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: Restoring the Arkansas River Corridor: Turning Invasive Tamarisk into Conservation Success
By Nicole Poitra
09/14/2026
Ducks Unlimited works directly with private landowners to plan and carry out restoration, with local conservation districts playing an important role in connecting the project with landowners. The Kearny County Conservation District has been the primary district involved, with Finney and Hamilton County Conservation Districts also supporting the effort. The districts help promote the project, educate landowners about the restoration work, and connect interested landowners with Ducks Unlimited.
ESF: USDA Approval Advances Efforts to Restore the American Chestnut
08/31/2026
Efforts by researchers at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) to restore the American chestnut tree to the American landscape took a significant leap forward with an approved designation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that ESF’s genetically modified Darling chestnut trees are unlikely to pose a threat to other plants.
AgAlert: USDA seeks to ease organic certification process, costs
By Tim Hearden
09/02/2026
Enter USDA’s next step: approval of a common organic system plan, which is designed to streamline certification with a goal of improving consistency, making oversight more efficient, and helping the organic sector meet the needs of a growing and complex marketplace, said Jennifer Tucker, USDA deputy administrator of the National Organic Program.
USDA: USDA NASS Modernizes Data Visualization with Launch of AgInsights
09/16/2026
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) today launched AgInsights, a new data dissemination tool that will serve as a key component of NASS’s ongoing modernization strategy. Designed to enhance currently used data products and services, the AgInsights application offers streamlined information dissemination, increased operational efficiency, and a more dynamic, interactive experience so producers have easier navigation and access to the latest agricultural data.
Drovers: Bridging Ancient Wisdom and Modern Grazing: A Conversation with Delane Atcitty
09/16/2026
Across the grazing lands community, conversations about lowering inputs, improving water infiltration, increasing biodiversity, and building more resilient operations have become increasingly common. Practices like multi-species grazing, combining herds, and high-density grazing are often discussed as innovative approaches to the future of land management. For many Indigenous communities, however, the principles behind these practices are anything but new.
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Dakota Farmer: Build options into your row crop operation
By | North and South Dakota | Northern Plains Region
09/09/2026
Challenges for North and South Dakota row crop farmers have unfolded in three phases this year. Diesel prices increased appreciably in March and April. By mid-June, drought had spread across much of southern South Dakota. Then came a blazing July, when corn on lighter ground scorched.
Wand News: Macon County Conservation District opens Woodbine Farm to the public
By Caryn Eisert | Decatur, IL | North Central Region
09/16/2026
Macon County Conservation District Executive Director Jerry Culp said the district acquired Woodbine Farm in stages over about three years. The 236 acres that make up most of the restored land came first through a grant and through the Clean Energy Foundation.
Manchester Journal: Restoring the river’s memory: Bringing back the banks of the Batten Kill
By Danielle M. Crosier | Sunderland, VT | Northeast Region
09/16/2026
The overall project has drawn in a broad coalition that includes the Bennington County Conservation District, the Batten Kill Watershed Alliance, the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and Watersheds United Vermont (which administers the grant funding).
The Journal of the San Juan Islands: San Juan Islands Youth Conservation Corps celebrates a landmark summer season
By Mike Rosekrans | San Juan Islands | Pacific Region
09/17/2026
2026 was a landmark year for the San Juan Islands Youth Conservation Corps, marking our 10th year as a program of the San Juan Islands Conservation District and our 19th year connecting local youth to hands-on, real-world outdoor experience. Over the course of our eight-week season, our 39 crew members got outside, got their hands dirty and did the work of protecting and restoring the natural beauty of these islands.