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.
AgWeb: Inside the Room: What Farmers Heard as USDA Rolled Out Its $700M Regenerative Ag Plan
By Tyne Morgan
01/28/2026
Not knowing exactly what USDA was going to unveil, at the event, USDA and HHS announced what they call a first-of-its-kind, $700-million Regenerative Agriculture Pilot Program, administered through NRCS. The goal is to test a farmer-first model that improves soil health while maintaining long-term farm viability.
Southeast Ag Network: Senators Urge USDA To Reinstate Prevented Planting Coverage
01/28/2026
A bipartisan group of 19 U.S. senators has sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins requesting that the U.S. Department of Agriculture reinstate additional crop insurance coverage options for acres prevented from being planted. The senators argue that the change has removed a critical risk management tool at a time when farmers are facing increasing weather-related challenges.
Ag Daily: New report: Falling crop prices and rising costs put U.S. farms at risk
02/04/2026
A new national report from the Modern Ag Alliance argues U.S. farmers are entering one of the toughest stretches in a generation — caught between tightening margins, volatile markets, and uncertainty about the tools they rely on to protect yields.
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Boston Globe: Move over, olive oil: Efforts are growing to produce a local alternative
By Amanda Gokee | Boston, MA | Northeast Region
01/19/2026
Chute is the district manager of the Sullivan County Conservation District. For the past few years, he’s been educating people about hickory oil and encouraging the harvest of nuts used to make it. Chute said nutritional analysis has shown the oil is high in healthy oleic acid. He hopes that it will become a staple food available at an affordable price.
USDA-NRCS: Partnerships Build Healthy Soil and Food Security in Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks, AK | Pacific Region
01/30/2026
A critical part of managing crop quality is managing for healthy soils. Together, the Fairbanks Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are helping farmers improve soil health which has a direct connection to improved food production.
Post Guam: Conservation district on expansion, funding, role in feral swine control
By Walter Ulloa | Guam | Pacific Region
02/01/2026
The Southern Soil and Water Conservation District is expanding its footprint across agriculture, invasive species control, and water quality protection with new staff hires, shifting funding responsibilities, and a growing role in regional and national conservation efforts, leaders said during a public meeting last week.
North Dakota Ag Connection: Farmers Benefit from New Soil Health Program
By Scout Nelson | North Dakota | Northern Plains Region
02/04/2026
The two-year pilot project totals $6.5 million. Funding includes $4.3 million from the Outdoor Heritage Fund and $2.2 million in matching contributions from partners. The North Dakota Game, and Fish Department, and the Association of Soil Conservation Districts work together to secure and manage the funding.
Kansas Ag Connection: Grasslands Play Key Role in Kansas
By Scout Nelson | Kansas | Northern Plains Region
02/05/2026
The Kansas Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts, has released a new foundational report focused on the conservation of Kansas grasslands. The report highlights why grasslands are essential to the state and identifies clear steps to protect them for the future.