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.
AgriView: USDA unveils conservation program
By Chuck Anderas and Michael Fields
05/08/2026
The purpose of the committee is to provide guidance to USDA about how it’s implementing its conservation programs. State Technical Committee meetings are also a time for Natural Resources Conservation Service leadership to share updates with stakeholders such as conservation professionals and farmers.
Farm Progress: ‘Take 5’ when trying out cover crops
By Drew McCutchan
05/12/2026
Cover crops are promoted by conservation districts, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, land-grant universities and many other invested parties. But there’s a question that rises to the top when discussing their benefits: Do they work here?
Tri-State Livestock News: Boozman plans farm bill text, markup in June
05/14/2026
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., said Tuesday he plans to release the text of the Senate version of what’s known as Farm Bill 2.0, or the skinny farm bill, in June and plans a committee markup of the bill the same month. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., ranking member on the bill, told The Hagstrom Report she and Boozman are supposed to meet about the farm bill next week.
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Oklahoma Farm Report: USDA NRCS Chief Aubrey Bettencourt Highlights Soil Health and Resilience in Oklahoma Visit
Oklahoma | South Central Region
05/11/2026
NRCS Chief Aubrey Bettencourt recently visited Oklahoma to witness the state’s ongoing conservation efforts and engage with over 900 youth participants at a national land judging contest. Farm director KC Sheperd was on hand with Bettencourt who described the state as the “birthplace of the service,” Bettencourt emphasized that the agency’s primary mission is to remove “friction points” and provide the technical expertise necessary to keep producers sustainable.
Battleboro Reformer: Conservation districts team up to protect grassland birds
Walpole, NH | Northeast Region
05/11/2026
A regional partnership among four conservation districts between Vermont and New Hampshire, the Windham County Natural Resources Conservation District, the Cheshire County Conservation District, the Ottauquechee NRCD, and the Sullivan County Conservation District, presents the Connecticut River Valley Grassland Bird Project.
Whidbey News Times: Firewise workdays help Whidbey neighborhoods reduce wildfire risk
By Allyson Ballard | Washington | Pacific Region
05/12/2026
Maddie Buehrer, a natural resource planner with the Whidbey Island Conservation District, explained that the district functions as a middleman between communities and the DNR to coordinate these workdays. This year, four communities in Oak Harbor, Coupeville and Langley — including an RV park — benefited.
MVSKOKE Media: Aquaponics paves the future for cultural crops and food sovereignty
By Braden Harper | Morris, OK | South Central Region
05/13/2026
In 2021, the MCN Conservation District received a grant from the Native American Agriculture Fund. The grant provided the Nation with $197,060.73 to help citizens procure and operate their own aquaponic greenhouses. The MCN Conservation District built its aquaponics system at the Morris Indian Community Center.
Coastside News: A second life for Coastside farm plastics
By Kathryn Wheeler | California | Pacific Region
05/13/2026
In an effort to reduce the amount of plastic sent from Coastside farms to landfills, the San Mateo Resource Conservation District and coastal farms have teamed up for the third year to recycle 41,460 pounds of agricultural plastic.