| 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.
NACD: NACD Announces Launch of District Grants Application Period The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) announced the launch of its application period for the 2023 Friends of NACD District Grants Program. NACD Blog: 50 Years of the CWA: Oxford County SWCD Water Quality Projects in the Androscoggin River Watershed Since 1972, the water quality has steadily and vastly improved due to the Clean Water Act (CWA). Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District is doing its part to continue improving water quality in the watershed through 319 Projects, which are funded by the Clean Water Act.
Farm Progress: Annual Forage Mix or Cover Crop? Cover crops, winter cereal forages, and summer annual mixtures are covering more acres than in the past. Many species selected to protect soil and water quality are the same ones used in annual forage mixtures. While these crops can serve a dual purpose, management differs depending on their intended use. Cotton Grower: Cotton Growers Increasing Soil Health Practices An increased emphasis on transparency, sustainability, and regenerative programs is helping to improve soil health across the Cotton Belt – state by state, farm by farm. Yet, significant opportunity to expand adoption of climate-friendly soil health practices in cotton production remains. Crop Life: Soil Health Focus Increasing for Growers From an improved understanding about the benefits it provides, to increased scrutiny and interest from regulators and the general public on sustainable production methods, it’s easy to see why there’s so much focus on building a solid foundation with our soils. USDA: USDA Scientists Collaborate with Partners to Address Soil Moisture Challenges on Farms The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agriculture Research Service is conducting out reach to farmers and engineers to inform them about the side effects of soil moisture so that farms have a chance to thrive under agricultural challenges. Metro Blooms: Help Tuck Pollinators into Bed for the Winter Before leaves break down, they provide essential shelter for insects. There are a lot of insects that use leaves to overwinter. By October, insects beneficial to our ecosystems may be bedding down, some making cocoons in leaves on the ground. AgWeb: Flip your Soil: How do Farmers get Started Implementing Soil Health Practices on their Farms? Farmers realize the benefits of improving soil health on their farm. However, sometimes they just need help implementing some of the practices.
South Dakota Locally Led: New Video Puts a Spotlight on Long-Billed Curlews in Northwestern South Dakota The “Cattle, Curlews, and Conservation” video released by the South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts showcases one of South Dakota’s Conservation Implementation Strategy (CIS) Projects in action. KWTX: Drought Expected to Draw more Pests, Fewer Fall Colors to Central Texas The state’s drought is bringing some unwelcome visitors to Central Texas. Due to the stress it has taken on trees, experts say Central Texans can expect to see more pests and less fall colors this year. Walterboro Live: Colleton Soil & Water Conservation District Names Ag Scholarship Winners The Colleton Soil & Water Conservation District was pleased to present the 2022 Ag Scholarship to two recipients. The Ag Scholarship is offered to Colleton County students pursuing a degree in an agricultural or natural resources related field. USDA: Fridays on the Farm: Embracing Conservation on a Florida Cattle Ranch Meet Alberto and Taimi Fernandez of Aaron Agriculture, a cattle ranch in Florida. Today, Aberdeen Angus and American Brahman cattle graze the pastures at the couple’s 632-acre ranch. These pastures have improved over time with the help of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. Sierra Sun Times: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on How Does Wildfire Impact Wildlife and Forests? Seeing a forest recently burned in a wildfire can be jarring. Green is replaced by shades of gray. The land is quiet. The sunshine feels hotter. However, it’s not long before the forest comes back to life. Wyoming Tribune-Eagle: As Invasive Mussels Creep Towards Wyoming, ‘Dirty Boats’ Show up in Yellowstone Ecosystem Invasive mussels float down rivers as plumes of tiny larvae, latch onto boats to cross state lines, and find new waters to infest. They are inching closer to Wyoming. Grand Island Independent: Soil Carbon Project Deadline is Nov. 18 Producers in the Central Platte and Upper Big Blue natural resources districts are now able to enroll their acres in the new Nebraska Soil Carbon Project. The project deadline is Nov. 18. CNN: As the Mississippi River Plunges, the Army Corps is Building a 1,500-Foot-Wide Levee to Keep Salt Water out of Drinking Water Increasingly frequent and intense drought combined with sea level rise are creating low flow in Louisiana at the mouth of the Mississippi River, allowing saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico to push up the river, threatening drinking water supply. Cowboy State Daily: Federal-State Partnership Will Reward Wyoming Landowners for Conservation In an effort to reward landowners for their ongoing conservation of grazing lands, the federal government and state of Wyoming finalized an agreement that would allow agricultural producers and landowners to more easily access money to ensure Wyoming’s wide open spaces stay that way. BLM: BLM Enhances Watershed Restoration Initiative Agreement with Utah Partners The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is growing its partnership with the Utah Department of Natural Resources for the Watershed Restoration Initiative by committing approximately $3.8 million of funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for habitat restoration, watershed health, and hazardous fuels removal. Richmond Register: Conservation District Challenged by Changing Landscape Collaborates with Local Non-Profit To address increasing amounts of farmland turning into development, Madison County Conservation District is prioritizing attention to urban agriculture, which includes urban farms, neighborhood gardens, school and household gardens, backyard and rooftop gardens and other forms of food production. Western Farmer-Stockman: Summit to Focus on Invasive Species The Montana Invasive Species Council will host the Montana Invasive Species Summit on Tuesday, Oct. 25 and Wednesday, Oct. 26 in Helena at the Great Northern Hotel. CBS19 News: Accepting Applications for Grassland Bird Protection Incentive Program The Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative is accepting applications for its 2023 financial incentives program. Producers and landowners can now apply for an incentive program that aims to protect grassland birds with best management practices during their nesting season. South Dakota Soil Health Coalition: Adding Life to the Soil: Experimenting with Compost Healthy soil requires healthy, active biology beneath the surface. This includes bacteria and fungi. Some researchers and producers are experimenting with methods to jumpstart the growth of soil biology to improve soil health. The Bloomfield Democrat: DALS Announces Urban Water Quality Project Cost-Share Availability Iowa Secretary of Agriculture announced the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (DALS) is now accepting pre-applications for cost-share funding to support urban conservation projects. VT Digger: FCNRCD Completes Two Designs for Natural Resources Restoration Projects in Franklin County The Franklin County Natural Resources Conservation District (FCNRCD) has completed two final designs for natural resources restoration projects to help improve water quality, stream health, and lake shorelines. |