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.
Deseret News: Why the U.S. Forest Service is moving to the West
By Kevin Lind
04/02/2026
Between insect or disease issues and the likelihood of wildfire, that’s roughly 120 million acres by Forest Service chief Tom Schultz’s estimation of land that needs attention. That risk coupled with specific direction from the Trump administration to spend within its means and reduce redundancy, among other instructions, led to a massive reorganization of the agency announced Tuesday.
Environmental Defense Fund: New ag tech could save the farm — and the planet
By Nika Beauchamp
04/03/2026
Today, American agriculture is poised for a new technology boom — and it’s the planet as much as farmers’ profits that stand to benefit. The only problem? Much of this technology is still very new, only being trialed — or out of farmers’ reach. All this innovation needs more investment — both to fully evaluate the effectiveness of each new technology, and to make sure interested farmers can access it. But the promise is tantalizing.
USDA: USDA Finalizes Historic Regulatory Reform in National Environmental Policy Act Final Rule
04/07/2026
Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has finalized a rule modernizing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations. This Final Rule adopts the changes introduced in the Interim Final Rule published on July 3, 2025, which consolidated seven agency-specific NEPA regulations into a single, department wide framework, reducing the overall volume of regulations by 66 percent.
USDA: USDA Announces the Creation of the USDA National Proving Grounds Network to Strengthen U.S. Farm and Ranch Profitability
04/07/2026
USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics Under Secretary Dr. Scott Hutchins today announced the launch of the USDA National Proving Grounds Network for AgTech (NPG-Ag), a nationwide initiative designed to rigorously evaluate agricultural technologies under real-world U.S. farming and ranching conditions.
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AgWeb: How Two North Dakota Farmers Partnered to Master Soil Health
By Rhonda Brooks | North Dakota | Northern Plains Region
03/31/2026
When Tyler Zimmerman looks across his North Dakota fields, he doesn’t see just corn, soybeans and sunflowers anymore. He sees the payoff of an ongoing experiment to build soil health—one fueled by a unique partnership with his neighbor, the impact of grazing cattle, and the changing biology under his boots.
The Record-Argus: Students prep for Envirothon with training day at the farm
By Holly Patterson | Mercer County, PA | Northeast Region
04/02/2026
For the past several weeks, about 80 students from across Mercer County have been preparing for the county Envirothon. Wednesday, many of those students were at the Munnell Run Farm, home of the Mercer County Conservation District, for an Envirothon training day.
Merced Sun Star: Federal cuts to farmer program hit East Bay gardens, threaten next generation
By Chase Hunter | California | Pacific Region
04/06/2026
The USDA also issued a funding freeze for remaining projects, like that of the Alameda County Resource Conservation District, which required direct approval before funds could be spent. “We actually had mini-grant recipients selected at the end of 2024. But because we were still awaiting approval from FSA, we couldn’t disperse their funds,” Alameda County Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Colleen Hotchkiss said, adding that her agency was forced to turn to crowdsourcing to raise $15,000 to fulfill mini-grants to 2025 recipients.
Dairy Business: Pennsylvania Invests $5.5 Million in Projects to Improve Regional Waterways, Help Farmers Increase Economic Output
Pennsylvania | Northeast Region
04/06/2026
Rosetree Consulting, a Shillington-based agricultural and environmental engineering firm, received a PPP grant to collaborate with Deer Country Farm and Lawn John Deere dealership where the announcement was made, along with Lancaster County Conservation District, the Lebanon County Conservation District, and commercial manure haulers, to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus losses in fields and improve efficiency and profitability for farms across southeast Pennsylvania.
NTV News: Nebraska NRD leaders visit Washington to press Congress on conservation funding tools
Lincoln, NE | Northern Plains Region
04/07/2026
Nearly 50 directors and staff from Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts traveled to Washington, D.C., from March 30 to April 1, 2026, to press federal leaders on conservation priorities as drought and wildfire impacts continue to mount across the state. Nebraska’s NRDs advocated for strengthening tools to preserve and fund natural resources projects, focusing on grassroots engagement with policymakers and presenting a unified message.
Daily News: Mecosta Conservation District: Redefining stewardship in Mecosta and surrounding counties
Big Rapids, MI | North Central Region
04/08/2026
Envision a pristine stream running through your property, free of the choking, thorny vines that keep you from enjoying it. This is the vision of Mecosta Conservation District. But more importantly, this is the picture we help local landowners paint every single day at no cost.