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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.


Editor's Note: NACD will not issue editions of Conservation Clips on Friday, Dec. 24 and 31. Happy holidays and New Year!

Crossville Chronicle: Lowe, Presley honored for conservation
12/09/21
 
The Cumberland County Soil Conservation District recognized Terry Lowe and Jonathan Presley for implementing best practices in conservation on their farms.
 
The Progress News: Conservation District tallies $15M in grants over two decades
By Mikayla Heiss
12/14/21

Over the course of about 20 years, the Clearfield County Conservation District brought in over $15 million in grants, District Manager Willie Null announced at a recent meeting.
 
Successful Farming: COVER CROP LESSONS FROM FOUR MIDWEST FARMERS 
By Megan Schilling
12/15/21
 
At the Soil Management Summit in Mankato, Minnesota, farmers shared their mistakes and successes planting cover crops on their farms. 
 
Wallaces Farmer: Five things learned at Cover Crop Boot Camp
By Willie Vogt
12/10/21
 
While the topic of cover crops has seen more coverage of late — thanks to rising interest in carbon sequestration programs and concerns about nutrient loss from farmland — the practice is not yet widespread.
 
Successful Farming: SOIL RESILIENCE NEEDED TO FUEL SECOND GREEN REVOLUTION
By Gil Gullickson
12/15/21
 
“Soil is life,” says Rattan. “There is no soil without life, and no life without soil. We don’t need more land. We need to better use what we have.”  
 

Battle Creek no-till farmer and advocate Dan Gillespie sought to leave any land he farmed in better condition than he found it.
 
 
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering a number of conservation opportunities to private landowners through Ohio’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).  
 
The Southern Maryland Chronicle: New Guide Explores the Importance of Forestry in Maryland
12/06/21
 
The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC), a Division of the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, and Grow & Fortify teamed up to develop a new resource guide and companion video ‘An Introduction to Southern Maryland’s Forestry Industry’ to highlight how responsible forest management benefits our state’s ecology and economy.
 
The Country Today: Shepherding agriculture into a greener future
By Gabe Lagarde
12/13/21
 
When it comes to problematic weeds, shrubs and trees, it’s best to nip them in the bud. Or, more accurately, it’s best to nibble. That’s where targeted grazing comes in. It has a litany of potential applications and there may not be a better animal to do it than sheep and goats.
 
 
Less than a week after a swarm of powerful tornadoes devastated Kentucky and four other states, a freakish wind storm brought "Dust Bowl" conditions and gusts of more than 100 mph (161 kph) to parts of the Great Plains and Upper Midwest, meteorologists said on Wednesday.
 
The Washington Post: Native Americans’ farming practices may help feed a warming world
By Samuel Gilbert
12/10/21
 
"We’ve had 5,000 years of farmers trying out different strategies for dealing with heat, drought and water scarcity. We need to begin to translate that."
 
 
“With the use of cover crops and adaptive grazing practices, diversifying their crop rotations, limiting tillage – no till especially – diverse cover crop blends, diversity in terms of livestock out of the prairie,” Bevan said. “All of these practices sequester carbon in the soil; that’s bio-mimicry.”
 
 
New research reveals a previously underappreciated way old-growth forests have been recycling and storing carbon: Treetop soils.
 
Dialogo Chino: Explainer: What is regenerative agriculture?
By Fermín Koop 
12/07/21
 
From policymakers to farmers and food companies, regenerative agriculture is being hailed as an alternative for food production with lower environmental impacts.



In the University of Kentucky’s Robinson Forest, there are small, harvested openings scattered across the landscape. The openings are part of a College of Agriculture, Food and Environment study designed to create improved bat habitat. 
 
Ohio's Country Journal: What’s our no-till message to the feds?
By Randall Reeder
12/09/21
 
The small percentage of farmland currently using this system needs to expand rapidly. A clear message to Congress and the bureaucrats in Washington would be a good start. 
 
 
Bees, butterflies, beetles, birds and other pollinators species will be buzzing about Mercer County Parks at large and small open areas that are being turned into meadows in an initiative led by the Mercer County Park Commission. 
 
Lifehacker: How to Improve Your Garden Soil Quality Over the Winter
By Elizabeth Yuko
12/11/21
 
“Over time, a cover crop regimen will increase soil organic matter, leading to improvements in soil structure, stability, and increased moisture and nutrient holding capacity for plant growth,” the USDA and the Natural Resources Conservation Service report.
 
High Plains Journal: Livestock watering options to help improve water quality
By Kylene Scott
12/05/21
 
“The management practices that are used on those working agricultural lands are really the dominant factor in our resulting water quality.”
 

Scientists have developed a new simple, inexpensive and fast method to detect and measure very low concentrations of agricultural lime in soils, which is generally a time consuming and difficult exercise.
 
 
The Oregon legislature passed two bills amounting to a $100 million investment in drought relief and resilience following one of the worst water years on record.
 
 
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding $15 million to conservation partners across the country for 19 new projects under the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. 
 
 
Gov. Reynolds announced a historic $100 million investment in water infrastructure and water quality efforts for the State of Iowa.
 
 
A new analysis by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, provides a roadmap for how the state can effectively reduce wildfire risk through forest thinning while continuing to limit its carbon emissions. 
 
 
The Kern River moves from the Sierra Nevada, a flowing oasis for flora and fauna, coursing to the northeast side of Bakersfield, California. Then it pools, drying out and turning into miles of sand.
 
 
A binational poll of people in the Great Lakes region found the vast majority want to protect its waters, and they're willing to pay for improved water quality as they report growing concern for the lakes.

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