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.
NACD: NACD Laments Conservation Funding Not Included in End-of-Year Bill
12/21/2024
On Saturday morning, after a hectic week of negotiations, Congress passed an end-of-year bill that includes a continuing resolution to temporarily extend current levels of federal funding until March to avoid a government shutdown. The legislation also includes an additional extension of the 2018 Farm Bill, disaster relief, and economic assistance for struggling producers.
NACD Blog: Growing Forests, Building Futures: Hubbard SWCD’s Forestry Initiatives in Minnesota
12/27/2024
The Hubbard Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) in Minnesota has advanced local conservation through innovative forestry and environmental programs. A key effort, supported by a 2023 NACD Urban and Community Conservation (UAC) Grant, has helped establish scalable forest gardens, enhancing food security, wildlife habitat, and the urban forest canopy.
USDA-NRCS: USDA Announces Grants and Technical Assistance Funding for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production
01/08/2025
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing a total of $14.4 million in grants and technical assistance through two separately funded projects to support urban agriculture and innovative production. USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP) is making available $2.5 million for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) grants, building on $53.7 million invested in UAIP grant projects by OUAIP since 2020.
Agriculture Dive: Will $10B in economic payments offset farm income losses?
By Sara Zimmerman
01/09/2025
U.S. farmers and ranchers have access to $10 billion in economic aid as part of the farm bill extension passed at the end of 2024 to offset broad income declines. However, a new study from the University of Illinois says that the one-time payments likely won’t be enough to reverse deep profit losses for grain producers.
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Napa Valley Register: Season of Giving: Napa RCD engages the community for lifelong environmental stewardship
By Samie Hartley | Napa County, CA | Pacific Region
12/30/2024
The mission is simple: protect the land, water, soil and wildlife in Napa County. However, the work done by the Napa County Resource Conservation District is anything but ordinary. The district, known as the Napa RCD, is known for its annual water-wise native garden tours and river cleanups. But behind the scenes, the nonprofit is also active in forest planning, water quality monitoring and wildfire recovery.
EUP News: Chippewa Luce Mackinac Conservation District Announces 2025 Conservation Grant Program
Sault St. Marie, MI | North Central Region
01/06/2025
The Chippewa Luce Mackinac Conservation District (CLMCD) is excited to announce the opening of our 2025 Conservation Grants Program application period. Conservation Grants are available for conservation related projects to be implemented in Chippewa, Luce, or Mackinac County.
The Reporter: Teaching the ABCs of Solano water
By Richard Bammer | Vacaville, CA | Pacific Region
01/07/2025
(Edited) Hilda Ochoa first showed a bisected slide of Lake Berryessa’s so-called “Glory Hole,” the 72-foot diameter bell-mouth spillway that drains excess water from the lake into Putah Creek. And so an hourlong class, the Solano Resource Conservation District’s “School Water Education Program,” was well underway at the 1355 Marshall Road campus.
The Daily Yonder: As Erosion and Floods Swallow Buildings, Washington’s Coastal Communities Strain to Adapt
By and | Washington | Pacific Region
01/08/2025
Connie Allen sat at a wooden table in her home in North Cove, Washington, a quarter mile up the road from the beach. Cranberry bogs extend on all sides of her property, which sits 10 feet above sea level. She described her nightmare: All the bogs flooded by storming seas.
No-Till Farmer: What You’re Losing Out with no Winter Wheat in Rotation
By Jacob Klaudt | Kansas | Northern Plains Region
01/08/2025
Kansas State University wheat specialist Romulo Lollato says farmers should consider what they might be missing when choosing to leave winter wheat out of their usual crop rotations. Lollato notes that wheat acres in Kansas have been decreasing at a rate of approximately 2% every year since 2005. Nationally, that decline remains at about 1.5%. Often, he said, management decisions are based solely on the crop’s profitability.
LA Times: Intensifying climate whiplash set the stage for devastating California fires
By Ian James | Los Angeles, CA | Pacific Region
01/09/2025
The devastating wildfires that have ravaged Southern California erupted following a stark shift from wet weather to extremely dry weather — a phenomenon scientists describe as hydroclimate whiplash. New research shows these abrupt wet-to-dry and dry-to-wet swings, which can worsen wildfires, flooding and other hazards, are growing more frequent and intense because of human-caused climate change.