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: Strong Partnerships Help the Newport Community Garden Flourish
04/07/2025
The garden has been a true community effort, with a committee made up of members from the Library District, Friends of the Pend Oreille County Library District, the local Washington State University Extension and Master Gardeners, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed), the Pend Oreille Conservation District, and the Pend Oreille County Weed Board. Funding was provided by grants from the NACD Urban and Community Conservation Grant Initiative, SNAP-Ed, the Innovia Foundation, and Catholic Charities, with fundraising support from the Friends of the Library.
Science of Societies: Soil health management practices in the diverse Intermountain West
By Megan Sever
02/28/2025
It may be hard to come up with a more varied agricultural terrain than the Intermountain West. The region spans the basin and range between the Rockies to the east and the Cascades and Sierra Nevada to the west. This area features dry rangelands interspersed with montane forests and fertile valley floors among elevated plateaus. Agriculture here is as diverse as the physical landscape: Ranching and livestock dominate, but farmers also irrigate cornfields, milk dairy cows, grow small grains and alfalfa, and cultivate orchards and vineyards in the valleys.
USDA: Secretary Rollins Announces Sweeping Reforms to Protect National Forests and Boost Domestic Timber Production
04/04/2025
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins issued a Secretarial Memo to establish an “Emergency Situation Determination” on 112,646,000 acres of National Forestry System (NFS) land (PDF, 19.8 MB). This Memo comes on the heels of President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order to expand American timber production by 25%, and it will empower the U.S. Forest Service to expedite work on the ground and carry out authorized emergency actions to reduce wildfire risk and save American lives and communities.
Froggy Web: Farmers fear tariffs could cost them one of their biggest markets in China
04/05/2025
Heading into this year, most U.S. farmers were hoping to break even or maybe record a small profit if they could find a way to limit their sky-high costs. But now they are faced with losing the biggest export market for many of their crops after China retaliated against President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Government Executive: USDA to slash headquarters, other staff and relocate some to new ‘hubs’ around the country
By Eric Katz
04/07/2025
The Agriculture Department is planning to dismantle its presence in Washington, D.C., according to several officials briefed on the plans, and will relocate those it does not lay off to three hubs around the country. The locations for those new offices have not yet been determined, senior officials throughout the department have told employees in recent days, but the shakeup will impact thousands of headquarters staff.
Colorado Sun: What Trump’s “emergency” logging declaration could mean for Colorado’s U.S. Forest land
By Tracy Ross
04/10/2025
(Edited) Environmental groups are sounding the alarm after the U.S. Department of Agriculture declared more than 100 million acres of national forest land “an emergency situation.” But an attorney specializing in environmental litigation and a longtime forester and policy analyst both say it could be a shot in the arm the U.S. needs to ramp up its response to the growing wildfire crisis and continue much-needed work on forest health and restoration where mill infrastructure exists.
Farm Progress: Making their mark on the family farm
By Doug Rich | Chase County, KS | Northern Plains Region
04/02/2025
Changing the farm as opportunities come along is the family way. As Ben and Leah took over more management responsibilities on the farm, they made other changes, too. For example, they switched to doing more no-till farming, which saved labor and allowed them to farm more acres.
The Providence Journal: Environment nonprofits want judge to reinstate grants after Trump spending freeze
By Alex Kuffner | Providence, RI | Northeast Region
04/03/2025
Environmental nonprofits suing the Trump administration in a Rhode Island court over the federal funding freeze say that they’re feeling the impacts of the lost money every day. Although none of the half-dozen organizations say they’re at risk of going out of business, some have been forced to furlough staff while others have had to delay work on programs to plant trees in urban areas, weatherize homes, advise farmers, combat invasive species, and help prevent lead poisoning in children.
Successful Farming: Increasing Profitability While Building Soil Health
By Raylene Nickel | South Dakota | Northern Plains Region
04/04/2025
Husband-and-wife team Dan and Kris Nigg have increased the profitability of their corn-and-soybean operation by reducing tillage, growing cover crops, and putting variable-rate technology to work. Successful Farming spoke with Dan Nigg, who was named a Soil Health Champion by the National Association of Conservation Districts, about how the three-point formula has led to better crop yields.
The Record-Argus: Conservation District: Neshannock Creek project benefits fishing, economy
By Caleb Stright | Mercer, PA | Northeast Region
04/05/2025
The Mercer County Conservation District has received a new grant for more than $140,000 for work that will not only benefit the fishing in the Mercer area, but also the economy. The Pa. Growing Greener grant funds will be put toward stabilizing the shoreline of Neshannock Creek just east of Mercer near the Mustang Bar, which is already a popular fishing area, but is moving multiple feet each year through erosion while also having high banks.
Chron: Bothersome zebra mussel discovered at 38th Texas lake
By Timothy Malcolm | Texas | South Central Region
04/06/2025
They’re at it again—those striped nuisances that can latch onto a boat and hang on for dear life. The dreaded zebra mussel is terrorizing yet another Texas lake and sounding the state Parks and Wildlife Department alarm.
Farm Progress: Focus on outreach transforms Indiana conservation district
By Allison Lynch | Dearborn County, IN | North Central Region
04/07/2025
What started as contacting the Dearborn County Soil and Water Conservation District to fix an erosion problem sparked a decade-long run with the district for Ken Gunkel. The West Harrison, Ind., landowner had no prior experience with the conservation organization when he first reached out for help 10 years ago.
Post Guam: Soil and Water Stewardship Week proclaimed amid ongoing challenges with feral swine
By Walter Ulloa | Guam | Pacific Region
04/07/2025
(Edited) Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio proclaimed April 27 to May 4, 2025, as Soil and Water Stewardship Week during a ceremony on Friday at Adelup focused on continuing conservation efforts across the island. This year’s theme, “Home is Where the Habitat Is.” The proclamation event drew increased attendance compared to previous years, with representatives from the Northern and Southern Guam Soil and Water Conservation Districts joined by senators, mayors and other stakeholders.
Morning AgClips: Nebraska’s NRDs Advocate for Conservation Funding in Washington, D.C.
Lincoln, NE | Northern Plains Region
04/08/2025
Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) were represented by nearly 50 directors and staff in Washington, D.C., March 31 to April 2, 2025. Nebraska’s NRDs advocate for strengthening tools to preserve and fund natural resources projects, which includes engaging policymakers from the grassroots level with a unified voice.
Farms.com: From Hills of Rye to Sea of Green
By Krisann McElvain | Kewaskum, WI | North Central Region
04/09/2025
You wouldn’t know from Dan Zuehlke’s family history that he is considered a beginning farmer. For four generations, two plots of farmland just a mile apart in Kewaskum, Wisconsin, which spans the county line between Fond du Lac and Washington County, have been owned and operated by Dan’s family, starting with his great grandfather’s Washington County farm purchased in 1925.