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 FY27 Appropriations
04/16/2026
The National Association of Conservation Districts submitted a letter signed by over 200 national and local organizations to leaders of the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees yesterday requesting $1.05 billion for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Conservation Operations account in Fiscal Year 2027.
NACD Blog: Saline County Conservation District Cleans Local Streams
By Nika Colley
04/14/2026
A few years ago, the Saline County Conservation District’s local partner, Saline River Watershed Alliance, installed a piece of equipment called a trash trap in one of the local streams after noticing the need for trash catchment in the watershed. Inspired by the Watershed Alliance and the ever-present litter pollution in their local waters, the district seeks to continue this work by constructing, installing, and maintaining two additional trash traps in the county.
Morning AgClips: Managing Soil Crusting: Why Spring Conditions Highlight an Ongoing Conservation Challenge
04/02/2026
As producers look ahead to spring planting, soil scientists and conservationists are revisiting a persistent challenge across midwestern cropland: soil crusting. This issue is often overlooked until emergent problems appear, which have significant implications for crop performance, input costs, and long-term soil health.
Farm Week Now: Trump requests 19% cut to USDA
By Tammie Sloup
04/07/2026
President Donald Trump’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget includes a nearly 20% cut to USDA. The blueprint, which the White House sent to Congress April 3, requests $20.8 billion in discretionary budget authority for USDA, which is a $4.9 billion decrease from the 2026 enacted level. Trump also is urging Congress to pass a $1.5 trillion defense budget alongside major cuts to domestic projects.
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Michigan State University: Michigan’s Soil Health Investment Program: A collaboration success story
By Sara Zeiler | Michigan | North Central Region
04/02/2026
Conservation districts, which already have established relationships with local producers, were engaged early in the program’s development. This approach helped ensure that SHIP aligned with real-world field conditions and producer needs.
Farmers.gov: Fridays on the Farm: Growing Food Security on Kodiak Island
By Tracy Robillard | Kodiak Island, AK | Pacific Region
04/10/2026
The demand for local food on Kodiak is growing, and more people are producing local food. NRCS is working with multiple landowners and partners to support agriculture on the island, including the Kodiak Soil and Water Conservation District and the Kodiak Archipelago Leadership Institute.
Johnson City Press: Local students compete to test their knowledge on environmental issues
By Jorgelina Manna-Rea | Johnson City, TN | Southeast Region
04/10/2026
The Appalachian Resource Conservation and Development Council (ARCD) hosts the local Envirothon competition. Local environmental professionals from organizations across the region also took part: the Washington County Soil Conservation District, Carter County Soil Conservation District, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Tennessee Division of Forestry, Johnson City Parks and Recreation and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Johnson City office.
Morning AgClips: Improving Waste Storage on a Vermont Dairy Farm
Holland, VT | Northeast Region
04/13/2026
Adrian Fortin is a dairy farmer in Holland, Vermont. His small, 380-acre farm has been in his family since 1922, when his grandparents, Henry and Cecil Fortin, purchased it. For over one hundred years, the family has provided Vermonters with locally sourced milk.
KTVH: Montana cost-share program helps landowners reduce wildfire risks
Fergus City, MT | Northern Plains Region
04/07/2026
“We’ve got a fuels mitigation grant program… it’s a 75-25 BLM cost share… and it helps protect the homes, and it protects more than just the homes,” said Donna Sonnemaker-Stafford with the Fergus Conservation District. Gacke said he first learned about the program through a brochure and reached out to the conservation district for more information.