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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 with accessing articles, please contact the NACD Communications Team.


 

NACD Blog: NACD Annual Meeting TA Grant Participant: Noreen Berden
06/03/22

This blog post is part of a nine-part series highlighting technical assistance (TA) grant recipient participation at NACD’s 76th Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL. This post’s author, Noreen Berden of Hendry Soil and Water Conservation District in FL, attended the meeting with a TA stipend.


 

AgDaily: Degraded Soil is One of Growers' Most Threatening Disasters
By Jon Stika
06/02/22

Soil degradation has happened largely through ignorance about how the soil functions as a biological system. This can be remedied by educating producers, policy makers, regulators, and the public in how the soil can be profitably managed to restore its capacity to function again.

Gizmodo: The U.S. Drought Situation is Getting Increasingly Desperate
By Lauren Leffer
06/06/22

The ramifications of the historic megadrought happening in the U.S. right now are getting increasingly serious. Hydropower is faltering, farmland is too parched to produce, and millions of people are currently under water restrictions.

Bloomberg Government: ‘Five-Alarm’ Drought Sparks Lawmaker Push for Water Conservation
By Maeve Sheehey
06/07/22

Lawmakers have urged more disaster relief funding as rural areas reel from the water shortage. Lawmakers said there was a need for investments and improvements in programs for farmers to get the most out of the water they use.

Agri-Pulse: USDA looks to mentor, support new generation of organic farmers
By Garrett Downs
06/08/22

(Subscriber only) USDA is pouring a historic infusion of cash into an initiative aimed at making it easier for farmers to transition to organic agriculture, including by giving them access to mentors. The $300 million program, Organic Transition Initiative, will be rolled out over two to three years.

 



 

Washington Post: The Quest to Keep Carbon in North Carolina's Wetlands
By Brady Dennis | North Carolina | Southeast Region
05/31/22

Restoring peatland can reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires that in the past have fed on the parched peat and burned for months on end, scientists say. It can safeguard habitat for black bears, migratory birds and other animals that call these wetlands home. Healthy peat can improve local water quality and help mitigate flooding.

WBOY: Pollinator-Friendly Plants Coming to Westover
By Makayla Shindler | Westover, WV | Northeast Region
06/04/22

The Monongalia County Beekeepers Association partnered with multiple organizations on the morning of June 4 to bring a pollinator garden to the intersection triangle in Westover.

Axios: "Megadrought" Threatens Arizona Water Cutbacks
By Jeremy Duda | Arizona | Southwest Region
06/04/22

Arizona and the other six Western states that are part of the Colorado River Basin are in the midst of a 22-year "megadrought" that ranks as the region's worst in 1,200 years.

Successful Farming: Rotation, Rest, and Recovery Yield Success in this Ranch's Grazing Program
By Mitch Kezar | South Dakota | Northern Plains Region
06/04/22

After managing the rangeland and cattle for 24 years in an intensive grazing program, A. Jay Heiss reflects on what he’s learned. The changes, hardships, and techniques over the years ultimately improved the organic matter in the soil and benefited the forage and, subsequently, the cattle on that land.

OPB: Neighbors Near Portland’s Forest Park Organize to Reduce Wildfire Danger
By Sage Van Wing | Portland, OR | Pacific Region
06/05/22

Portland’s Forest Park is one of the largest urban forests in the country. And like any forest, it is susceptible to wildfires, especially as summers become hotter and drier. For people whose homes are nestled in or near the park, a forest fire would be devastating. So some neighborhoods have begun to organize into what are called “firewise communities.”

The Daily Gazette: Pollinator Event Draws Crowd in Saratoga County
By Chad Arnold | Schenectady, NY | Northeast Region
06/05/22

Dozens descended on the former Oligny Garden Center along Wilton-Gansevoort Road on Sunday for Pollinator Palooza: the first-of-its-kind event hosted by Sustainable Saratoga to raise awareness about the plight of pollinators and the important role native plants play in the ecosystem.

Columbia Missourian: Pollinators, Planting, and Painting: West Ash Neighbors Gather for Plemmons Pollinator Day
By Margo Wagner | Columbia, MO | North Central Region
06/05/22

Columbia residents gathered to exchange native plants, tour seven different gardens, paint faces, make watering dishes for bees and listen to live music during the Pollinator Day on Sunday.

Wyoming News Now: Wyoming State Forestry Talks About Upcoming Fire Season
By Valeria Fugate | Cheyenne, WY | Northern Plains Region
06/06/22

State forestry officials say this year will be a busier fire season than last year. Stating the multi-department predictive services say, Northeastern Wyoming will be above average in fire potential in June and July and the rest of the state will follow from July to September.

ClickonDetroit: What you can do to Help Prevent Spread of Invasive Pests, Protect Plant Health This Summer
By Kayla Clark | Detroit, MI | North Central Region
06/06/22

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) wants gardeners to be on the lookout for invasive plants, pests and diseases when they head to their local greenhouse or nursery this summer.

KCUR: New Effort Aims to Help Midwest Farmers Plant Cover Crops on a Half a Million Acres
By Katie Peikes | Garden City, KS | Northern Plains Region
06/06/22

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has awarded nearly $3 million dollars in grants to plant cover crops in six Midwestern states, including Kansas and Iowa. The funding comes as demand for state and federal incentive programs for cover crops often outpaces available funding.

WBAL: New Report Card on Health of Chesapeake Bay Shows Gradual Improvement
Baltimore, MD | Northeast Region
06/06/22

The Chesapeake Bay watershed received an overall grade of C+ on its latest report card, released Monday by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. The Chesapeake Bay health score improved slightly from 45 to 50 last year, for a grade of C, the report said.

ABC News: Wildfire Erupts Near LA as Record-Breaking Heat Scorches Southwest
By Kyla Guilfoil | California | Pacific Region
06/07/22

A brush fire erupted Monday afternoon in Hesperia, California, leaving one burn victim and up to 50 acres of scorched land, amid record-breaking temperatures in the Southwest.

Salt Lake Magazine: Wildland Firefighters Gearing Up for Wildfire Season
By Christie Porter | Salt Lake City, UT | Southwest Region
06/07/22

Fire Engine Operator Training Workshop trainees come from both local and federal firefighting agencies, with workshop participants from Saratoga Springs, Lone Peak Fire District, Unified Fire Authority, National Parks Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs and BLM in preparation for wildfire season.

Washington Post: Damage Estimates Climb from Massive New Mexico Wildfire
By Susan Montoya Bryan | Albuquerque, NM | Southwest Region
06/07/22

The destruction caused by the largest wildfire burning in the U.S. has been devastating for thousands of residents and their lives have been forever disrupted and altered, New Mexico’s governor said Tuesday after touring the damage in one county.

Levittown Now: Project to Improve Lake Luxembourg to Begin This Summer
By Tom Sofield | Penndel, PA| Northeast Region
06/07/22

This August, Bucks County government and the Bucks County Conservation District will begin work on a months-long project to restore the conservation pool, which sits along the Woodbourne Road causeway, and improve the inlet where water pours into the 175-acre Lake Luxembourg in Middletown Township.

USGS: Grasslands Worth Millions to Beekeepers, Invaluable to Birds
By Marisa Lubeck | North Dakota | Northern Plains Region Region
06/07/22

Grassland conservation in the Dakotas generates millions of dollars in annual revenue for beekeepers while improving the abundance of sensitive bird species, according to a recently published study. 

The Times Leader: Conservation District Issues "100 Hours Outside" Challenge
Princeton, KY | Southeast Region
06/08/22

The Caldwell County Conservation District is introducing a new program to get children excited about spending time outdoors this summer. Conservation kids are encouraged to take on the “100 hours outside” challenge this summer, with a special prize at the end. The project seeks to encourage children (and caregivers) to spend more time grounding, connecting with nature and appreciating natural resources.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Invasive Species Prevention Takes Center Stage in June
By Paul Smith | Milwaukee, WI | North Central Region
06/09/22

As part of the state's efforts to combat invasive species, Wisconsin Governor proclaimed June as "Invasive Species Action Month." The campaign is designed to encourage Wisconsinites to help prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species that harm Wisconsin’s native wildlife, wetlands, forests, prairies, lakes and rivers, the Department of Natural Resources announced in a statement.

 


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