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.
NPR: How listening to the sounds of insects can help detect agricultural pests
By Lina Tran, Jessica Yung, Emily Kwong, Rebecca Ramirez
08/30/2024
Bick, an entomologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, researches ways to better detect the agricultural pests that drive serious economic losses worldwide. She says improving these methods could result in using pesticides more strategically — less often, at just the right time.
Pipestone County Star: Enrollment nears the Conservation Reserve Program 27 million acre cap
09/02/2024
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting offers for more than 2.2 million acres from agricultural producers and private landowners through this year’s Grassland, General, and Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signups administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). With these accepted acres, enrollment is very near the 27 million CRP acreage cap.
EIN Presswire: USDA Announces September 2024 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers
09/03/2024
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for September 2024, which are effective Sept. 1, 2024. USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.
Yahoo! News: USDA updates Farm Loan Programs to increase financial freedom, resilience and profitability for agricultural producers
09/03/2024
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announces changes to the Farm Service Agency’s Farm Loan Programs, effective Sept. 25. Changes that are intended to increase opportunities for farmers and ranchers to be financially viable. These improvements, part of the Enhancing Program Access and Delivery for Farm Loans rule, demonstrate USDA’s commitment to improving farm profitability through farm loans designed to provide important financing options used by producers to cover operating expenses and purchase land and equipment.
USDA NRCS: Three Key Findings from First-of-its-Kind Study on NRCS Conservation Practices and U.S. Pollinators
By Elizabeth Creech-Thomas
09/04/2024
A study by Virginia Tech in collaboration with USDA assessed the nationwide effectiveness of Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) conservation practices in delivering benefits to pollinators. Findings offer insights to inform data-driven decision making for U.S. pollinator conservation.
Farms.com: Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Fiscal Year 2025 Funding for Agricultural Conservation Easements through the Investing in America Agenda
09/05/2024
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today new funding for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) for fiscal year 2025 as part of President Biden and Vice President Harris’ Investing in America agenda. Administered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the program helps landowners and other eligible entities conserve, restore, and protect wetlands, productive agricultural lands, and grasslands at risk of conversion to non-grassland uses.
TMJ4: Racine secures funds for teaching garden at detention and rehabilitation facility
By Tahleel Mohieldin | Racine County, WI | North Central Region
08/30/2024
A trauma-based youth rehabilitation center, the first of its kind in Wisconsin, has gained more support for its holistic approach. A $60 thousand grant from the National Association of Conservation Districts has allowed Racine County to launch a teaching garden and micro-nursery at the Caledonia facility.
Shaw Local News Network: From the McHenry County Conservation District: Reconstructed prairies give hope to endangered bumblebee
McHenry County, WI | North Central Region
08/31/2024
“Restore a 1,000-acre prairie.” This directive was given to the Natural Resources Management Department by an ambitious and proactive McHenry County Conservation District Board of Trustees in the early 1980s. The board, realizing that preservation alone was not enough in the protection and recovery of McHenry County’s biodiversity, advocated for restoration of the land.
The Press-Enterprise: Inland Empire Resource Conservation District invites students to enter Speak-Off contest
California | Pacific Region
08/31/2024
High school students in northwestern Riverside County and southwestern San Bernardino County are invited to participate in Speak-Off, the Inland Empire Resource Conservation District’s annual speech competition in which participants address natural resource issues.
Southern Sentinel: Additional $10 Million allocated to EQIP for Mississippi farmers and landowners
Mississippi | Southeast Region
09/01/2024
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Terry Cosby has announced an additional $10 million in general Environmental Quality Initiative Program (EQIP) funding for Mississippi to support locally-led conservation projects that will benefit the state’s land and water resources.
Daily Republic: Outreach program connects with 1,500 boaters at Berryessa
Winters, CA | Pacific Region
09/01/2024
More than 1,500 boaters were contacted as part of the clean water outreach season at Lake Berryessa. It brought the total of contacts over the 19 years to more than 75,000, the Solano Resource Conservation District reported.
7KBZK: Preventing another 500-year-flood: Fromberg’s river project
By Mack Carmack | Fromberg, MT | Northern Plains Region
09/02/2024
Nottingham has been working with the Stillwater and Joliet Conservation District, the USDA, and local county commissioners on the new project. A project which he believes will make the town of Fromberg safer from another disastrous flood.
The Sentinel: Counties collaborate to reduce landfill waste
By Olivia Suydam | Port Royal, PA | Northeast Region
09/04/2024
In 2013, Juniata, Mifflin, Huntingdon, and Perry counties collaborated on an idea that would help contain the pollution problem as the landfills oftentimes fill up very quickly, with this in mind the counties as well as the non-profit organization Keep PA Beautiful, worked together to create the Tire Recycling Challenge.
Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts: The Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts receives a $4.9 million Climate Smart Commodities Grant to advance the adoption of Regenerative Farming practices
Oklahoma City, OK | South Central Region
09/05/2024
In partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS), the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts (OACD) has received a Climate Smart Commodities grant to advance the adoption of regenerative farming practices, ensure the fiscal sustainability of our farmers and protect our most valuable natural resources including our people.