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.
The Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District (FCSWCD) in Franklin County, New York was awarded an Urban Agriculture Conservation (UAC) Grant through a partnership with the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to boost technical capacity nationwide.
“Cover crops are essential for holding the soil and improving its water retention,” says National Association of Conservation Districts President Michael Crowder. “NACD applauds USDA for bolstering payments for these important practices to incentivize further adoption. The PCCP program recognizes early adopters and producers who prioritize soil health management systems.”
The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) released a statement applauding the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s announcement that producers will receive a crop insurance premium for cover crops.
The National Association of Conservation Districts applauded the additional funding for Conservation Operations, which funds Conservation Technical Assistance.
Long before this was a cornfield, it was a wetland, a vital area for water filtration, aquifer recharge, and wildlife habitat. The area is being restored to its original state through a partnership between Ducks Unlimited, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Nebraska Environmental Trust, Rainwater Basin Joint Venture and the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District.
Despite being a neophyte, he was helped along in his farm conversion by the Winona County Soil and Water Conservation District, which offered both technical advice and financial incentive for Luehmann to make the switch.
The Nature Conservancy, Minnesota Land Trust and the Stearns Soil and Water Conservation District are partners in a project called All Acres For Our Water. The project is intended to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loading into the Mississippi River by 20 percent in the Backes Lake subwatershed area, TNC Strategy Manager Leif Fixen said.
The thirty-fifth annual Clinton County Envirothon was held on April 26 with six teams from the Sugar Valley Rural Charter School competing this year in a virtual format rather than in person due to COVID-19. Regardless of the challenges, students were able to participate in the county event sponsored by the Clinton County Conservation District.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of up to $4 million for grants to support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects. USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (Office) is accepting proposals for planning and innovation projects, and these grants are part of USDA’s broader efforts to support urban agriculture.
The benefit of cover crops during the following spring and summer may be seen through less herbicide that needs to be applied on the same fields, and an increase in per-acre yields for corn and soybeans, according to Woodrow, who is based at Farmland Solutions in Sherman.
(Subscriber Only) There’s an emerging trend of community co-ops for prescribed fire, often called prescribed burn associations, or PBAs, in which landowners, other locals and fire experts band together.
Farmers across California say they expect to receive little water from state and federal agencies that regulate the state’s reservoirs and canals, leading many to leave fields barren, plant more drought-tolerant crops or seek new income sources all-together.
Koger’s prescribed burning has been a management mainstay on the Hashknife since 1977. The results include many things besides improved cattle performance.
“The idea behind carbon farming is pretty simple—remove excess carbon from the atmosphere and store it in the soil, where it will facilitate plant growth,” Lewis said.
While global demand for almonds and other pollinated crops has tripled, the areas of the United States that need pollinators most offer them poor living conditions.
Scientists have described a pathway leading to the accelerated flowering of plants in low-nitrogen soils. These findings could eventually lead to increases in agricultural production.
