Conservation Clip List for Friday April 23rd 2021

NACD Blog: Friends of NACD District Grant Helps Richland SWCD Launch a Seed Sanctuary and Garner New Public Awareness for the District

By Mary Hannah Lindsay
04/22/21

In 2020, the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (RSWCD), located in Columbia, S.C, launched a Seed Sanctuary through the “Re-Seeding Richland” project.

NACD Blog: Appreciating the ‘dance’ of forest soil health management

04/19/21

Carl Struck and Johanne Riddick’s Ponderosa restoration effort in New Mexico has grown into a diverse, robust ecosystem; recently, Struck and Riddick have been recognized as NACD Soil Health Champions for their work.

NACD Blog: NACD’s DEI Task Force on the Significance of Local Work Groups

04/16/21

In July 2020, NACD’s Board of Directors produced a statement on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), which called for the formation of a DEI Task Force.

NACD Blog: Maine Conservation Districts Make Good Use of Demonstration Forests

By Linda Brownson
04/14/21

Maine conservation districts make good use of demonstration forests and provide high value to landowners and communities.

NACD Blog: Westmoreland Conservation District awards Frye Family as 2020 Conservation Farmer of the Year

04/14/21

The Westmoreland Conservation District (CD) in Westmoreland County, Pa., has been recognizing outstanding conservation farmers since 1953 with its annual “Conservation Farmer of the Year” Award.

NACD Blog: Q&A with NACD’s Former Northern Plains Region Executive Board Member Bevin Law

04/14/21

Bevin Law of Kansas served as the Northern Plains Region NACD Executive Board member for two full terms from 2017-2021. NACD interviewed Bevin in January 2021 to hear his perspective about his time on the board and what he’s experienced and appreciated over the years of work with conservation.

Agri-Pulse: USDA raising CRP payment rates, expanding incentives

By Philip Brasher
04/21/21

The National Association of Conservation Districts welcomed the CRP sweeteners.  “Inadequate compensation for landowners has led to low enrollment in the program in the past year,” NACD President Michael Crowder said. “These increased rental rates and incentives are critical to ensuring farmers are appropriately compensated for participating in CRP.”

Brownfield Ag News: NACD PLEASED WITH CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM ENHANCEMENTS
By Amie Simpson
04/21/21

The National Association of Conservation Districts is pleased with the USDA’s decision to expand and renew the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). NACD President Michael Crowder says the changes will incentivize participation in the program.

Jioforme.com: NACD is pleased with the strengthening of its maintenance preparation program
04/21/21

“We are nearly 4 million acres under the 25 million acre cap established by the 2018 Farm Bill, and we hope to ensure we are close to the maximum amount of acres we can put into CRP.” He says. “Today, Ag Secretary-General Vilsack announced that he will raise payment rates, provide more incentives and aim to mitigate climate change.”

BCTV: Berks Conservation District Receives Urban Ag Conservation Grant

04/21/21

The Berks County Conservation District (BCCD) was awarded an urban agriculture conservation grant through a partnership with the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to boost technical capacity nationwide.

Daily Herald: McHenry County Conservation District celebrates 50 years

04/16/21

It was April of 1971 when McHenry County Conservation District was formed by a successful countywide referendum and then formally organized in July 1971.

PennState: USDA grant to support expansion of online tool for pollinator conservation

04/14/21

A Penn State-led research team has received a nearly $950,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to create the next generation of an online decision-support tool designed to help conserve pollinator populations across the United States.

Agri-Pulse: Bonnie tapped to lead USDA farm programs
By Spencer Chase
04/16/21

(Subscriber Only) Robert Bonnie, a proponent of ag carbon markets who has been serving as Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s chief climate adviser, will be nominated by President Joe Biden to oversee farm and conservation programs at USDA as well as federal crop insurance.

Associated Press: U.S. West prepares for possible 1st water shortage declaration

By Sam Metz

04/17/21

The man-made lakes that store water supplying millions of people in the U.S. West and Mexico are projected to shrink to historic lows in the coming months, dropping to levels that could trigger the federal government’s first-ever official shortage declaration and prompt cuts in Arizona and Nevada.

Capital Press: Tom Vilsack: Secretary of Agriculture talks about issues facing farmers and his plans for USDA

By Sierra Dawn McClain

04/15/21

It’s a function of resources. We have to do a better job of managing our forests, and that means getting resources from Congress.

National Association of State Foresters: FIFTY GROUPS SIGN ON IN SUPPORT OF FOREST STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM

04/15/21

Fifty groups have signed on to a letter asking appropriators to fund the Forest Stewardship Program (FSP) at $30 million (including $22 million for program work under the new budget structure) for fiscal year 2022.

The Bradford Era: Celebrating Conservation District Week 2021

04/19/21

On Tuesday, the McKean County Commissioners proclaimed April 18-24 Conservation District Week 2021 in McKean County.

Shelby County Today: Soil and Water Stewardship Week Highlights Texas Land Stewardship

04/19/21

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has partnered with the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB), Association of Texas Soil & Water Conservation Districts, Texas A&M Forest Service, Texas Wildlife Association and Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association to highlight Soil and Water Stewardship Week.

Forbes: Drought Continues To Ravage Western U.S.

By Jordan Strickler

04/20/21

Extreme drought now encompasses almost 10 percent of the country. In Texas, only eight percent of the state is considered drought-free.

ABC 7 Chicago: Climate change threatening Illinois’ wildlife, forests, grasslands

By Phil Schwarz

04/20/21

The impacts of climate change on wildlife throughout Illinois is already showing up. Warmer weather, especially in the winter, combined with more frequent heavy rain events, is having a slew of effects on the grasslands, forests and the wildlife of Illinois.

Agri-Pulse: Regan pledges not to return to Obama-era WOTUS definition

By Ben Nuelle

04/21/21

(Subscriber Only) Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan told Congress Wednesday he does not intend to go back to the Obama administration’s definition of Waters of the U.S.

Agri-Pulse: Report gives USDA options for operating carbon bank

By Philip Brasher

04/21/21

(Subscriber Only) A new report from the AGree coalition recommends alternatives for the Agriculture Department to consider in setting up a carbon bank that could be used to develop private credit markets and to assist producers who may be left out of them.

Phys.org: How the humble woodchip is cleaning up water worldwide

By Lauren Quinn

04/15/21

Researchers used satellite imaging and surface soil color to find out how much of the nutrient-rich earth has eroded away.

WBIW: USDA invests $21.7M in research innovations to improve soil health and climate-smart agriculture and forestry

04/21/21

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will invest at least $21.7 million in several key programs to help agricultural producers manage the impacts of climate change on their lands and production.

KWCH 12: Invasive species of worm makes way to Midwest, could be harmful to Kansas soils

By Carolina Loera
04/20/21

An invasive species of worm is making its way to the Midwest, and even though experts say it hasn’t officially been surveyed in Kansas, this worm is still a threat to the state’s soils.

Phys.org: California’s wildfire season has lengthened, and its peak is now earlier in the year

04/22/21

California’s wildfire problem, fueled by a concurrence of climate change and a heightened risk of human-caused ignitions in once uninhabited areas, has been getting worse with each passing year of the 21st century.

Springer: Reframing urban “wildlife” to promote inclusive conservation science and practice

By Monika Egerer and Sascha Buchholz

04/19/21

Urban wildlife conservation research and policy has importantly furthered ecological understanding and species protection in cities, while also leveraging wildlife conservation to connect people to urban nature.

CBS News: One senator’s idea to save forests and help the climate — and create jobs

By Cara Korte

04/20/21

On Tuesday, the Colorado Democrat will introduce legislation focused on restoring and maintaining forests, watersheds and rangelands across the West to protect those areas from the threats of climate change, and in turn create jobs.

Morning AgClips: Research inside hill slopes could help wildfire and drought prediction

04/21/21

The findings are important because they suggest that these patterns could improve predictions of wildfire and landslide risk and how droughts will affect the landscape, since weathering and water storage influence how water and nutrients flow throughout landscapes.

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