Let the RWBJV staff know if you have ideas to further engage producers or promote conservation programs.

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the RWBJV Informational Seminar! The Seminar will be held February 6^th in Grand Island at the Ramada Inn. Register Today.