Conservation Clip List for Friday, August 11, 2023
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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.
The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) announced a call for concept papers today as it launches the first phase of a $90 million program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities.
Today, the Soil Health Institute and National Association of Conservation Districts announced the results of a nationwide study that demonstrates how improving soil health can help farmers build resilience and improve profitability across a diversity of soil types, geographies, and cropping systems.
This summer, the world experienced the hottest week on record, with seven consecutive days of off-the-charts temperatures, and many places are experiencing other extremes, including deadly floods, droughts, and wildfires. These severe conditions have a tremendous impact on our food system, affecting everything from crop yields to working conditions on farms.
Half of the biodiversity in forests is unseen because it lives belowground. These organisms are miniscule in size, but their importance to the ecosystem is enormous.
City life favors species that are adaptable and not too fussy about what they eat, among other characteristics. A worldwide consortium of scientists calls the resulting collection of traits an ‘Urban Trait Syndrome.’
Hungry pests and devastating diseases lurking in the soil cost corn and soybean producers billions of dollars annually. Whether it’s to combat soybean cyst nematode (SCN), sudden death syndrome (SDS), or corn rootworms, the decision to protect a crop can be expensive.
California is off to its slowest start to fire season in 25 years. A state traumatized by huge fires over the past decade that have burned millions of acres has seen almost no major fire activity so far in 2023.
A few dry weeks have caused some crops to experience drought stress in Iowa, but rain is in the forecast to provide much-needed relief to the state’s corn and soybeans.
By Stephen McNelis | Denver, CO | Southwest Region
08/04/2023
Summer is coming to an end for students in the Denver Public Schools system. Ahead of the first day of school, a Denver nonprofit is making sure school gardens are taken care of.
Decorah High School students earned a trip to New Brunswick, Canada, to represent Iowa in Envirothon international competition by earning the outright highest scores in the aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, and speech categories at the state contest.
Cereal rye continues to be an important cover crop in the Midwest. It fulfils many roles in soil health management systems such as scavenging nitrogen, reducing soil erosion, adding biomass to the system, and suppressing weeds, especially winter annuals.
By John Raffel | Reed City, MI | North Central Region
08/06/2023
Coyote wrestlers were at the Recycling Center in Reed City teaming up with the Osceola-Lake Conservation District as a great service to the Osceola/Lake and Mecosta counties, taking scrap tires and electronics for no charge.
By Conner Goetz | Huntington County, PA | Northeast Region
08/07/2023
Armed with canoes, kayaks and shovels, volunteers will prepare to depart on the 10th annual Juniata River Cleanup Sunday. Huntingdon County Conservation District watershed specialist Logan Stenger is overseeing the project and hopes to continue the trend of the previous nine years.
By Nicholas Vercilla | New Castle, PA | Northeast Region
08/08/2023
The Lawrence County Conservation District will be creating a mini-grant program in the future with its funding it received from the county from Norfolk Southern. The district will use its $105,000 to create grants, for up to $5,000 each, for individuals or entities in the community.
The two acre level space adjacent to the Big Otter Clinic is being transformed into a beautiful therapy area and walking trail with plants, benches, and a peaceful feeling for patients and the community, with the “Outside Classroom Grant” from Elk Conservation District.
The Spruce Mountain High School Envirothon team placed 16th at the 2023 National Conservation Foundation Envirothon held July 23-29 in Tantramar New Brunswick, Canada.
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and Kent Conservation District announce grants are available for homeowners in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed in Kent County who wish to have their residential septic tanks pumped out for routine maintenance.
By Jay Lozano Carver | Lubbock, TX | South Central Region
08/09/2023
A minority of farmers in the Texas High Plains region are looking to organic and regenerative techniques to keep their soil healthy year round, despite a dry climate.
