| 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 Blog: Wilkes County SWCD Builds Mobile Soils Classroom with Help from the Friends of NACD District Grants Program In 2023, the Wilkes County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) in Wilkes County, North Carolina, used funds from the Friends of NACD District Grants Program to support the expansion and mobilization of their wide-reaching conservation education program. The Mobile Soils Classroom recently developed by the Wilkes County SWCD is a one-of-a-kind classroom on wheels that is more than just a place to learn—it’s an immersive “underground” experience that ignites curiosity and appreciation for this vital resource.
USDA: USDA Releases Updated Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) joined more than 20 federal agencies to release its updated Climate Adaptation Plan and expand the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to ensure federal operations are increasingly resilient to climate change impacts. The updated adaptation plans advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Climate Resilience Framework, which helps to align climate resilience investments across the public and private sector through common principles and opportunities for action to build a climate resilient nation.
Agriculture Dive: House Republicans face new hurdles in finding farm bill savings House farm bill negotiators may need to rethink how to pay for proposed increases to safety net programs after updated budget estimates for Republicans’ savings plan came in tens of millions of dollars below expected.
WJAG News Talk: Friday deadline for 2024 USDA Grassland Conservation Program Farm producers and landowners have until the end of this week to apply for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency’s Grassland Conservation Reserve Program. FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux calls Grassland CRP “the essence” of the USDA’s working lands conservation initiative. He says grazing on CRP land often involves more “hands on” practices.
WXMQ19: Lawmakers Discuss Latest Developments on Farm Bill, SNAP Benefits Over 40 million Americans rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to provide food for their families. With the deadline for a new farm bill approaching, SNAP funding continues to be a major debate between both parties in Washington.
USDA: USDA to Begin Accepting Applications for Expanded Emergency Livestock Assistance Program to Help Dairy Producers Offset Milk Loss Due to H5N1 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin accepting applications starting on Monday, July 1 through its updated Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) to provide financial assistance to eligible dairy producers who incur milk losses due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as H5N1infection in their dairy herds.
County 10: Riverton gutter bins help protect the watersheds Gutter bins were recently cleaned out of 19 drains with a haul of over 500 pounds of sediment, leaves, samaras-the papery seeds from the elm trees, trash, cigarette butts, microplastics, and a handful of beer cans. The process of placing the gutter bins started in 2022, when Cathy Rosenthal, Lower Wind River Conservation District District Manager, met with Kyle Butterfield, the Public Works Director at the time.
The Salt Lake Tribune: Utah lost 20% of its farmland. Will the state try to protect what’s left? About 2.7 million acres of Utah farmland vanished in the past six decades. That’s nearly 20% of the agricultural lands in the state, Terry Camp, public policy vice president for the Utah Farm Bureau, told lawmakers Wednesday morning. But there’s one solution that Camp and Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Land Conservation Program Manager Jeremy Christensen say could help: funding conservation easements.
Farms.com: Fridays on the Farm: Growing to New Heights with Conservation and Pollinators This Friday meet Rhonda Larson of Hayti, South Dakota. During the school year Rhonda serves special needs students as a teaching aide in Hamlin County. When she’s not focused on her day job, her passion is flowers, a tradition that was passed down from her mother and grandmother. With help from her conservation efforts and pollinators, that passion has sprouted into a blooming cut flower business.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Biden-Harris Administration announces $22.4 million to protect and restore Chesapeake Bay through Investing in America agenda Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $22.4 million in grants to 13 selectees, through the Innovative Nutrient & Sediment Reduction grant program as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The 13 grants will leverage $35.3 million in matching contributions to generate a total conservation impact of $57.7 million. This program is currently administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) through a grant from EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program Office.
Morning Ag Clips: NRCS makes generational impacts in McCormick County The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) South Carolina took to the field recently to answer the call from a dam owner in McCormick County. Matthew Brown, NRCS South Carolina District Conservationist and experts from the engineer staff responded to a request for assistance from the dam owner, Beth Christie, regarding the repair of the dam gate, which had been damaged several months prior.
Yuba Net: Livestock to Help with Nevada County’s Wildfire Mitigation Efforts Goats and sheep will soon play a key role in Nevada County’s wildfire mitigation efforts. The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a $150,000 contract with the Nevada County Resource Conservation District (RCD) to manage the Livestock Fuel Reduction Program from now through Dec. 31, 2025.
Leigh Valley Press: Native plants recommended for backyard habitats (Edited) The benefits of native plants was the theme for the June Township Environmental Advisory Council. Two speakers addressed the June 19 EAC meeting in the township municipal building. Maggie Wallner, conservation ecologist, Lehigh County Conservation District, spoke about plants and trees for high water table areas.
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