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 and NCF Announce Leadership Transition as CEO Jeremy Peters Prepares to Step Down
07/20/2026
The National Association of Conservation Districts announced that Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Peters is resigning from his role, effective September 30, 2026, concluding a 15-year career with NACD, 11 of those years serving as CEO.
NACD Blog: North Central Region Board Approves Work Plan with USFWS
By Ellie Stuckrath and Beth Mason
07/20/2026
This week, the NACD Board of Directors members from the North Central Region convened during NACD’s Summer Conservation Forum & Tours to approve a cooperative work plan with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
NACD: NACD Holds 2026 Summer Conservation Forum and Tours in Michigan
07/22/2026
This week, the National Association of Conservation Districts held its 2026 Summer Conservation Forum and Tours in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Hosted in partnership with the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts, this summer’s meeting gathered conservation leaders from across the country for learning, with a spotlight on natural resources conservation in Michigan.
NACD Blog: A Look at America’s First Conservation Plan
By Candice Abinanti
07/28/2026
This month marks the 80th anniversary of NACD. The association was formed on July 25, 1946, and this year we’ve been exploring the theme, “Deep Roots, Bold Horizons.” We’re celebrating the history of conservation districts, partners, and the association while moving confidently forward. Since the early days, a conservation plan has been a foundation for effective conservation implementation. In this blog post, we’re taking a look at America’s first conservation plan and conservation planning today.
Ag Daily: Regenerative Farming Practices Have Grown 360% in a Decade
07/17/2026
Regenerative agriculture can no longer be considered a niche approach in the agricultural sector. According to a new analysis from the American Farm Bureau Federation, farmers and ranchers have been steadily expanding regenerative practices for decades, with nearly 40 million acres enrolled in USDA-supported regenerative conservation practices by fiscal year 2023.
Phys Org: Reversing soil degradation by 10% could feed 70 million more, global analysis finds
By Sadie Harley
07/22/2026
Factors such as erosion, dehydration and soil compaction are jeopardizing food supplies for broad swaths of the world’s population, according to a study by the University of Bonn, the University of Minnesota, the University of Basel and Hamburg University of Technology. If human-made soil degradation were reversed by 10%, Earth’s arable land could feed an extra 70 million or so people in purely mathematical terms. The findings have been published in the journal Nature Food.
Oklahoma Farm Report: USDA Announces $35 Million to Combat Feral Swine on American Agricultural Lands
07/23/2026
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making available $35 million for partnerships to respond to the threat feral swine pose to American agriculture, landscapes and human and livestock health. This partnership opportunity is part of a broader $105 million investment for the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program, where USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service are working together to target feral swine.
USDA: Secretary Rollins Launches USDA Initiative to Recruit Veterans, Transitioning Service Members, and Military Spouses
07/29/2026
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced a new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiative to recruit veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses into mission-critical careers that protect America’s food supply, strengthen rural communities, and defend the nation’s agricultural security.
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Elkhorn Media Group: The Elmer Dam fish passage, a union of conservation and irrigation
By Garrett Christensen | Cove, OR | Pacific Region
07/15/2026
According to Jim Webster, District Manager for the Union Soil and Water Conservation District, a basic fish passage was installed on the dam sometime in the late 1960s, though eventually became mostly non-functional. As the old passage required constant manual adjustment, it became largely impassable for local fish species, particularly Spring Chinook Salmon, and remained a detrimental obstacle for years.
The Press Enterprise: Inland Empire Resource Conservation District celebrates success of urban agriculture projects
San Bernardino, CA | Pacific Region
07/25/2026
People from local farms, gardens and community organizations recently gathered at Garden of Health in San Bernardino to celebrate the impact of 23 urban agriculture projects. These projects were funded through the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Urban Agriculture Grant Program, with regional coordination and technical assistance provided by the Inland Empire Resource Conservation District.
AgroLatam: Revitalize Salty Soils: Farmers Restore Millions of Unproductive Acres Across the Dakotas
By Marco Díaz Collins | Huron, SD | Northern Plains Region
07/15/2026
A long-term demonstration at the Cain Creek Demonstration Farm near Huron, South Dakota, illustrates how the cycle can be reversed. Beginning in 2015, the Beadle County Conservation District, working with NRCS soil health specialist Kent Vlieger, established salt-tolerant hybrid wheatgrass and alfalfa on a severely degraded 12-acre site.
Cascade Daily News: Without inherited land, first-generation farmers fight to withstand industry’s trials
By | Whatcom County, WA | Pacific Region
07/25/2026
For the last three years, Paramo spent $5,000 on strawberry plants and labor, only to have the fruit eaten by deer. To avoid further loss, Katie Pencke, a conservation farm planner for the Whatcom Conservation District, helped him apply for a $10,000 grant for a fence; the money comes in a few months, but after peak season
Manchester Journal: Conservation District can help landowners access funding to test soil, water for PFAS
By | Bennington, VT | Northeast Region
07/16/2026
The Bennington County Conservation District can help landowners in Bennington County access PFAS testing through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Michael Fernandez, district manager of the Bennington County Conservation District, attended a presentation by state officials on PFAS contamination in Bennington and Shaftsbury on June 24.