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.
PR Newswire: Dairy Farmers Invited to Apply for $7 Million Incentive Pool to Implement Climate-Smart Practices
12/04/2024
Dairy farmers across 15 states can apply for considerable financial support to adopt climate-smart manure management practices through a new initiative aimed at enhancing soil health, increasing herd productivity and minimizing environmental impact. That’s according to Transforming the Farmer to Consumer Supply Chain project leaders.
EIN Presswire: USDA Provides Additional Flexibilities to Respond to 2024 Hurricanes, Expedites Emergency Conservation and Disaster Recovery Payments for Producers in Nine States Impacted by Hurricanes in 2016 to 2023
12/05/2024
Today the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is taking steps to streamline and provide flexibilities for environmental compliance requirements for 2024 hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton allowing the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to expedite approval of payments and practice implementation for Emergency Conservation Program (ECP), Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP), and Tree Assistance Program (TAP) applicants impacted by these three named storms in 2024.
Daily Mail: Urgent warning as terrifying parasite that eats animals from the inside out pour into US across Mexican border
By Nikki Main
12/07/2024
A terrifying flesh-eating parasite that eats animals from the inside out is pouring across the US border from cattle imported from Mexico. The parasite, commonly called a New World screwworm, was eliminated in North America in the late 19th century, but has made a return as cattle from Panama are being smuggled into the nation. The US Department of Agriculture (USAD) was alerted about the invasion last month after livestock at the border was infected, warning the parasite could have moved into the nation.
Lassen County Times: At White House Tribal Nations Summit, USDA delivers on actions to empower Indian country
12/09/2024
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced ways that the Biden-Harris Administration is delivering on tribal requests to empower Tribal Nations, citizens, and organizations. Vilsack made the announcements at the 2024 White House Tribal Nations Summit, the foremost government-to-government gathering between the U.S. Government and the 574 federally recognized Tribal Nations.
USDA: USDA Invests $6.3 Billion to Strengthen Rural Infrastructure and Create Good-Paying Jobs in 44 States
12/10/2024
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is investing $6.3 billion in rural and Tribal communities across 44 states to expand access to a clean and reliable electric grid, provide safe drinking water and create good-paying jobs.
Agriculture Dive: Here are the farm expenses that increased the most in 2024
By Nathan Owens
12/11/2024
Despite rising costs in some areas, overall farm expenses are projected to decline this year to $453.9 billion, a nearly 2% drop from 2023, according to USDA’s recently updated Farm Sector Income Forecast. The decline is driven by weaker prices for feed, fertilizers, pesticides and fuel and oil. The cost of feed, which is the largest expense for farmers and ranchers, is expected to fall 13% to $69.5 billion over the year prior.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced awards of nearly $335 million to strengthen financial incentives for private forest landowners to manage their forests sustainably and to permanently conserve private forests in partnership with states. The funding was made possible thanks to investments from the Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act.
Agriculture Dive: Farm conservation funding hit a record high in 2024. A majority of farmers still got nothing.
By Sarah Zimmerman
12/11/2024
Funding from the Inflation Reduction Act helped push U.S. investment in farm conservation programs to a record high in fiscal year 2024. However, a majority of applicants for these programs still received no funding as demand continues to outstrip available resources.
The Journal of San Juan Islands: Overmarsh Farm Commons: Growing Together Towards a Sustainable Future
San Juan Islands, WA | Pacific Region
12/07/2024
(Edited) Overmarsh Farm Commons is an innovative collaboration between the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank and San Juan Island Grange #966. OFC is now accepting applications for the 2025 growing season. The primary goal of this project is to create a cooperative space where growers and graziers can work together to promote sustainable food systems that prioritize soil health, water conservation and regenerative farming methods. Partnering organizations on this grant include the San Juan Islands Conservation District, San Juan Islands Food Hub, Northwest Agriculture Business Center, WSU San Juan County Extension, San Juan County Conservation Land Bank and local farmers.
The Westerly Sun: Stonington receives $545,000 grant to improve water quality in Wequetequock Cove
By Jason Vallee | Stonington, RI | Northeast Region
12/08/2024
For years, residents and town officials have struggled to eliminate the impact of stormwater runoff in Wequetequock Cove. The water quality has suffered and the cove has fallen to one of the lowest rated in southeastern Connecticut.The Eastern Connecticut Conservation District, ECCD, and town of Stonington are hopeful that a match grant from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will begin to more permanently address the water quality issues within the cove. It also comes at little cost for the town in comparison.
Farms.com: Breathing Life into a Historic Farm
By Angie Stuehrenberg | Wayne County, IN | North Central Region
12/09/2024
This Friday meet Tyler Gough and his wife, Gentry McDufee, first generation farmers in Wayne County, Indiana. In 2023, the couple purchased an 18-acre historic farm where they plan to grow a variety of fruits and vegetables, install a nut grove and fruit orchard, raise heritage breed animals on a small scale, and grow flowers and native plants. Their passion is food, and Tyler and Gentry feel there is nothing more satisfying than providing good food for their family and community.
Next Pittsburgh: Landforce and partners receive $15.3 million for workforce development program
By Ethan Woodfill | Pittsburgh, PA | Northeast Region
12/09/2024
A new workforce development partnership is receiving a $15.3 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA’s Inflation Reduction Act Community Change Grants Program selected Landforce, a Point Breeze-based environment employment social enterprise nonprofit, to receive the award in partnership with Philadelphia-based PowerCorpsPHL. Additional partners include the Franco Harris Pittsburgh Center at Penn State, Grounded Strategies and the Allegheny County Conservation District.
The Scoop: One Montana Farmer’s Conservation Solution: Get Back to His Prairie Roots
By James Sears Rawlings | Larslan, MT | Northern Plains Region
12/10/2024
Sather Farms sits in Larslan, Mont., the far northeast corner of the state. When it comes to the ranching side of his operation, Sather felt like he’d made great progress after taking a course in the art of “ranching for profit.” Through that work, his 10,000 acres of pastureland was finally working for him. What wasn’t working for him? The 4,500 acres of crop ground he was farming. He started looking for a solution. He took online courses and went to the Montana Soil Health Symposium.
The University of California Natural Resources: Ask a rancher: Surveys draw on hard-won wisdom for surviving drought
By Trina Kleist | California | Pacific Region
12/11/2024
But while wise planning and climate-smart adaptations helped ranchers survive the state’s record-breaking 2012-2016 drought, those strategies by themselves were not enough, ranchers reported. Nearly 50 ranchers shared their experiences, and their collective wisdom is summarized in a paper written by Grace Woodmansee. She completed her master’s degree with Roche and is now a UC Cooperative Extension livestock and natural resources advisor for UC Agriculture and Natural Resources in Siskiyou County.
The Goldendale Sentinel: Conservation District thins fire fuel
By Jordan Mayberry | Goldendale, WA | Pacific Region
12/11/2024
The Klickitat County Conservation District has entered the next phase of its limbing project on Observatory Hill, shifting focus to burning the large stacks of limbs and branches accumulated during the summer. The project, designed to mitigate wildfire risks, involves cutting dead limbs from scrub oaks up to six feet from the ground and thinning pine trees.