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 with accessing articles, please contact the NACD Communications Team.

NACD Blog: RCPP allows districts to implement a variety of forestry practices
05/19/20

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently awarded more than $200 million to groups through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), including at least nine conservation districts.

Southeast Ag Net: NACD Submits Comments on RCPP Rule
05/19/20

Last week, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) submitted public comments to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on the interim Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) rule.

Empire Press: Rep. Dan Newhouse: Local conservation efforts having big impact
By Rep. Dan Newhouse
05/21/20

(Opinion) Michael Crowder, general manager of the Barker Ranch in West Richland, has spent his career teaching the importance of locally led conservation. He has been a strong ally of mine as I have worked to promote conservation efforts, and now he will lead farmers and ranchers across the country. He was recently named president-elect of the National Association of Conservation Districts, and I know he will be a strong representative for Central Washington’s continued efforts.

Ashland Source: Park the Plow: No-till drills a better option for soil health
05/15/20

Practices like no-till, minimum till and strip-till are alternatives to conventional plowing that actually help protect soil health. That’s why Ashland SWCD has a long-standing tradition of having no-till drills available for rent to area farmers. The district currently rents two drills, both 2018 John Deere models in a 10-foot width and a 15-foot width. Both drills rent for just $12 per acre with a minimum charge of $100 for the 10-foot drill and $200 for the 15-foot drill. 

Daily Herald: Amid COVID-19, we must solve the growing threat from extreme weather
By R. Critchell Judd
05/18/20

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic effect on the lives of billions of people around the world. One organization that is helping lead the fight to solve this problem is your local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). From the McHenry-Lake County SWCD in our area to the Massac County SWCD in Southern Illinois, these organizations provide technical assistance and involve citizens in addressing issues related to flood mitigation, soil conservation, water quality, nutrient management, sustainable land use, and conservation education. Their key goal is to protect our greatest assets -- our rich, fertile soils and water resources -- through strategic conservation efforts.

Aberdeen News: Watershed projects throughout South Dakota improve water quality and soil health
By Lura Roti
05/14/20

Private landowners play a critical role in caring for South Dakota’s nearly 100 thousand miles of streams and rivers explains Kris Dozark, an environmental scientist with the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (SD DENR).

E&E News: 'Things will change.' Researchers warn farmers to adapt
By Daniel Cusick
05/20/20

(Subscriber Only) Farmers have been warned for years that climate change will disrupt growing conditions and crop yields. Pennsylvania State University researchers released findings this week suggesting those changes could come within the lifetimes of many current farmers and that warming could have major implications for the Corn Belt, the heart of the U.S. agricultural economy.

Environmental Protection Agency: EPA Provides $6 Million to Reduce Excess Ag Runoff to the Chesapeake Bay
05/18/20

[On Monday], the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the allocation of $6 million to Chesapeake Bay states to improve water quality by reducing excess nitrogen from agricultural operations.

E&E News: Pandemic relief could become next forest policy battleground
By Marc Heller
05/19/20

(Subscriber Only) The long-running debate about how best to care for national forests — and what to do with timber that's taken from them — is quietly brewing again as lawmakers look for ways to promote a more intensive approach to forest management. A spending package for the pandemic offers one opportunity.

Smithsonian Magazine: Saving our Planet Starts in the Soil
By Cat Kutz
05/14/20

Peter Byck is a Professor of Practice at Arizona State University, in both the School of Sustainability and the Cronkite School of Journalism. He is the director, producer and writer of Carbon Nation. He is currently helping to lead a $6.3 million research project focused on Adaptive Multi-Paddock (AMP) grazing; collaborating with 20 scientists and 10 farmers, focused on soil health and soil carbon storage; microbial, bug and bird biodiversity; water cycling and much more.

Science Daily: Shrub encroachment on grasslands can increase groundwater recharge
05/15/20

A new study modeled shrub encroachment on a sloping landscape and reached a startling conclusion: Shrub encroachment on slopes can increase the amount of water that goes into groundwater storage. The effect of shrubs is so powerful that it even counterbalances the lower annual rainfall amounts expected during climate change.

State Impact - Pennsylvania: Coronavirus delays conservation efforts in Pennsylvania
By Kara Holsopple
05/14/20

Many sectors of the economy have either been halted or thoroughly changed by the response to the coronavirus pandemic, and environmental research and conservation are no exceptions.

M Live: Michigan flooding: ‘One, two, three punch’ of rain overwhelms soggy state
By Garret Ellison
05/20/20

Soils across the state are saturated. Water is invading many spots it usually isn’t found and many more where it isn’t welcome. Experts liken Michigan to a sponge that cannot hold any more water. Multiple cities and counties have declared local emergencies in order to access state resources.

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