Conservation Clip List is 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.
House Ag Chesapeake Bay hearing deals with Pennsylvania enforcement issues via Agri-Pulse
A hearing of the House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry had two focuses: discussing the voluntary conservation work in the Chesapeake Bay and digging into issues with enforcing conservation planning in Pennsylvania. There, local conservation districts are being asked to aid in compliance with Pennsylvania's Phase 2 Watershed Implementation Plan.
Finding ways to enhance water quality via Capital Press
This program gives producers the opportunity to try various methods of trapping pollutants and determining the efficiency of these practices in keeping soil and minerals on the farm and out of the water. It is a non-threatening approach to experimenting with ways to improve working lands environmentally, while maintaining their economic viability.
Canada Lynx Decision Violates Endangered Species Act via Bonners Ferry Herald
Advocates argued the 2014 critical lynx habitat decision failed to consider several federal lands - such as the Nez Perce, Clearwater, Lolo, and Idaho Panhandle national forests - and ran counter to a 2009 court order that USFWS determine which national forests qualified as critical habitat.
Drifting pesticides put neighboring farms at risk via The Des Moines Register
(Opinion) Iowa’s organic farms, vineyards, apiaries and other non-conventional farms surrounded by row crops treated with pesticides are at risk of being hit with drifting spray that can hurt their farms. The drift comes from misuse on neighboring farms, mostly the result of someone not following the label instructions on a pesticide, including requirements that a product not be used if wind speeds are too high.
Farmers Enlist Chickens And Bugs To Battle Against Pests via NPR
In an effort to turn away from chemical pesticides, which have the potential to damage the environment, some farmers are looking in a new direction in the age-old struggle against pests. They're warding off intruding insects and noxious weeds with bugs and chickens.
USDA declares most of state 'natural disaster area' via Sentinel and Enterprise
Eleven of Massachusetts’s 14 counties have been deemed "primary natural disaster areas" by the United States Department of Agriculture due to substantial crop losses that began with a February deep freeze and continued with an ongoing and widespread drought that's been blamed for contributing to wild fires, an outbreak of gypsy moths, higher rates of ant infestation, smaller than usual apples, loss of crops, a shortage of cattle feed, and an elevated population of mosquitoes able to carry West Nile virus.
California governor backs rules on cow, landfill emissions via The Washington Post
California will begin regulating greenhouse-gas emissions tied to dairy cows and landfills under legislation signed Monday by Gov. Jerry Brown, escalating state efforts to fight climate change beyond carbon-based gases to include methane and other pollutants.
The Latest: Wisconsin DNR Forestry Move Could Cost Millions via Minneapolis Star Tribune
A new report says moving the Department of Natural Resources' forestry headquarters to northern Wisconsin would likely cost millions of dollars. The 2015-17 state budget mandated the DNR prepare a proposal to move the headquarters. The agency submitted a report on a potential move as part of its 2017-19 budget request. The agency asked for less money for its conservation, environmental and clean water funds.
Louisiana officials, lawmakers work to bring home federal flood relief via Delta Farm Press
While the latest Louisiana floods have abated, the hard work of harvest and cleaning up still have to be done. Also part of the aftermath: state officials and lawmakers bringing home the best federal assistance package possible.
Central California wildfire becomes costliest ever to fight at $200 million via The Press Democrat
A wildfire burning for nearly two months on California's scenic Big Sur coast has surpassed $200 million in firefighting costs, becoming the costliest to fight in U.S. history, according to date released Monday. The fire has cost $206.7 million to fight so far, the National Interagency Fire Center said in a report. And with the blaze at only 67 percent containment, there could be weeks left before the firefight is done.
Removing regulatory obstacles in agriculture via Agri-Pulse
(Opinion) Discussions about agricultural policy usually focus on how the federal government should help farmers. However, the other side of the equation is also critical. How does the federal government intervene in ways that makes it more difficult for farmers to farm their land?
