Conservation Clips are a weekly collection of articles distributed by NACD that provides our members and partners with the latest news in what's driving conservation. If you have a relevant submission, please contact your NACD Communications Team.

Agri-Pulse: Opinion: To Move Our Planet Forward, Food and Agriculture Must Think about Sustainability Differently
By Chris Policinski
04/05/18

(Opinion) Bringing together big-picture, company-level sustainability commitments and the acre-by-acre conservation efforts of farmers makes both more effective. It engages farmers in advancing conservation solutions across millions of acres of farmland in a more coordinated way. It allows us to collect and then translate data that not only helps farmers continuously improve their stewardship, but also helps consumers access clear information about how their food was produced.

The Wall Street Journal: In the Battle for the American West, the Cowboys Are Losing
By Jim Carlton
03/30/18

Ranchers who rely on public land to raise their cattle say they have shrinking access to wide open spaces, grass and water because of an array of regulations. Over the last four decades, the number of cows grazing on public lands has dropped by nearly half.

U.S. News and World Report: Minnesota Watershed Uses Woodchips, Wetlands to Treat Water
04/01/18

Watershed experts are using wetlands and woodchips to try and reduce nitrate runoff in Vermillion River and other Minnesota waters.

The Orange County Register: California fights wildfires aggressively — but prevention takes a back seat
By Julie Cart
04/04/18

Last year’s wildfires, the worst in modern California history, have put a microscope on the forests that cover a third of the state–in particular, on managing these wooded lands in ways that would reduce the frequency and intensity of such blazes.

Scientific American: Bats Are Migrating Earlier, and It Could Wreak Havoc on Farming
By Inga Vesper
04/02/18

This trend creates a risky situation in which bats may not find enough food for themselves and their young, as the insects they prey on may not yet have arrived or hatched. If bat colonies shrink as a result of this schedule snafu, their pest control effect could fall out of sync with crop-growing seasons—potentially causing hefty losses.

CNN: Leaked memo: Pruitt taking control of Clean Water Act determinations
By Rene Marsh
04/04/18

Key provisions in the Clean Water Act are now under the control of one person at the US Environmental Protection Agency -- Administrator Scott Pruitt. In the new directive, Pruitt states he will make final critical decisions about preservation of streams, ponds and wetlands.

The Daily Yonder: Federal Bill Attempts to Block State, Local Regulation of Ag
By Bryce Oates
04/04/18

A bill introduced by an Iowa member of Congress would strip states and local governments of their ability to regulate industrial agriculture in their communities. It would prohibit state and local governments from adding any restrictions on agriculture and food production if the product is offered for sale in another state.

High Plains Journal: Adapting methods and equipment can make life easier on cattle and handlers
By Jennifer M. Latzke
04/02/18

Experts agree that grazing cattle can be part of a healthy soil system. But for many farmers, the idea of the extra labor involved with livestock can be daunting.

Colorado Public Radio: When Snowpack Is The Concern, Science Keeps A Wary Eye Out For Dust
By Grace Hood
04/03/18

Dust pulls more solar energy into the snowpack, which is essentially a reservoir of water for managers across the West. In dusty years, snow melts earlier. The rate of runoff can increase substantially compared to low dust-on-snow years.

Des Moines Register: A smarter farm bill can protect natural resources as well as farmers' livelihoods
By Seth Watkins
04/05/18

(Opinion) Modern agriculture produces remarkable yields but has become highly reliant on scarce resources and is often not profitable without subsidies. These systems also show increasing warning signs of failure: decimated soil health, water pollution, habitat loss, rural poverty, and chronic disease are all in some way connected to a fundamentally flawed farm bill.

Agri-Pulse: California fights costly battle against invasive species
By Tyler Ash
04/04/18

Every year, California acquires on average nine new invasive species, including exotic insects, spiders, mollusks and even South American mammals. Three of those invaders usually try and settle down, start a large family and stake a claim on some of the Golden State’s endless buffet of agricultural crops, becoming the bane of farmers and researchers.

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