Conservation Clips is a weekly collection of articles distributed by NACD that provides our members and partners with the latest news in what’s driving conservation. These articles are not indicative of NACD policy and are the opinions of their authors, unless otherwise noted. If you have a relevant submission or need assistance accessing articles, please contact the NACD Communications Team.
NACD: Coalition Advocates for Conservation Funding in FY26 Appropriations
05/09/2025
Last week, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) submitted a letter to the leaders of the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees urging robust support for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Conservation Operations account.
NACD: NACD President Testifies Before Senate Agriculture Committee on Conservation
05/13/2025
Today, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) President Gary Blair provided testimony at the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing regarding “Perspectives from the Field, Part 4: Conservation.”
NACD Blog: Kent Conservation District and Partners Bring Food to Families
05/13/2025
Kent Conservation District (CD) in Grand Rapids, MI, undertook a collaborative effort involving Plainsong Farm near Rockford, MI, North Kent Connect in Rockford, Community Food Club in Grand Rapids, the Grand Rapids Community College Student Food Pantry, the West Michigan Growers Group, and the Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds (LGROW). The project had three main goals: to provide conservation technical assistance, culturally desired produce to families, and education about conservation practices at Plainsong Farm.
Successful Farming: More Than 15,000 USDA Employees Have Taken Trump Financial Incentive to Leave
By Leah Douglas
05/04/2025
More than 15,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture employees have taken one of the Trump administration’s two financial incentive offers to leave the agency, according to a readout from a USDA briefing with congressional staff seen by Reuters. The sum represents about 15% of the USDA’s total workforce.
Farm Forum: Focus on Ag: USDA reveals initial details for disaster assistance
By Kent Thiesse
05/13/2025
The Continuing Resolution legislation that was passed by Congress in late 2024 included $21 billion in disaster assistance for 2023 and 2024 agricultural crop losses from natural disasters, such as drought, hurricanes, severe storms, flooding, wildfires, excessive rainfall, etc. Recently USDA Ag Secretary, Brooke Rollins, announce some initial details for the disaster programs, which includes assistance for crop and livestock producers.
No-Till Farmer: Common Misconceptions about the Conservation Stewardship Program
05/13/2025
The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is sometimes misunderstood. It is perceived by some as complicated or not for small operations, and neither of those perceptions is true. CSP is designed to help you take your existing conservation efforts on your operation to the next higher level while maintaining your current ones. It’s supposed to help you add to what you’re already doing, either by enhancing your current practices or adding new ones.
American Ag Network: Hyde-Smith Looks to Extend, Improve CSP & EQIP, Popular USDA Conservation Programs
By Jesse Allen
05/14/2025
Hyde-Smith asked Gary Blair of Starkville, president of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), to describe how changes in the 2018 Farm Bill effectively limited enrollment in CSP and EQIP. “Those are two important programs to the Mississippi Delta and to Mississippi in general, and we are at times not receiving enough funding for CSP and EQIP across the nation,” Blair said.
Agri-View: From hills of rye to sea of green
By | Wisconsin | North Central Region
05/08/2025
His curiosity led him to reach out to local conservation organizations mentioned in the resources he had found. After meeting Conservation Specialist Stephanie Egner with the Washington County Land Resources Division, Zuehlke was introduced to technical and financial assistance opportunities offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service in Wisconsin.
Citizen Portal: Local Conservation Offices Face Staff Cuts Amid Rising Project Demand
Finney County, KS | Northern Plains Region
05/12/2025
The conservation district plays a vital role in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), which focuses on nutrient and pest management. Notably, Finney, Scott, and Lane Counties account for 70% of the nation’s CSP applications. The representative expressed the need for continued funding, requesting $40,000 from the county to maintain operations and potentially hire additional part-time staff.
Penn Watch: Invasive Species Removal and Ecosystem Restoration at Cumberland County Conservation District Office
Cumberland County, PA | Northeast Region
05/12/2025
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn joined officials to spotlight efforts to combat invasive species and restore native ecosystems during the Invasive Replace-ive event hosted by the Invasive Species Council at the Cumberland County Conservation District.
Montecito Journal: A Fish Story That’s No Fish Story
By Hattie Beresford | California | Pacific Region
05/13/2025
Two heroes raced to the rescue, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Resources Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains. They removed the fragile fish from the canyon and provided a temporary home at the Fillmore Hatchery. It was clear, however, that these migrants could not stay. But where could they go?
Tri-State Neighbor: Saving soil, saving money
By | Garreston, SD | Northern Plains Region
05/13/2025
One resource that is on the top of farmer’s mind is money. Conservation practices are good for the soil and the surrounding environment, but they have to pencil out for the farming business.
KSNT: ‘Everyone is overwhelmed’: Kansas Forest Service at risk of 80% funding loss, layoffs with proposed federal cuts
Matthew Self | Topeka, KS | Northern Plains Region
05/14/2025
Kansas forestry officials are sounding the alarm this week as looming federal cuts could impact their ability to fight wildfires and help support the state’s green spaces. The Kansas Forest Service (KFS) issued a press release on Wednesday, May 14, calling on the state’s residents to support the agency as it faces dire straits. The source of the KFS’s anxiety comes from the federal Fiscal Year 2026 proposal, which contains a big change that could seriously impact some of its critical services.
Journal of San Juan Islands: Federal cuts cripple Island Conservation Corps training program
By Paul Andersson | San Juan Islands | Pacific Region
05/14/2025
Federal funding cuts to the AmeriCorps program had an immediate impact on nearly 20 local community members serving on the Islands Conservation Corps, a highly regarded workforce training program run by the San Juan Islands Conservation District.
Lake County Leader: Ag Days brings kids to the Cheff ranch
By Berl Tiskus | Polson, MT | Northern Plains Region
05/15/2025
Sun shining through trees dappled the grass and washed over the bright spring grass as school buses trundled down the road to Fourth Grade Ag Days at Buddy and Brittany Cheff’s place above Kicking Horse Reservoir, south of Ronan. Put on by the Western Montana Stockmen’s Association, Lake County Conservation District, Northwest Farm Bureau and Natural Resources and Conservation Service, the annual event aims to expose kids to the many facets of agriculture.