Washington, D.C. – The National Association of State Foresters (NASF) welcomes Aubrey Bettencourt in her new role as Chief of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). In this role, Bettencourt leads NRCS staff and conservation programs that provide critical technical and financial assistance to farmers and other private landowners to help them conserve, maintain, and improve their natural resources.
As a third-generation farmer, former state director of USDA’s Farm Services Agency, and Deputy Assistant Director at the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bettencourt is familiar with the value of federal support for private working lands. The USDA announcement on her appointment notes a working background that “reflects a strong commitment to water policy, agricultural support, and sustainable practices.”
“NASF looks forward to working with Chief Bettencourt to enhance partnerships with State Foresters and elevate the delivery of crucial resources to private forest landowners. Forests are a critical component of our agricultural landscape; enhancing the conservation and productivity of ‘working’ forests benefits all of us, nationwide,” shared Jay Farrell, NASF Executive Director.
View the USDA’s full announcement on new Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) leadership here.