Conservation Clip Lists for Friday, April 26th, 2024
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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.
The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) proudly announces the recipients of the first round of grants for the Historically Underserved Farmer-to-Farmer Outreach Program. NACD has selected two Soil and Water Conservation Districts to receive funding to implement innovative techniques that will reduce non-point source pollution in the Gulf of Mexico and to work directly with Native American and historically underserved producers to increase the sustainability and resiliency of their operations.
Register for a free webinar series for military veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses on how to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prepare for a career in agriculture. This webinar series is designed to provide information about USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher programs and resources for the military community.
Many large-scale farmers who grow major crops like corn and soybeans have turned to crop insurance to prepare for price fluctuations and weather events that affect growing seasons. The number of U.S. specialty crop acres covered by insurance has grown over the past few years. Still, only 9% of specialty crop farmers purchased insurance in 2022, according to a recent USDA report (edited).
It’s an exciting time for no-till. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, a historic amount of funding is available to America’s farmers and ranchers for climate-smart practices like no-till.
To further protect the U.S. livestock industry from the threat posed by highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, USDA is sharing a number of actions that we are taking with our federal partners to help us get ahead of this disease and limit its spread.
At a tense 12-hour hearing that lasted well into the night on Tuesday, California officials struck a big blow against that model. The state board that regulates water voted unanimously to take control of groundwater in the Tulare Lake subbasin, one of the state’s largest farming areas, imposing a first-of-its-kind mandatory fee on water pumping by farmers in the area.
The Manistee Conservation District is seeking volunteers to participate in its May 11 spring stream monitoring event. The event aims to engage the community in citizen science while assessing the health of local streams through the collection and analysis of macroinvertebrates.
“May the Forest Be with You, Always” is this year’s theme for Stewardship Week, recognizing the importance of forests in the protection of soil and water resources, preventing erosion, purifying contaminants, and nurturing healthy watersheds. The 69th Annual Stewardship Week runs from April 28 to May 5, and the Northern and Southern Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Guam are inviting everyone to take part in the various activities they are hosting.
It’s Earth Day and Alina Hedman, Urban Conservation Education Coordinator for the Minnehaha Conservation District, shares some of the benefits of trading in that traditional lawn for native grasses and plants.
Saturday was a beautiful day to get outside, and plenty of folks took the opportunity to celebrate Earth Day in the sunshine. The grounds around the Bradford County Conservation District were transformed Saturday, with vendors and presenters talking with folks.
This summer, 10 farmers in southwestern Colorado are experimenting with low-water-use crops, like wheat and barley, as a way to cut their water use in times of drought. But their hopes aren’t high that the crops will become a dominant part of their business anytime soon.
