Conservation Clip List for Friday, December 23rd, 2022
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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 with accessing articles, please contact the NACD Communications Team.
Editor’s Note: There will not be an edition of Conservation Clips on December 30. Happy Holidays and have a good New Year!
The National Conservation Foundation (NCF) announced names of the seven participants selected to participate in the third cohort of the Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI).
Invasive trees are threatening vast amounts of grasslands. In this special episode, we’re taking a look at the people, the programs and the initiatives that are working to fight back against woody plant encroachment in the great plains grasslands.
Farmers of major commodity crops are using cover crops in varied ways across the country, as they fit into their own agronomic systems according to reports from the USDA Economic Research Service.
Cities need to plant more trees. But not just any trees. As communities prepare for a massive influx of federal funding to support urban forestry, their leaders say the tree canopy that grows to maturity 50 years from now will need to be painted with a different palette than the one that exists today.
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) mailed the 2022 Census of Agriculture paper questionnaires to all known agriculture producers across the nation. The deadline for responses is February 6, 2023. The data inform decisions about policy, programs, rural development, and research.
The White House released the first edition of a new resource which provides clear descriptions of the law’s tax incentives and funding programs to build a clean energy economy, lower energy costs, tackle climate change, and reduce harmful pollution.
Today’s growers, regardless of the crops you’re growing, understand the benefits of nurturing plants to create healthy, high-quality, and profitable crops. A new report showcases the latest developments in plant health in the U.S. and around the world.
The eighth-generation Long Green Farms is a productive dairy farm that takes to heart a strong conservation ethic by practicing no-till farming, cover crops and a recent planting of 60,000 trees. They are also 2022 Leopold Conservation Award recipients.
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Indiana announced that applications are being accepted to improve water quality in the Big Pine Creek watershed located in northwest Indiana. Interested producers should submit applications to their local NRCS office by Jan. 20, 2023.
On Sunday, December 18, Placer County Resource Conservation District (Placer RCD), with funding and support from CAL FIRE, worked with landowners in Applegate to complete a 2-acre prescribed burn as a training opportunity through the Placer Prescribed Burn Association.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has awarded the Chester County Conservation District a $281,527 grant to support their progress in reducing nutrient and sediment pollution to restore the health of local streams, rivers, and lakes.
N.C. Cooperative Extension, Franklin County Center, will be offering its new Small Farm Boot Camp program, designed for new and beginning farmers, market gardeners, and homesteaders, beginning in February through March 2023.
The challenge for many farmers and ranchers is finding the time and money to prioritize conservation practices while keeping daily operations going. Financial and technical assistance helps, and now a historical investment could reshape and expand these programs across the country.
Feral swine in Georgia cause significant damage to agricultural crops and natural resources throughout the state. A group of natural resource organizations are partnering to bring Georgia’s top experts on feral swine together in a series of educational workshops for landowners.
Midwest Messenger: Grazing: You’re Covered
By Kristen Sindelar | Nebraska | Northern Plains Region
12/19/2022
Grazing annual forages may be the ticket producers need to increase efficiency and decrease cost of feed. Nebraska Extension presented the benefits of incorporating annual forages into crop rotation to a room of 30 attendees at the 2022 Cover Crop Grazing Conference.
As part of a massive investment in sustainable farming, the University of Missouri’s Center for Regenerative Agriculture will help farmers across Missouri adapt methods like cover crops, agroforestry and grazing.
The Greene County Conservation District recognized 11 individuals at its annual awards ceremony Wednesday at Valley View Farm. Those celebrated at the awards ceremony were recognized for outstanding work supporting conservation.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Oregon is accepting applications from agricultural producers and forest landowners for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program. The program helps producers enroll working lands and wetlands into conservation easements.
The Indiana State Department of Agriculture, The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency have joined forces to implement the Cover Crop Premium Discount Program for the third year in a row.
Producers who planted cover crops may benefit from taking time to learn about special programs and insurance considerations in their area. To help, the Center for Rural Affairs has released a series of resources for maintaining cover crops and other conservation practices.
By Peter Krouse | Cleveland, OH | North Central Region
12/20/2022
If you are looking for a last-minute Christmas gift with a green twist, consider the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District’s selection of native seeds, plants, trees and shrubs.
This year, tree health specialists expected to see some mortality in Oregon following the state’s recent droughts, but many were still shocked by the sheer number of trees that fell ill.
NRCS: It Takes a Village
By Adele Swearingen | Bryan, TX | South Central Region
12/21/2022
With a little help from NRCS, a partnership between NRG Energy and Texan by Nature is providing fresh food to a tri-county food desert in East Texas.
The Huntingdon County Conservation District was one of 28 conservation districts across the Commonwealth awarded funds from the state Department of Environmental Protection to support their progress in reducing nutrient sediment pollution and restoration of the health of rivers, streams and lakes that are part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
