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.
NACD Blog: Tualatin SWCD Leads Climate Resilience Outreach with Support from Local Partners
09/26/2024
Like many areas across the West, forests in the Tualatin River Basin of northwest Oregon face two emerging climate resilience concerns: hotter, drier summers and increasing wildfire risk. Heat-related tree stress and mortality are becoming more common across the landscape, and fire season is beginning earlier and ending later in the year, with more frequent ignitions than ever before.
EIN Presswire: USDA Launches Assistance Network to Support Financially Distressed Farmers and Ranchers
09/21/2024
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing the launch of the Distressed Borrowers Assistance Network, an initiative designed to provide personalized support to financially distressed farmers and ranchers across the nation. Through a series of Cooperative Agreements, this national network will connect distressed borrowers with individualized assistance to help them stabilize and regain financial footing.
WXPR: Prairie home companions: Why more farmers are planting native landscapes in their crop fields
By Rachel Cramer
09/23/2024
Research shows that converting as little as 10% of a corn or soybean field into a prairie strip can reduce soil erosion by 95%. Prairie strips also help reduce nutrient pollution, store excess carbon underground and provide critical habitat for pollinators and grassland birds. Federal funding through the USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program has helped prairie strips take off in recent years.
AgriMarketing: USDA’s Farm Loan Program Changes Now in Effect
09/26/2024
As of today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) long-awaited updates to the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Farm Loan Programs are officially in effect. These changes, part of the Enhancing Program Access and Delivery for Farm Loans rule, are designed to increase financial flexibility for agricultural producers, allowing them to grow their operations, boost profitability, and build long-term savings.
USDA Farm Service Agency: USDA Offers $58 Million in Available Assistance to Help Organic Dairy Producers
09/26/2024
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced $58 million available for marketing assistance to eligible organic dairy producers through the Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP) 2024 to help expand the market for organic dairy and increase the consumption of organic dairy.
Farms.com: Supporting California’s Underserved Farming Communities with NRCS Partnership
California | Pacific Region
09/19/2024
For more than a year and a half, Harol Gonzalez Gallardo has partnered with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California to support historically underserved farming communities. As American Farmland Trust’s (AFT) California Agricultural Specialist, Harol applies his skills to farmers who might not otherwise get the technical support needed for their climate resilience and business viability.
WZMQ19: Dickinson Conservation District to Feature Kids’ activity at Oktoberfest following successful wood burning workshop
By Aimee Doyle | Kingsford, MI | North Central Region
09/20/2024
The Dickinson Conservation District hosted a lively wood burning, or pyrography, workshop at Cowboy Lake Park. This second annual event attracted 19 participants, significantly surpassing last year’s attendance. Forrester Josh Isaac (the District Forester of Dickinson & Menominee Counties) led the workshop, which aimed to engage the community in a fun and creative activity.
Trib Live: Lowber field day gives area students hands-on knowledge of mine drainage problem
By Jeff Hilmer | Mount Pleasant, PA | Northeast Region
09/21/2024
The Lowber site on average reduces iron content in the water flowing from the mine from 70 parts per million to 7 parts per million, which is low enough for aquatic life to tolerate, according to Jim Pillsbury, a hydraulic engineer with the Westmoreland Conservation District. Pillsbury manned one of nine learning stations during the Lowber field day.
Telegraph Herald: Eastern Iowa watersheds get $1.2 million farmer-to-farmer conservation grant
By Benjamin Fisher | Dubuque County, IA | North Central Region
09/22/2024
Dubuque County Watersheds secured a $1.2 million federal grant to expand a program that bolsters farmer-to-farmer conservation practice groups to also include Iowa farmers in Delaware and Jones counties. According to a Dubuque County Watersheds press release, the recently acquired grant will help fund farmer peer group gatherings, instructional workshops and networking events.
Yahoo! News: Junior Chef program teaches kids to cook with fresh, local ingredients
By Julietta Bisharyan | Modesto, CA | Pacific Region
09/23/2024
Meriam Jacobs, education programs manager at East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District, said the goal is to teach students how to prepare culturally relevant dishes that are easy to replicate at home. Shakshuka, a dish of eggs poached in a tomato-based sauce, has become a student favorite, along with cauliflower fried rice.
Times Standard: Over $3 million headed for local farm programs
By Mary Bullwinkel | Humboldt County, CA | Pacific Region
09/24/2024
In partnership with the Klamath Trinity Joint Unified School District, the Klamath Trinity Resource Conservation District will use its $349,000 grant to increase local food procurement opportunities by developing a local food hub that improves market reliability and access to training for local food producers. This project will also engage students and the community to develop a culturally relevant nutrition and food system curriculum.
Daily Republic: Volunteers pick up nearly 23,000 pounds of trash on Coastal Clean Up Day
Fairfield, CA | Pacific Region
09/24/2024
(Edited) Nearly 23,000 pounds of trash and 1,700 pounds of recyclables and beverage containers were collected Saturday in Solano County in conjunction with Coastal Clean Up Day. This marked the 40th anniversary of the event. Coastal Cleanup Day is funded by the cities and county of Solano and coordinated by Solano Resource Conservation District.