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.
Natural Resources Management Today: The National Association of Conservation Districts: “The Voice of Conservation”
By Steve Wilent
11/01/21
“We don’t tell our local county or state associations what they can do. They tell us what they need us to do, because we represent them,” he said.
E&E News: USDA conservation vacancies pose challenge for Biden agenda
By Marc Heller
10/29/21
(Subscriber Only) NACD had pressed Congress for funding specifically for technical assistance, Peters said. Agriculture Department staff in county-level offices provide that help as farmers undertake measures like planting cover crops that hold the soil together during the offseason or when land isn’t in production.
Park Rapids Enterprise: Park Rapids kids plant pollinator prairie
By Robin D. Fish
11/01/21
Seventh graders from Century School joined personnel with the Hubbard County Soil and Water Conservation District on Friday, Oct. 29 to plant habitats for pollinators and wildlife.
Coastal Point: More than $540,000 available for cover crops in Sussex County
11/02/21
“We are proud to work with numerous partners and provide funding for farmers to plant cover crops,” said Debbie Absher, director of agricultural programs at SCD. “Cover crops improve soil health and water quality because of their ability to scavenge excess nutrients in the soil and increase organic matter.”
Manistee News Advocate: Photos: Manistee Conservation District brings stream monitoring to the classroom
By Kyle Kotecki
11/02/21
If you can’t take the classroom to the stream, bring the stream to the classroom. Such was the thinking of Chelsea Cooper, Manistee Conservation District conservation technician, when she brought a sample of local streams to Brethren High School and Onekama Consolidated Schools to teach students about watersheds.
Hawaii Public Radio: Big Island farm receives $750K grant to help veterans learn agriculture
By Zoe Dym
11/02/21
Hoʻōla Farms on the Big Island has received a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to continue their vocational training services for veterans.
The New York Times: Keeping Cattle on the Move and Carbon in the Soil
By Benjamin Ryan
10/31/21
(Subscriber Only) Ranchers and conservationists, once unlikely allies, are teaming up to preserve grasslands, which act as a carbon dioxide sink that could support climate goals.
WTOP News: Va. awards $7.5 million in grants for land conservation
By Rick Massimo
10/28/21
The Department of Conservation and Recreation on Thursday said a total of $7.5 million had been awarded to land trusts, local governments and state agencies to fund 30 conservation projects ranging from farmland, forests and historic sites to natural areas and parks.
Western Farmer-Stockman: Grazing in orchards, vineyards mutually beneficial
By Melissa Hemken
11/02/21
Livestock grazing serves several purposes. It feeds the livestock, regenerates plant and soil health, and—when animals are grazed in orchards or woodlands—lessens wildfire severity by reducing fuel loads.
KUAR: Arkansas study shows soybeans yield 10.5 percent more with cover crop
By John Lovett
10/31/21
A three-year study conducted by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station shows that cover crops can improve yields in soybean fields. The study also answers a lingering question about wheat-double-crop systems.
Ohio’s Country Journal: Warm season grass challenges and benefits to grazing
By Matt Reese
11/03/21
“I was interested in using native warm season grasses after learning about them through my work with NRCS. They really have a good ability to fit in a grazing system by addressing the summer slump.”
Successful Farming: KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR FIGHTS CLIMATE CHANGE WITH SOIL, CARBON SEQUESTRATION
By Julie Freijat
11/01/21
“Carbon is really key for soils — soil health and fertility productivity,” Rice said.
SC Times: Conservation practices are on the rise on Minnesota farms and across the U.S. Here’s why
By Nora G. Hertel
10/28/21
Now the Janskis are using more cover crops across their land. They’ve reduced their tillage. And they allow their cattle to graze on some of their fields, which provides benefits to the land through the animals’ hooves, saliva and manure.
The Cattle Site: Grant beefs up grazing initiative that benefits farmers and environment
11/01/21
In 2015 a small team of Virginia Cooperative Extension agents, farmers and representatives from state and federal conservation agencies from Northern Piedmont and Northern Shenandoah Valley created the Graze 300 VA Initiative “to enable Virginia farmers to achieve 300 days of livestock grazing per year by facilitating better pasture management and environmental stewardship.”
California Grants Portal: Healthy Soils Program (HSP) – Demonstration Projects
11/01/21
The HSP Demonstration Projects aim to improve soil health, sequester carbon and reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs) funding on-farm demonstration projects that collect data and/or showcase conservation management practices that mitigate GHG emissions and increase soil health, and creating a platform promoting widespread adoption of conservation management practices throughout the state.
KPVI: Try new practices — with help
11/02/21
Peninsula Pride Farms, the Calumet County Ag Stewardship Alliance and the Lafayette Ag Stewardship Alliance are offering cost-share funds to farmers who conduct trials of cover crops and planting green, open to members and non-members.
Associated Press: Hope after wildfire: Tiny sequoias could grow into giants
By Brian Melley
11/02/21
The bright green seedling that barely reached Perry’s knees is part of an unusual project to plant offspring from some of the largest and oldest trees on the planet to see if genes that allowed the parent to survive so long will protect new growth from the perils of climate change.
U.S. News: Carbon Into Cash: Farmers Get Paid to Fight Climate Change
By Nora G. Hertel
10/30/21
Planting cover crops could sequester 6.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in Minnesota, according to a January report from The Nature Conservancy. Reducing tillage practices and improved management of fertilizers and nutrients could reduce emissions by more than four million metric tons.
Independent Record: Catastrophic wildfire requires forest management
By Steve Ellis
11/02/21
(Opinion) Restoring our forests to a more natural level of tree density does not mean clear-cutting and does not mean removing the largest trees. It does mean striving for and achieving forests which can withstand wildfire without massive damage to forests, wildlife, watersheds and communities.
By Dr. Sean W. Fleming
11/04/21
Our hope is that M4 will help farmers, ranchers, and foresters – our customers – better plan for their operations and continue to have the means to provide for people in the U.S. and around the world who depend on American agriculture.
Beef Magazine: Reconciliation bill includes $28 billion for conservation, $2 billion for ag research and $12 billion for farmer debt relief.
By Jacqui Fatka
11/04/21
Specifically, the bill provides $28.29 billion in historic investments to conservation programs and support for farmers and producers. The bill would provide $5 billion for Soil Conservation Assistance for producers who establish cover crops for soil health.
Eagle News Online: CLA, UCAN task force introduce water quality monitoring program
B Kate Hill
11/01/21
Co-sponsored by the Cazenovia Lake Association (CLA) and the Water Resources Task Force of the United Climate Action Network (UCAN), the program will provide “hands-on participation in water resource protection, education of the community with a focus on land use impacts, and an opportunity to train the next generation of environmental leaders.”
The Times and Democrat: Productive use of carbon waste: Recycling can boost organic crop production
By Denise Attaway
10/31/21
A Clemson University researcher believes using on-farm carbon waste, as well as growing certain cover crops, may help provide less costly carbon sources and allow more growers to use ASD for their crops.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Family-owned forests define Pa.’s landscape. Can they cash in on the carbon in their trees?
By Laura Legere
11/01/21
The Family Forest Carbon Program is open to forest owners with as little as 30 acres and as many as 2,400 acres. It can do this because, instead of tree-by-tree accounting, it calculates the carbon benefits of sustainable forestry practices that many small landowners agree to adopt.
KATU: Oregon Department of Forestry declares end to 2021 fire season
10/23/21
Fire season has officially ended on all lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry, the state agency declared Saturday morning.
Fast Company: When bees can’t pollinate a flower, this agricultural robot steps in
By Kristin Toussaint
11/01/21
It can be hard to get bees to do their vital work in indoor farms or greenhouses. Instead, the plants may need a little robotic assistance to reproduce.
ABC27: Sec. of Agriculture: Every Spotted Lanternfly egg mass not destroyed is ’50 more’ next spring
By Spencer Lee
10/28/21
On Thursday, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding reminded Pennsylvanians of the importance of vigilance against the Spotted Lanternfly.
The Columbus Dispatch: Gardening: Having soil tested now can be a boost to gardens next year
By Mike Hogan
10/31/21
For a successful garden next spring, don’t guess — soil test!