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: Did You Know – NACD’s Online Account Management
03/28/2025
Did you know that NACD serves close to 3,000 conservation district members, their boards, and their staff? We have a very robust data management system to serve that many conservation districts and individuals, which is tied to our website. As a result, each conservation district and many individuals have a unique login to perform certain activities on our website. Separately, we also have our Member’s Only section, which requires a single password for all dues-contributing members and provides different resources for those who work at or serve conservation districts.
NACD Blog: Building Fire-Resilient Forests in Minnesota’s Arrowhead Region
04/01/2025
Landowners in Minnesota’s Arrowhead region are facing increased fire risks as dense stands of balsam fir, weakened by decades of fire suppression and recent spruce budworm outbreaks continue to die off at an alarming rate. The scale of the problem is unprecedented with approximately 665,000 acres of balsam fir affected in 2023 alone, making it the worst outbreak since 1961.
The Delmarva Farmer: NRCS layoffs straining ag services
By Jonathan Gribb
03/21/2025
Layoffs at the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service are straining local agricultural services in Maryland and Delaware and could leave farmers with fewer resources and longer wait times for critical conservation programs, officials said. The cuts have reduced staff in field offices and may slow the processing of contracts and payments while creating uncertainty for conservation districts that work closely with NRCS.
MSN: US farmers expected to bear the brunt of retaliatory tariffs
By Dan Grossman
04/01/2025
these trade tensions. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, Can
Farmers are expected to bear the brunt of ada and China were the second and third-largest destinations for U.S. agricultural products in 2024.
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service: Protecting America’s Agriculture in April: How Every American Can Make a Difference
04/02/2025
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated April 2025 as Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month. This year’s campaign spotlights how citizen-driven, cost-efficient strategies can protect one of our Nation’s most valuable assets: healthy, abundant crops.
13 WMAZ: ‘We lost over $100,000’ | 6 months after Hurricane Helene, timber farmers still face devastating losses
By Hunter King | Treulten County, GA | Southeast Region
03/25/2025
Six months after Hurricane Helene tore through Central and Southeast Georgia, timber farmers are still grappling with the storm’s catastrophic impact, with damages estimated at $1.2 billion across the state. Jon Hutcheson, a local timber farmer, has watched his family’s generations-old business crumble in the wake of the hurricane. His 126-acre portion of the tree farm suffered extensive damage, with only 40 acres salvageable.
Newton Daily News: Helping People Help the Land
By Christopher Braunschweig | Iowa | Northern Plains Region
04/01/2025
In Jasper County, NRCS shares office space with representatives from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and the local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). So if there is a program or service that is a better fit to a specific farmer’s needs, they’re close by to respond.
South Dakota Soil Health Program: Regenerative ag can grow the bottom line
By Stan Wise | Pierre, SD | Northern Plains Region
04/01/2025
Regenerative ag is an approach to land management that focuses on improving soil health, increasing biodiversity, and improving water quality. It involves practices such as maintaining a cover of residue on the soil, minimizing soil disturbance, planting cover crops, using diverse crop rotations, and grazing livestock, even on cropland. Managed correctly, these practices can produce crop yields comparable to conventional farming practices while offering significant reductions in producers’ input costs.
Oklahoma Farm Report: Oklahoma Conservation Leaders Advocate for Strong Federal Conservation Policies in Washington, D.C.
Oklahoma | South Central Region
04/02/2025
March 24th through March 27th 2025, representatives from the Oklahoma Conservation Commission (OCC) and the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts (OACD) traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) annual spring fly-in. This event provides NACD members the opportunity to build relationships with congressional representatives, highlight the importance of locally led conservation, and advocate for strong federal conservation policies.
Lancaster Farming: Pennsylvania’s ACAP Program Is Helping Ag Conservation Projects Get Done
By Philip Gruber | Harrisburg, PA | Northeast Region
04/02/2025
As part of his project, Read had to upgrade from a manure management plan to a more detailed nutrient management plan. The conservation district quickly assembled the document, which Read said may have made the difference between getting or not getting the funding.
MSN: Trump administration cancels program that paid Wisconsin farmers to grow for food pantries
By Madeline Heim | Harrisburg, PA | Northeast Region
04/02/2025
On March 7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture terminated the program, which was part of a nationwide effort to support local farmers, feed under-resourced communities and increase the resiliency of the food supply chain. During the 2023-’24 growing season, 289 Wisconsin farms participated in the program, providing $4.2 million worth of food to more than 250 pantries and schools, according to a news release about the termination from the Wisconsin Farmers Union, which was a program partner.
Daily Republic: Solano RCD, sewer district turn wastewater into science lessons
By Madeline Heim | Fairfield, CA | Pacific Region
04/02/2025
More than 300 fifth-graders are getting an education in wastewater. “By partnering with Solano RCD on education and restoration efforts, we help ensure that local waterways remain healthy for future generations,” Meg Herston, director of Environmental Services at the Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District, said in a statement released by the Solano Resource Conservation District. “We value Solano RCD’s ability to connect people with their environment in meaningful ways, and we look forward to continuing this collaboration.”