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: Telling the Story: Washington Conservation Districts Make the Case for Sustainable Wildfire Resilience
10/29/2025
On September 14, 2025, a brushfire erupted in south Seattle, damaging four homes and hospitalizing two people—proof that wildfire is an increasing threat to both rural and urban areas. Yet Washington’s conservation districts (CDs) saw an 83% cut in state funding for wildfire resiliency work this biennium. For Jenny Coe, Forest Health and Community Wildfire Manager at the Washington State Conservation Commission (SCC), and Heather Wendt, Deputy Director of the Washington Association of Conservation Districts (WACD), growing wildfire risks, contrasted with shrinking CD funding, highlight a critical need: educating decision-makers about CDs’ vital role in wildfire resiliency.
Action News Now: United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry advances the Fix Our Forests Act
By Will Anderson
10/20/2025
The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry on Tuesday advanced the Fix Our Forests Act, a significant step in federal wildfire policy aimed at combating wildfires and restoring forest health. The bipartisan bill, supported by United States Senator Alex Padilla of California, United States Senator John Curtis of Utah, United States Senator John Hickenlooper of Colorado, and United States Senator Tim Sheehy of Montana, now heads to the full Senate for a vote.
Iowa Capital Dispatch: USDA announces plan to ‘strengthen’ beef industry
By Cami Coons
10/22/2025
The U.S. Department of Agriculture rolled out a plan Wednesday to help “strengthen” the cattle industry and lower consumer prices for beef. The plan comes three weeks into the government shutdown and shortly after a proposal from President Donald Trump to import beef from Argentina to lower prices, which was opposed by cattle industry groups.
Successful Farming: How Soil Health Builds ROI and What Beef Producers Can Learn from Dairy
10/18/2025
Missouri farmer Ryan Britt shares how conservation practices improve soil health and ROI—and why beef producers can benefit from adopting proven dairy strategies.
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The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: The Pasture Mealybug: A New Invasive Pest of Pastures and Hayfields in Texas
By Stephen Biles, Danielle Sekula, et. al | Texas | South Central Region
Since mid-April of the current season, southern Texas pasture and hay producers have been reporting problems in their fields. These fields show grass patches becoming brown or necrotic, or patches that are completely dead. There have been extreme cases where entire fields show symptoms of grass desiccation (Figure 1). Originally, it was presumed that symptoms were caused by the Rhodes grass mealybug (Antonina graminis), which has been reported in the U.S. since 1942. However, further investigations have confirmed the pasture mealybug (Heliococcus summervillei) is the species associated with the symptoms and cases previously mentioned.
Cascadia Daily News: Everson property now an outdoor classroom, fulfilling dream of former owners
By Charlotte Alden| Everson, WA | Pacific Region
10/24/2025
Several years ago, Michael Jay, whose parents owned the property, wrote a proposal to the Whatcom Conservation District, suggesting that the property should one day host a learning center. A science teacher for years, it was a natural thought for him. But it wasn’t until last year that it seemed like the dream would actually come true.
Elk County third graders explore ‘Into the Woods’ program
Jeff Hogan | Lapeer, MI | North Central Region
10/24/2025
Presenters from AHUG, the Elk County Conservation District, the Cameron County Outdoor Youth Association and the Lumber Heritage Region engaged students in a rotation of interactive learning stations highlighting the many ways forests support life, industry and recreation.
New Rockford Transcript: Roots matter
By | North Dakota | Northern Plains Region
10/27/2025
The soil, after years of careful management by the Maddock family, breathes again. For that work, Brian and his wife Vicki, along with the entire Maddock family, recently received recognition as recipients of the Leopold Conservation Award, making them part of a growing lineage of farmers and ranchers proving that working lands can also heal themselves.
King Conservation District: Orca Recovery Day 2025
By Lars Nelson | Renton, WA | Pacific Region
10/29/2025
King Conservation District’s 8th annual Orca Recovery Day was a success thanks to our dedicated volunteers! Community members helped restore the Snoqualmie River’s South Fork floodplain last Saturday, planting 220 native plants along an important tributary. As volunteers muddied their boots some-30 miles away from Southern Resident Orcas’ ocean home, they learned how these native plants serve orcas. The answer lay in KCD’s theme of the day: “More Trees, More Salmon, More Orcas.”