Conservation Clip List for Friday, December 1st, 2023
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 National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and the Soil Health Institute (SHI) published a new report that shows the environmental and economic benefits of soil health management systems in the Delaware River Watershed. The study was supported by a grant from the William Penn Foundation.
In response to the devastating wildfires that swept through California’s North Bay Counties in October 2017, local partners including the Napa Resource Conservation District (RCD) created the North Bay Forest Improvement Program (NBFIP). Its primary goal is to incentivize non-commercial forest improvement activities to promote forest health and wildfire resilience, such as thinning, planting, pruning, and fuel hazard reduction.
For the first time in more than a decade, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released an updated version of a climate map that aims to help gardeners, growers and researchers determine what plants can thrive across the country.
Haerr was initially puzzled at the slow maturation but believes he has hit on the culprit: smoke from wildfires in Canada that lingered over Ohio and the wider eastern corn belt for days last June and July – a critical time for corn plant development. While the corn he is harvesting is currently yielding well, Haerr fears its high moisture content could push the remainder of his harvest into winter when bad weather could damage some or all of the remainder of his crop.
Hordes of “super pigs” are running amok in Canada, and may soon spill across the border into the northern U.S. These wild feral pigs, which roam Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba in Canada, are predicted to be moving southwards into Minnesota, North Dakota and Montana.
Many Wisconsin tribes have renewed an interest in farming as a way to reconnect with their cultural history and regain ownership of their food supply. They hold deep respect for crops they grow, speak often about the relationship between humans and plants, and make decisions based on preserving a way of life for future generations.
Local producers may be eligible for financial assistance through the Emergency Relief Program of 2022. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering $3.7 billion to commodity and specialty crop producers who had financial impacts due to the crop losses from natural disasters in 2022.
An invasive species of tick that can clone itself has been spreading rapidly across the eastern United States—and now, researchers have documented a population that killed three cows on an Ohio farm.
In mid-November, the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate passed a continuing resolution which provided additional federal funding to avoid a government shutdown at the federal level. The continuing resolution passed and signed into law by President Biden also extends the current Farm Bill for one year through Sept. 30, 2024. This means that the current farm program and crop insurance provisions will remain in place through the 2024 crop year.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the first tranche of funding under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP). USDA is providing up to $300 million in funding in its first year to support eligible projects that enable exporters to break into new markets and increase market share in growth markets.
Agriculture and food production will be included in high-level climate discussions at the COP28 summit starting this week, highlighting farming’s role in addressing global emissions and limiting the effects of a warming planet.
A new book offers decades of grassroots research and local history that easily could have been lost on computer hard drives and buried in filing cabinets. Instead, Fort Benton resident Lorna Krause, retired Chouteau County Conservation District administrator, worked closely with the family of Highwood farmer Ron Long to make sure a piece of his life’s work will be available for generations to come.
Autumn is here, gardens have withered, leaves are falling and “we are witnessing a bountiful food supply delivered directly to soil organisms,” which the Ocean County Soil Conservation District deems “the unsung heroes of yards and gardens.”
You couldn’t see the trees for the bushes when he started volunteering to clean up Stickney Run Conservation Area, site steward Pete Jackson said. He started volunteering at the park, part of the McHenry County Conservation District, seven or eight years ago, shortly after moving to McHenry County and just before he retired, Jackson said.
(Opinion) Just over a year ago, the Spartanburg Soil and Water Conservation District partnered with USC-Upstate and the Watershed Ecology Center to install and maintain a ”Watergoat’ on Persimmon Creek, which runs through the USC-Upstate campus.
On Nov. 22, a new no-till drill arrived at the Elk County Conservation District, courtesy of the Elk County Commissioners. The drill, which offers an alternative way of planting, will be rented out to local farmers. The Conservation District will manage the rental of the drill and provide outreach and education.
Local organizations such as Montgomery County’s Soil and Water Conservation District work at here at home to educate and promote programs that leverage the knowledge available to support healthy water, soil and environmental practices.
Morning AgClips: In Their Range Tour Era Jack County, TX | South Central Region
11/28/2023
The Jack County Soil and Water Conservation District recently host their annual Range Tour with a focus on grazing management. The large group in attendance met at the Jack County Fair Barn for presentations from USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service staff before heading out to Brad Campsey’s ranch for a tour.
A bill banning the use of neonicotinoids pesticide treated corn, wheat and soybean seeds awaits the signature of Gov. Kathy Hochul, but the New York Farm Bureau is making a final push for her to veto the legislation citing concerns about its impact on farmers.
The Environmental and Agricultural Education Grant provides funds for educators to implement new lessons, tools, or projects in the classrooms to teach students about agriculture and natural resources. The grant recipients of the Middle South Georgia Soil and Water Conservation District Educational Grant will each receive up to $1000, according to their project (edited).
