Filing For Local Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor Is May 17-31

If you are interested in influencing natural resources issues at the local level, why not run for a supervisor position on your local soil and water conservation district? Filing for your local election is May 17-31. Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor positions are filled through general elections November 8. Any citizen of legal voting age living in the nomination district in which a vacancy exists is eligible for election.

SWCD supervisors have three main responsibilities during their four-year term. They set overall policy and long-term objectives for their district. They help develop their district's annual and comprehensive plans and finally work with district staff to see that policies and plans are implemented. SWCD supervisors are not paid a salary but do receive compensation for attending meetings and are reimbursed for expenses.

Many farmers, myself included, have not paid much attention to who is running for SWCD supervisor or who is on the board. The new "Buffer law" will likely change that. Implementation of the "Buffer Law" and what type of conservation practices will be approved will be determined by local SWCD supervisors. So, it will be important to have SWCD supervisors that understand agriculture and have common sense!