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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 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), The Corps Network, and AmeriCorps announced the request for proposals for host organizations for the second cohort of the Working Lands Conservation Corps (WLCC). This past year, WLCC engaged over 100 corps members, serving 28 organizations in 25 states. In the second year of this program, WLCC will welcome a new cohort of beginning conservationists and seeks organizations to host them. The deadline for organizations to apply to be a WLCC host organization is March 31, 2025.
“We’ve gone from not having a program to now having a leading soil health program in the state,” reflects Shannon Wettstein, District Managerfor Minnesota’sMorrison Soil and Water Conservation District, on the past three years. Over that time, the district established and grew a cover crop program that benefits soil health and now reaches 12,000 acres, which is 5% of all cropland acres in the rural county.
U.S. farmland values are positioned for growth in 2025 with more buyers in today’s market than sellers, according to a report from agricultural real estate services provider Farmers National Company.
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced 27 grants totaling $14.7 million to support the implementation of voluntary conservation practices on farms and ranches across 21 states from the Midwest to western grasslands. The grants will leverage approximately $7 million in matching contributions from grantees, generating a total impact of $21.7 million. This marks the largest grant slate from the Conservation Partners Program, fueled by continued, historic investments from program partners.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the 2025 enrollment periods for key safety-net programs – Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) as well as Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC). Agricultural producers can submit applications to USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) for ARC and PLC for the 2025 crop year from Jan. 21 to April 15 and for DMC for the 2025 coverage year from Jan. 29 to March 31.
(Edited) With a glance, resource ecologist Jonathan Appelbaum takes in the work at Arroyo Preserve in Rancho Santa Fe, where crews are removing invasive trees as part of a 12.5-acre restoration project. Collaborators include the Rancho Santa Fe Association, Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District, the San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority, Fairbanks Ranch Association, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Native Plant Society, California Conservation Corps, San Diego Canyonlands, the Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County, and many others.
The Western Monarch butterfly is expected to go extinct by 2080, but a handful of Southern California naturalists are at the forefront of efforts to save the iconic insects. Five scientists — a Pasadena resident and four who live in the Inland Empire — were chosen for a program aimed at helping the butterfly. “We know a lot about what affects them, but there’s still much more to learn — that’s what this program is for,” said Jenny Iyer, spokesperson for the Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District, which has a naturalist in the program.
(Edited) The effects of the fires ravaging Los Angeles will last for decades or longer. As evidence, one need look no further than here in northern Michigan, where fires dating back a century and a half are still impacting the area. If hot enough, fire can even damage the soil. Liam Daniels, soil scientist for the Missaukee Conservation District, says he believes the Great Fire dealt the state’s soil a blow it still hasn’t recovered from.
This Friday meet Matt Pearce, an eighth-generation cattle rancher and owner of Pearce Cattle Company in Okeechobee County, Florida. His family has lived in Florida for over 200 years and operated their family-owned cow/calf operation with locations throughout South Florida and Central Georgia. While the ranch keeps him busy, he’s also training and preparing his children, Taylor, Aubrey, and Chandler, to take over as the ninth generation when the time comes.
While raging flames, persistent smoke and damaging winds continue to plague residents in Los Angeles County, farmers across Southern California are also facing the possibility of devastating damage to their crops.
With support from a Protect Our Water Jackson Hole (POWJH) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Education grant, Teton County, Wyoming, residents that rely on drinking water from a private well or spring are now eligible for a free comprehensive water quality test kit from Teton Conservation District (TCD).
Farmers in parts of the Northern Panhandle impacted by last year’s drought can apply for state funding to assist in recovery efforts until Jan. 30 through the West Virginia Department of Agriculture’s 2024 Drought Recovery Program. The Northern Panhandle Conservation District is accepting applications from farmers in Ohio, Marshall and Brooke counties to receive the drought relief funding from the WVDA. In-person registration for the program is required and will take place at the NPCD Office at 1 Ball Park Drive in McMechen.
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