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: NACD Announces Launch of Friends of NACD District Grants Application Period
10/07/2024
Today, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) announced the launch of its application period for the 2025 Friends of NACD District Grants Program. This year, NACD and Scotts Miracle Gro are partnering to award the 2025 Friends of NACD District Grants Program.
NACD Blog: Reducing Stigma and Sharing Resources this World Mental Health Day
10/10/2024
On this World Mental Health Day, October 10, NACD would like to thank our members for the work they do on behalf of conservation districts and their clients. Increasingly, farmers, ranchers, natural resource managers, wildland firefighters, and many others are facing unpredictable weather events, new political and operating environments, expanded ranges of invasive and pest species, and a variety of other challenging circumstances.
Agriculture Dive: ‘Decades of progress gone in a single instant’: Assessing the farm damage from Hurricane Helene
By Nathan Owens
10/07/2024
Farmers and ranchers are picking up the pieces left by Hurricane Helene after the tropical storm barreled through the Southeast, devastating crops, livestock and agriculture infrastructure. While it’s still early to assess the damages from the Category 4 hurricane that made landfall Sept. 26, to the region’s agriculture industry, more details are coming to light as farmers begin to assess their property damages and publicly share their accounts.
USDA Farm Service Agency: USDA Invests $9 Million in 10 Organizations Nationwide to Support Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production
10/08/2024
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing nearly $9 million in funding to local organizations to provide outreach, education and technical assistance to urban agricultural producers in ten U.S. cities. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is partnering with To Improve Mississippi Economics (T.I.M.E.) to administer an urban farm outreach program offering subawards to community groups that work with producers in cities where FSA has established Urban County Committees.
The Sumter Item: USDA offers disaster assistance for Hurricane Helene recovery
10/08/2024
After Hurricane Helene, USDA staff is available to assist. USDA is working diligently to implement program flexibilities and waivers, to help streamline your recovery process. We are regularly reviewing our programs so please check in periodically with your local USDA office for updates.
Agriculture Dive: Hurricane Milton takes aim at Florida’s Citrus Belt
By Sarah Zimmerman
10/09/2024
Hurricane Milton is threatening to bring catastrophic damage across the state’s Citrus Belt and agricultural production regions as the massive storm charts a path toward Florida’s fertilizer plants and orange groves.
Farm Progress: Irrigation in a changing climate: Adapting for the future
By Andy Castillo
10/03/2024
With debate ongoing over water allotments from Western rivers, anticipated water shortages complicate the future outlook for agricultural irrigation. And extreme weather has changed the game for row crop farmers — even those with irrigation systems. The strategy with irrigation has always been to provide water — and higher yields – when water was hard to come by. But climate change is altering the standard operating procedures.
TV 6: Upper Michigan Today samples for macroinvertebrates
By Jake Strange | Marquette, MI | North Central Region
10/04/2024
Upper Michigan Today was out in the field on Friday morning to go macroinvertebrate sampling at the Vielmetti-Peters Conservation Preserve. Macroinvertebrates are a group of aquatic animals and insects that are a bio-indicator of water quality. Upper Michigan Today’s Elizabeth Peterson and guest host Mandy Koskela meet up with Marquette County Conservation District Manager Maddie O’Donnell to talk about how the Conservation District uses these aquatic insects to track water quality throughout Marquette County.
The Aberdeen Insider: Empowering and connecting women in agriculture
By Kristi Hine | Mitchell, SD | Northern Plains Region
10/06/2024
(Edited) While reflecting on the need to build her own network within the South Dakota agriculture industry, Rebecca Blue began to wonder if other women in ag were encountering the same challenge. Then one of her guests in Season 1, Rachel Lawton, served as what Blue calls “the spark” to take her ideas to the next level. Lawton is a Natural Resources Conservation Service urban conservationist for the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition. In addition to NRCS, Angela Ehlers, executive director of the South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts was brought into the fold.
Salish Current: How islands respond to threats of climate change
By Nancy Devaux | San Juan Islands | Southeast Region
10/07/2024
The San Juan Conservation District (SJCD) helps landowners with wildfire prevention. As a nonregulatory government entity, the district provides landowners and residents with technical and financial assistance. The SJDC also initiated the Islands Climate Resilience group, which issued a report on observed and projected climate change impacts.
ABC 7 News: Carson County students dive into playa lake education at annual festival
By Drew Powell | Carson County, TX | South Central Region
10/08/2024
The Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District hosted its 23rd annual Playa Festival for students from schools in Carson County to spend a day learning about the environment and understanding how playa lakes function.
Fox 28 Spokane: Washington state awards over $53 million in grants to restore rivers and streamflows
By DFortin | Olympia, WA | Pacific Region
10/08/2024
Another project in the Spokane region is the Spokane Conservation District’s Marshall Creek Instream Flow Restoration Project, which will receive $710,000. This initiative aims to study and resolve existing flow issues through a feasibility study to develop science-based alternatives for restoration.
The Valley Press: Event introduces students to agriculture in Sanders County
By Tracy Scott | Sanders County, MT | Northern Plains Region
10/09/2024
(Edited) The Third annual Ag Day saw third graders descend from all corners of Sanders County for a day of fun and learning. The next station was Buzz on Pollinators, with members of the Eastern Sanders County Conservation District and Green Mountain Conservation District, Morgan Owens, and Emily Baker. Students learned about how pollinators (flowering plants that attract bees) help the environment.