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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.


03/28/22
 
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes $3.3 billion for wildfire risk reduction efforts and $2 billion for the USDA and DOI to carry out ecological restoration projects on public and private lands. The bill enhances funding streams to mitigate wildfire risks. 
 
03/29/22
 
The Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD) supports pollinators through their Pollinator Initiative.
 
03/29/22
 
Megalos recently shared time with NACD to discuss his role and some of the challenges and opportunities facing private forest landowners.
 
03/31/22
 
The White House officially released their fiscal year 2023 (FY23) budget request on March 28, 2022.  The release of the President’s budget proposal which outlines the administration’s spending priorities, is the first step in the FY23 appropriations process.
 

By Michael Bachmann | Hillsdale, MI | North Central Region 
03/24/22
 
The Hillsdale County Farm Bureau and Hillsdale Conservation District partnered on March 22 to inform shoppers at the Market House Supermarket about local produce, dairy and meat products. The event kicked off their celebration of National Agriculture Week.
 
Iroquois Country's Times-Republic: Iroquois SWCD taking applications for Conservation Practices Program
Watseka, IL | North Central Region
03/28/22
 
The Iroquois SWCD will be taking applications for its’ Conservation Practices Program (CPP) during the month of April, according to information provided. Land must physically lie in Iroquois County to be eligible.
 
The Courier: Cost share program for conservation practices
Lincoln, IL | North Central Region
03/27/22
 
The Logan County Soil and Water Conservation District is anticipating receiving cost share funds from the Illinois Department of Agriculture later this year. Once those funds are received the District will offer a cost share program for conservation practices for the fall of 2022.  
 
Farm and Dairy: Ohio hosting international Envirothon competition
By Katie Nainiger | Salem, OH | North Central Region
03/31/22
 
The Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the Ohio Envirothon Committee are excited to be hosting the 2022 NCF-Envirothon annual international competition this summer. It has been over 30 years since Ohio hosted this international competition. 
 
Washington, DC | Northeast Region
03/28/22
 
"The President’s budget provides USDA with the tools needed to support a vibrant, revitalized, and prosperous rural America."
 
High Plains Journal: Integrating soil health with an open attitude pays off, two advocates say
By Dave Bergmeier | Dodge City, KS | Northern Plains Region 
03/26/22
 
Two soil health advocates say regardless of what direction a producer goes he needs to make sure he stays profitable and think long term while making improvements each year.
 
Sustainable Agriculture and Research Education: 2021–2022 Report from the Field
College Park, MD | Northeast Region
March 2022
 
Whether grazing hay bales in the cold environs of North Dakota or growing breadfruit in Hawaii, identifying key strategies for proactively mitigating the effects of climate change in Vermont, or giving South Carolina farmers better access to wholesale markets, SARE projects are having a positive impact on agriculture throughout the United States.
 
Sand County Foundation: Oklahoma Leopold Conservation Award Seeks Nominees
Madison, WI | North Central Region
03/28/22
 
Know an Oklahoma rancher, farmer or forestland owner who goes above and beyond in the care and management of natural resources? Nominate them for the 2022 Oklahoma Leopold Conservation Award.
 
Wilmington News Journal: Sound soil health and better production
By Tony Nye | OH | North Central Region
03/25/22
 
Sound soil management is required to meet essential plant needs for water, nutrients, oxygen, and a medium to hold their roots with as little management as possible.
 
By Tom Doran | Fairbury, IL | North Central Region
03/24/22
 
“We’re committed. We like it. We love what it’s doing to our soil. We feel it’s helped our profitability, plus all the other benefits of reducing erosion, improving water quality and all of those issues,” said Jim Ifft.
 
Sand County Foundation: Colorado Leopold Conservation Award Finalists Selected
Madison, WI | North Central Region
03/28/22
 
Finalists have been selected for the prestigious 2022 Colorado Leopold Conservation Award
 
Civil Eats: A Regenerative Grazing Revolution Is Taking Root in the Mid-Atlantic
By Lisa Held | Northeast Region 
03/30/22
 
Farmers are scaling up the practice in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and beyond—and it could simultaneously help clean up the Chesapeake Bay, mitigate climate change, and save small family farms.
 
No-Till Farmer: Transitioning a No-Till Legacy
By Martha Mintz | Brookfield, WI | North Central Region 
03/30/22
 
Slashing fuel, doubling soil organic matter, and retiring with pride were rewards for forging on in fringe no-till country.
 
 
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages producers and landowners to enroll in the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) starting next week through May 13, 2022.
 
By Jonah Chester | IL | North Central Region
03/26/22
 
Illinois environmental advocates are pushing lawmakers in Springfield to recognize the importance of soil health.. 
 
 
Only a few months into 2022 and it’s already a dreadful year for wildfires. More than 14,781 separate wildfires have scorched over half a million acres as of this week, according to the National Interagency Fire Center, the largest number of fires year-to-date the agency has recorded in the past decade.


Champaign, IL | North Central Region
03/23/22
 
The research team found that in a typical Midwestern agricultural field, public soil surveys and satellite imagery can be leveraged to efficiently select sample locations. This may reduce the number of samples needed to achieve a given precision (compared to random sampling). 
 
 
U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, have introduced the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Improvement Act.  
 
AgWeek: North Dakota's first woman FSA executive director talks labels and agriculture common ground
By Mikkel Pates | Fargo, ND | Northern Plains Region 
03/28/22
 
Marcy hopes people will realize she has a strong agriculture background. She said she’ll be “an advocate for all producers in North Dakota, not just 30 percent of the producers. I want all of the producers in North Dakota to succeed, to access USDA programs.”
 
Associated Press: Firefighters increase containment on Colorado wildfire
Boulder, CO | Southwest Region
03/27/22
 
A wildfire south of Boulder that forced nearly 20,000 people to flee was listed at 35 percent contained by Sunday afternoon and most evacuations had been lifted, officials with Boulder Fire-Rescue said. 
 
Spectrum News 1: Sowing seeds of health at Hope Farm in Loch Sheldrake
By Olivia Leach | Albany, NY | Northeast Region 
03/28/22
 
"One of my favorite things is seeing the confidence that it gives people to learn how to grow their own food, and also just the joy of eating something that you grew yourself," said Megan Greene, New Hope Community's farm manager.
 
By Parish Howard | Augusta, GA | Southeast Region 
03/28/22
 
The Riverkeeper is looking for around 30 volunteers from the Louisville area and another 10 to 15 from the Mitchell-Sparta area to help cleanup popular sections of the upper Ogeechee watershed. 
 
By Alex Fox
03/29/22
 
Often considered a gardener's best friend, earthworms are harming native species in forests where they don't belong.
 
By Sheryl DeVore | Irving, TX | South Central Region
03/31/22
 
“We need these places to save ourselves,” says Tallamy, who heads the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. 
 
St. George News: A thriving garden begins with a healthy foundation. Here’s what you should know about testing soil
By Melinda Myers | St. George, UT | Southwest Region 
03/26/22
 
Growing a beautiful landscape starts with the soil under your feet. The best place to start building a healthy soil foundation is with a soil test.
 
The Durango Herald: As drought outlook takes shape, preparations begin for wildfire season in Southwest Colorado
By Aedan Hannon | Durango, CO | Pacific Region 
03/28/22
 
Another dry summer with significant fire risk could be in order for Southwest Colorado as snow accumulation sits roughly a week away from its peak.
 
KERA News: Wildfires burning across Texas hurt rural areas that depend on agriculture
By Sascha Cordner | Dallas, TX |South Central Region 
03/29/22
 
Wildfires burning across Texas are not only devastating homes, they’re also negatively affecting agriculture, particularly in rural areas.

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