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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.
On Friday, August 12, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). Earlier that week, the U.S. Senate passed the IRA by a vote of 51-50. President Joe Biden then signed the bill into law on Tuesday, August 16. NACD applauded the bill’s inclusion of historic investments to support conservation, improve resilience, and address climate change. Read this blog to find out more about the provisions of that legislation.
NACD applauds the inclusion of conservation and natural resources program funding in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), which was passed by Congress today. The bill will now be sent to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
Today, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) announced the award of $15 million in new technical assistance grants as continued funding to nearly 500 conservation districts in 49 states and territories. This program allows NACD to accelerate on-the-ground conservation by increasing the capacity available to conduct outreach and deliver technical assistance to farmers, ranchers and forest stewards across the U.S.
Through state produce safety programs that are cooperating with FDA to implement the Produce Safety Rule, farmers are offered a free, voluntary and confidential educational opportunity to invite a team of these state specialists to teach them how to meet the food safety standards required by the Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Safety Rule.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced it is awarding $197 million for 41 locally led conservation projects through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). RCPP is a partner-driven program that leverages partner resources to advance innovative projects that address climate change, enhance water quality, and address other critical challenges on agricultural land.
(Subscriber only) The Agriculture Department is poised to pour nearly $20 billion into expanding climate-related farming practices under a historic funding package the House cleared Friday. The bill would provide $18 billion for four farm bill conservation programs, plus another $1.4 billion for the Natural Resources Conservation Service to provide technical assistance to farmers and measure the impact of farming practices on carbon emissions.
(Subscriber only) This week’s Open Mic guest is Michael Crowder, president of the National Association of Conservation Districts. Crowder says NACD is pleased to see additional funds directed toward existing conservation programs that are currently underfunded. He says additional funds for technical assistance will help producers engage more land in conservation stewardship practices.
New funding will bolster the steps that USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced to improve opportunities for nutrient management. NRCS will target funding, increasing program flexibilities, launch a new outreach campaign to promote nutrient management’s economic benefits, in addition to expanding partnerships to develop nutrient management plans.
While cold weather might not be top of mind, it is time to think about winter feeding strategies and inventory. Preplanning to maximize utilization rates and extend the grazing season could help to combat current high feed costs and fuel prices. Depending on location, producers have many options for winter feeding. With proper planning, winter grazing can even be successful in regions with cold and snowy conditions.
(Subscriber only) Farmers and ranchers across the West and Plains states continue to be hammered by the drought. A new survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation captures the far-reaching implications on farmers’ and ranchers’ bottom lines, but also food availability and affordability. The survey included more than 600 responses from county and state Farm Bureau leaders, staff and members in 15 states from Texas to North Dakota to California.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Akiptan, Inc., the Cherokee Nation Economic Development Trust Authority (CNEDTA) and the Shared Capital Cooperative have been approved or conditionally approved as intermediary lenders through the Heirs’ Property Relending Program (HPRP). Once HPRP loans with these lenders close, these lenders will help agricultural producers and landowners resolve heirs’ land ownership and succession issues.
Ag Allies, with the Somerset County Soil and Water Conservation District, offers incentive payments to some farmers to compensate for any loss in hay quality due to a delayed harvest, which is encouraged to allow ground-nesting birds time to leave their nests. The program has grown from just 2 farms in 2016, to more than 50 this year, and 1,100 acres. Of those, about half take incentive payments, while others just want guidance about protecting birds.
The drought in Iowa is deepening and expanding, potentially cutting into Iowa's soybean harvest this fall. Iowa's soybean harvest is forecast to fall 4.7% this year over 2021, a U.S. Department of Agriculture crop report shows. Average soybean yields are forecast to drop to 58 bushels per acre this year from 62 in 2021, a new report shows.
Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District and Waldo Soil & Water Conservation District will partner this year to highlight five residential properties and a public park that earned certification through the Conservation Landscape Certification Program. Participants will see landscapes enhanced with native plants, meadowscapes, perennial gardens, pollinator gardens and wildlife habitat features.
University of North Dakota Graduate student Taylor Linder is researching how grassland birds respond with high intensity short duration grazing where cattle are moved more frequently through multiple paddocks.
Illinois vegetable growers are entering the toughest six weeks of the year. Despite the seasonal demands, soil health depends on timely planning of a fall cover crop. A fall cover crop is planted in August, grows in fall, and terminates after several hard frosts in winter.
Oswego County has a new dog in the fight as it works to control the water chestnut population on the Oswego River. An integrated system of hand-pulling and herbicide application now includes the use of a drone. The Oswego County Soil and Water Conservation District is working with Oswego-based Chase Enterprises, an infrastructure maintenance service, to tackle the invasive aquatic plant.
The Oklahoma Water Resources Center at Oklahoma State University is teaming up with Texas A&M University for a $1.7 million project to study the benefits of regenerative agriculture in Oklahoma and Texas.
A wildfire on Hawaii's Big Island grew overnight as firefighters worked to contain the large blaze that is burning in a rural area between the Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea volcanoes. The area where the fire is burning is dominated by shrubs and grasslands that are parched from persistent drought in the region.
A grazing and livestock management workshop is scheduled for August 18 at 6:00 p.m. The event is sponsored by Martin County SWCD and Purdue University. Specialists will discuss pasture management and heavy U.S. area pads.
The Mecosta Conservation District is more than just tree sales and hazardous waste disposal, and through the annual bus tour the organization works to get information out to the community about the many programs they offer. Participants visited a local farm to learn about the Conservation District’s Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program, which offers assistance and recognition to local landowners who work to reduce erosion and runoff from private land into public waters.
Crews have made progress fighting a wildfire that sparked Monday afternoon near the Colfax area of Placer County, prompting evacuation orders. Containment is not a measure of how much of the fire has been extinguished but rather works as a gauge of how much of a perimeter was established around a fire.
You can find lots of wildlife in Georgia and South Carolina, from animals to bugs. Declining pollinator populations will only lead to more problems, and experts say that there are small ways that people can help, like starting their own bee colonies and keeping flowering plants around. People can also take part in the Great Georgia Pollinator Census, which helps track populations in specific areas.
A 300-acre brush fire is burning in tall grass along Dry Creek in southern Blaine County, the Bureau of Land Management reported Tuesday afternoon. Farms and homes in the vicinity remain under threat, the BLM stated. The agency said it expects crews to have the fire fully under control by Friday evening.
The San Antonio River Authority needs water warriors to help report sightings of an invasive species. Giant apple snails are an invasive species to Texas that grow up to six inches long. They can be seen in numerous bodies of water throughout Texas, and can lay weekly clutches containing between 500-1000 eggs once they reach maturity. The snails wreak havoc on aquatic vegetation and are known to carry parasites.
Despite the harmless name, the spotted lanternfly is an invasive species, and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is asking residents to try and prevent the spread of the bug. According to DEEP, the spotted lanternfly was seen in Connecticut, and the department has declared a quarantine for any movement of any materials to try to prevent the spread of the insect. This includes a brush, trees, firewood, pallets, or any other items.
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