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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.


08/23/21
 
The Resource Conservation District (RCD) of Santa Cruz County got a jump start on a key piece of its forest health programs just a year after the worst fire on record in the county.
 

Agri-Pulse: Climate-friendly ag practices need $30 billion, Democrats told
By Steve Davies
08/25/21

More than 60 groups are urging Democratic congressional leaders to prioritize climate-friendly agriculture, food systems and equity in their $3.5 trillion domestic spending package. About $89 billion in the budget reconciliation measure will be designated for agriculture and forestry in the package, and groups want to see $30 billion of that allocated to conservation programs. The 2018 farm bill provided about $60 billion for conservation programs over 10 years. Those farm bill programs include the Conservation Stewardship Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Conservation Reserve Program.

 

Grand Forks Herald: Drought impacts, and USDA response, vary with geography and different types of farms

By Noah Fish
08/23/21
 
While parts of northern Minnesota entered exceptional drought conditions for the first time ever under the modern U.S. Drought Monitor, the southeastern part of the state also has struggled with drought conditions, albeit less severe ones. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Aug. 12-13 visited several southeastern Minnesota agriculture operations to talk about drought and support for producers.
 
 
(Opinion) At its most basic level, regenerative agriculture is a
more nature-friendly way of farming. It can be thought of as the next step beyond organic and sustainability. 
 
By Kim Pokorny
08/24/21
 
If you’re not acquainted with cover crops, here’s the rundown: These hardworking plants can add organic matter and aerate the soil, protect it from compaction caused by rain, suppress weeds and reduce erosion.
 
South Dakota Soil Health Coalition: Residue helps farmers save on water, fertilizer costs
By Janelle Atyeo
08/23/21
 
South Dakota farmers see a range of benefits from crop residue – corn stalks, soybean stems and wheat straw left after harvest – especially in a dry season.
 
 
(Subscriber Only) Representatives of state farm bureaus, as well as individual farmers and ranchers, spoke out in favor of keeping the Trump administration’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule in place at an online meeting.
 
 
(Subscriber Only) The Agriculture Department is accepting 2.8 million acres into the land-idling Conservation Reserve Program, an enrollment far short of the four million acres the Biden administration was aiming for as part of its effort to use farmers to help reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
 
USA Today: Wildfires are burning up trees meant to fight climate change: 'It’s definitely not working'
By Janet Wilson and Christal Hayes
08/23/21
 
Some of the blazes are raging in areas that are "a huge part of California's climate initiative," Porter said. "We are seeing generational destruction of forests because of what these fires are doing. This is going to take a long time to come back from." 
 
By Katie Thoresen
08/23/21
 
A new-to-Wisconsin aquatic invasive species is motivating conservation workers to move quickly. European Frogbit has been found along a 20-plus mile stretch on the coast of Lake Michigan starting just north of Oconto all the way up to Marinette.
 
 
A new study finds smoke could be making it harder for clouds to drop rain and alleviate drought, potentially kicking of a “very scary” feedback loop. 
 
08/25/21
 
California agricultural operations have been significantly impacted by the wildfires and ongoing, severe drought. The USDA has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover. Impacted producers should contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and learn more about program options available to assist in their recovery from crop, land, infrastructure and livestock losses and damages.
 
Reuters: Stung by climate change: drought-weakened bee colonies shrink U.S. honey crop, threaten almonds
By Karl Plume
08/19/21

A scorching drought is slashing honey production in North Dakota, the top producing state of the sweet syrup. That means fewer bees can thrive, which leads to even less honey. 


By Jonathan Franklin
08/24/21
 
The flies are known to cause some serious damage to trees, including oozing sap, wilting and leaf curling. In more serious cases, they can cause trees, vines, crops and many other types of plants to die.
 
 
Dall’Erba and Chang Cai, doctoral student in ACE and the paper’s lead author, take stock of all the academic literature that estimates the impact of climate change on U.S. farmland values and revenues, focusing on every U.S. county. 
 
 
They celebrated another important step in the ongoing work to improve Wilmington’s riverfront area with clean, healthy rivers and attractive places for people and wildlife.
 
By Henry Fountain
08/25/21
 
A lack of snow last winter and almost no spring rain have created the driest conditions in generations. Ranchers are being forced to sell off portions of herds they have built up for years, often at fire-sale prices, to stay in business.
 
 
“Greater prairie chickens are doing well in Colorado, Nebraska, part of Kansas and parts of South Dakota,” said Trent Verquer, Grassland Habitat Coordinator for CPW. “Elsewhere in their range they are not doing well and Colorado has a real role for this species.”
 

Last year, the Trump administration announced that the gray wolf would be removed from the list of animals protected by the Endangered Species Act. The Biden administration is now moving to uphold that decision, according to court documents filed Friday, despite concern from conservationists that it could jeopardize the recovery of the species.
 
 
(Subscriber Only) Farmers and ranchers can be pivotal players in President Joe Biden’s fight against climate change as the agricultural carbon credit marketplace grows. But the lack of broadband internet connection prevents them from entering the marketplace sooner, if not all together.
 

Morning Ag Clips: USDA funds available to establish pollinator habitat on your land
08/24/21

If you are a landowner, farmer, homesteader, beekeeper, or if you have interest in agricultural or forestry operations on your land, you may qualify for a special program to help cover some of the costs of a conservation or pollinator planting.

 

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: NFWF Announces $5.3 Million in Grants to Restore and Improve Longleaf Pine Habitat and Wildlife, Marking Decade of Partnership Investment in Ecosystem Recovery
08/25/21

The projects supported by the grants announced today will advance longleaf pine habitat restoration across its historic range, which covers portions of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia. Together, these grants are expected to establish more than 15,000 new acres of longleaf pine and will enhance an additional 400,000 acres of habitat through prescribed burning, invasive species removal and other forest management practices.

 

Agri-Pulse: Water trading platform offers open-source option for managers, users
By Amy Mayer
08/25/21

A new water trading and accounting platform aimed at easily matching those who need water with those who have it would also give Groundwater Sustainability Agencies near real-time data for maintaining accurate water accounting and that, in turn, would help them comply with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.


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