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 NACD Communications Manager Sara Kangas.

NACD Blog: 2018 Farm Bill Breakdown: Conservation Reserve Program
01/22/19

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has undergone a number of changes over the last several farm bills, including changes in overall acreage and an increased focus on specific resource concerns through special initiatives. The new farm bill allows for an increased acreage cap, while also addressing the issue of CRP competing with farmers for productive land by reducing rental rates, cost-share and incentive payments.

NACD Blog: TA grant helps get things moving in South Carolina
01/22/19

South Carolina’s Barnwell Soil and Water Conservation District (BSWCD) has been able to dig in to a backlog of Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) applications with the help of an NACD technical assistance grant.

NACD Blog: Texas SWCD hires a familiar face to assist local landowners
01/22/19

Texas’ Red River County Soil and Water Conservation District has an experienced set of boots on the ground thanks to an NACD technical assistance grant.

NACD Blog: District provides much needed post-fire support
01/23/19

Washington’s Cascadia Conservation District (CCD) is working with landowners and other partners on wildfire recovery efforts to mitigate the after-effects of wildfires.

High Plains Journal: Changes announced for Senate, House ag committees
By Larry Dreiling
01/24/19

With the recent start of the 116th Congress, House and Senate leaders have announced the memberships of their committees. Notable is the absence of Rep. Frank Lucas, R-OK, on the House Agriculture Committee. Lucas has served on the committee since his first election in 1994.

Northwest Herald: Hammer: Standing rows of corn in fields help prevent snow, ice from blowing onto roads
By Grant Hammer
01/10/19

(Opinion) The McHenry-Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District has partnered with local transportation officials, farmers and lawmakers on the Living Snow Fence Program. The program will save the time and expense associated with the installation of snow fence along county roadways by enticing farmers to leave standing rows of corn crop in the field that will serve as snow traps that prevent snow and ice from blowing across open fields onto roadways.

AgDaily: Report reveals women are key to increasing conservation
01/18/19

The report further supports previous research that lady landowners are important in the broader implementation of conservation practices on farms. The interviews also show women-only learning circles work as a means for expanding conservation actions and that women who participated want to learn more.

Agri-Pulse: USDA reopening all FSA offices Thursday
By Steve Davies
01/22/19

USDA will reopen all its Farm Service Agency offices on Thursday with furloughed workers providing an expanded set of services for farmers, including processing Market Facilitation Program applications.

The Conversation: Can genetic engineering save disappearing forests?
By Jason A. Delborne
01/18/19

Releasing genetically engineered trees into forests to counter threats to forest health represents a new frontier in biotechnology. Even as the techniques of molecular biology have advanced, humans have not yet released a genetically engineered plant that is intended to spread and persist in an unmanaged environment. Biotech trees – genetically engineered or gene-edited – offer just that possibility.

U.S. Ag Net: New Conservation Practice Could Reduce Nitrogen in Drainage Water
01/18/19

In a new study, University of Illinois scientists have estimated that a new conservation practice known as saturated buffers could reduce nitrogen from agricultural drainage by 5 to 10 percent.

Phys.Org: Forest soil needs decades or centuries to recover from fires and logging
By Elle Bowd and David Lindenmayer
01/22/19

In a new study published in Nature Geoscience, we investigated how forest soils were impacted by fire and logging. To our surprise, we found it can take up to 80 years for soils to recover.

The Conversation: Bison are back, and that benefits many other species on the Great Plains
By Matthew D. Moran
01/18/19

Today some 500,000 bison have been restored in over 6,000 locations, including public lands, private ranches and Native American lands. As they return, researchers like me are gaining insights into their substantial ecological and conservation value.

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