Conservation Clip List for Friday April 8th 2022

Pauls Valley Democrat: Springer highway to honor late activist
Pauls Valley, OK | South Central Region
04/01/22

A section of U.S. Highway 77 will be officially dedicated to longtime Springer conservationist and veteran Creede Speake Jr. on Friday, April 1. In 2019, Speake received the National Association of Conservation District’s Distinguished Service award for his outstanding contributions to conservation efforts in southern Oklahoma.

The Times Leader: Conservation district to hold litter campaign
By Carri Graham | Woodsfield, OH | North Central Region 
04/02/22

The Monroe County Soil and Water Conservation District is hoping to encourage residents to clean up the area by hosting a new campaign in honor of Earth Day.

AgWeek: Longtime advocate of soil health practices studies cover crops, fertilizer and row spacing
By Noah Fish | Goodhue, MN | Northern Plains Region 
04/04/22

Goodhue County farmer and Soil & Water Conservation District Board Supervisor Ed McNamara continues to fine-tune his use of cover crops for forage, fertilizer and soil health.

The Fence Post: Colorado State Conservation Board Announces $460K in Funding Distributed to 24 Conservation Districts
Broomfield, CO | Southwest Region
04/05/22

The Colorado State Conservation Board (CSCB) is pleased to announce $460,029 has been granted to 24 Colorado Conservation Districts through the Matching Grant program, funding 26 contracted projects.

Augusta Free Press: The Envirothon is back: Local environmental education event set for April
Waynesboro, VA | Northeast Region
04/01/22

After two years of going virtual, the annual Envirothon is returning to an in-person competition, and the students excited about getting back at it.

The Southern Maryland Chronicle: Maryland Teens Get Ready for First Round of Environmental Education Competitions

Annapolis, MD | Northeast Region

04/05/22

Maryland’s brightest high school science students are heading for the hills, streams, and woodlands of Maryland’s countryside to compete in the first round of qualifying heats leading up to the 2022 National Conservation Foundation (NCF) Envirothon, North America’s largest high school environmental education competition.

National Association of State Foresters: We need more women in forestry: ‘who wouldn’t want to work with trees?’
By Hannah Wagner
03/31/22

Right now, there are more women leading state forestry agencies than ever before. Thirteen female state foresters out of a total of 59 might not seem like a triumph, but it is.

USDA: USDA Takes Action to Strengthen Pollinator Research Support
04/06/22

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced its strengthened commitment to advancing research and programmatic priorities that support pollinator health by soliciting nominations for members to serve on its newly formed USDA National Pollinator Subcommittee.

PennState: Cover crops more effective than insecticides for managing pests, study suggests
By Chuck Gill | University Park, PA | Northeast Region 
03/31/22

Promoting early season plant cover, primarily through the use of cover crops, can be more effective at reducing pest density and crop damage than insecticide applications, according to a Penn State-led team of researchers.

Successful Farming: From seed to soil, cover crops amplify the benefits to the farm
By Megan Schilling
04/01/22

Cover crops have seized the spotlight. After an active year in 2021, where input prices soared, carbon programs multiplied, and millions of dollars were invested in climate-smart practices, the surge of interest in cover crops isn’t subsiding soon.

Nebraska Farmer: Make most of soil fertility
By Curt Arens | NE | Northern Plains Region
04/05/22

Ray Ward of Ward Laboratories shares his knowledge on how farmers can make the most of applied fertilizer.

VermontBiz: Funding available for Conservation Innovation Grants in Vermont

VT | Northeast Region
03/31/22

Funded through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), CIG helps stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in conjunction with agricultural production.

The Telegraph: Illinois can take next steps to protect soil health
By Becky Doyle | Alton, IL | North Central Region 
04/01/22

Nearly 84 years ago (1937), the Illinois Legislature recognized the importance of protecting Illinois’ greatest assets by creating local Soil and Water Conservation Districts, then supporting them with state funding.

Agri-Pulse: USDA rolls out $670M in drought, wildfire assistance for livestock producers
By Spencer Chase | Sacramento, CA | Pacific Region
03/31/22

(Subscriber Only) More money is on the way for producers who previously sought assistance through Department of Agriculture programs to help feed their livestock after suffering through inclement weather in 2021.

Focus On Drainage: Independent Evaluation Identifies Automated Drainage Water Management (ADWM) as a Promising Innovation for Farmers with Tile-Drained Cropland
Erie, PA | Northeast Region

“Automated drainage water management (ADWM) applied in a conservation systems approach offers great promise to improve both the environmental performance of agriculture and farm economic viability in tile- drained landscapes” according to a January 2022 report released by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA).

KNOP News 2: Crop contest highlights Nebraska agriculture
By Marresa Durke | North Platte, NE | Northern Plains Region 
03/21/22

The Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture is hosting the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) student judging competition in North Platte. Over 500 students from 40 different colleges are competing in 13 agriculture categories.

WLRN: Forestry managers concerned about heightened threat of wildfires in South Florida
By Tom Bayles | Miami, FL | Southeast Region 
04/04/22

“The Florida Forest Service have been aware of the potentially elevated levels of fire danger that have been predicted throughout the first months of the year,” said Miguel Nevarez, a Florida Forest Service wildfire mitigation specialist in the Okeechobee District. “We are going to continue to make sure we stay on high alert for any future wildfires to come.”

WTAP: WVU-Parkersburg receives over $1 million in grants for agriculture program
By Mitchell Blahut | Parkersburg, WV | Northeast Region 
04/05/22

“The new agro facility that we will be building will have a shop to make the farm more operational. To be able to work on equipment, as well as teach students in the future. We will also have classrooms in those buildings and offices,” says agriculture director, John Riggs.

MPR News: Despite drought Minnesota farmers fared well in 2021
By Dan Gunderson | Moorhead, MN | North Central Region 
04/05/22

Despite drought conditions that affected much of Minnesota last year, farm profitability improved for the second year in a row, after seven years of economic struggles.

KPLCTV: Hathaway High School agriculture department introduces beekeeping program
By Amma Siriboe | Lake Charles, LA | South Central Region 
04/05/22

There is a queen in every beehive and students at Hathaway High School are determined to find theirs. The new hive of bees were raised free of charge and donated to the agriculture department, starting the school’s first-ever beekeeping program.

Idaho News: Farmers brace for drought: ‘Crops are going to have to just dry up and not get irrigated’
By Deni Hawkins | Canyon County, ID | Pacific Region 
04/05/22

All it takes is one look into the high country to know that something is amiss in Idaho’s mountains. There’s significantly less snow than normal — which is a troubling sign heading into the summer months, especially considering the state is already in a drought.

Popular Science: South Carolina is recycling empty shells to revive wild oyster beds
By Megan Zhang | SC | Southeast Region 
04/06/22

Oysters are a beloved food in South Carolina, and the state is working hard to rebuild coastal reefs that will support and sustain future oyster populations.

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