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.


STL.News: Howard County Watershed Improvement Efforts Drawing National Attention
08/24/18

Local efforts in Howard County to improve water quality are receiving national attention. Through their partnership with local landowners, Howard SWCD has been able to use funding from the DNR and other partners to improve water quality throughout the county, stabilizing streambanks across multiple watersheds.

Herald and Review: Soil health protects farmers, taxpayers
By Claire Hettinger
08/24/18

The 20 years of projects by the Macon County conservation district are working, said Lake Supervisor Joe Nihiser. He’s noticed less sediment build-up in recent years. In basin six on Lake Decatur, there is a soil retention dam area to catch eroded sediment. In recent years, Nihiser said he has not noticed much material in the area.

American Agriculturist: Senate confirms Hubbard as USDA Under Secretary
08/29/18

Upon swearing in, James E. Hubbard will serve as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Star Tribune: Among farmers, support rises for expanding federal Conservation Reserve Program
By Adam Belz
08/24/18

One sticking point in the haggling over the Farm Bill is the Conservation Reserve Program, a federal payout to farmers for converting cropland into grassland. But now, facing dismal commodity prices ahead of the fall harvest, farmers are looking to put more land back into conservation.

Civil Eats: What Congress Does Next on the Farm Bill Could Cost Farmers and Taxpayers Billions
By Paige Stanley
08/31/18

(Opinion) Not only is the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) popular among farmers, it addresses agricultural challenges and delivers environmental benefits that impact us all. As the deadline to complete the 2018 Farm Bill approaches, Congress should think long and hard before giving CSP the axe.

USA Today: Grizzly Hunt Pits Tourists Against Sportsmen in Wyoming
By Trevor Hughes
08/28/18

Hunters say the bear population poses a threat to humans living in the area, and that a state-sanctioned kill by sportsmen is the best way to control the population and recognize the money and time hunters have invested in helping the species recover. In the United States, wildlife is managed on behalf of the people, and part of that includes the right to hunt certain animals if scientists say there's enough of them.

Agri-Pulse: USDA sees another big drop in farm income for 2018
By Daniel Enoch
08/30/18

USDA today forecast net farm income for this year at $65.7 billion, up from a February projection but down $9.8 billion, or 13 percent, from 2017, when the broad measure of farmland profits increased nearly 23 percent.

My SA: US judge reinstates proposed listing of bi-state sage grouse
By Scott Sonner
08/29/18

A U.S. judge who earlier ruled federal wildlife officials illegally denied Endangered Species Act protection for a population of bi-state sage grouse in California and Nevada in 2015 has reinstated the proposed listing of the bird as threatened until a new review determines whether it's on the brink of extinction.

Des Moines Register: Southern Iowa farmers eligible for USDA disaster loans
08/29/18

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has designated three Iowa counties as natural disaster areas due to severe drought.

Capital Journal: Cattle and Land Conservation in South Dakota
By Deepthi Kolady
08/27/18

Analysis of results from a 2017 South Dakota farmer survey reveals that cattlemen tend to be more land conservation oriented than their grain farming counterparts. This is positive news for an industry that can sometimes be viewed through a negative lens in an environmental context.

WAMU: Anacostia River Cleanup Benefits from Some Mussel(s)
By Rachel Kurzius
08/28/18

Much like oysters, mussels can filter large quantities of water (between 10-20 gallons daily) and they eat bacteria like E. coli. They’re also bio-indicators, who act as the canary in a coal mine for aquatic ecosystems.

The News & Observer: Lead may be out of paint and gasoline. But it’s still in the soil.
By Dan Richter and Anna Wade
08/25/18

(Opinion) Before the 1980s, lead-based paint and leaded gasoline greatly elevated lead in urban air and soil. Today’s paint and gasoline are virtually lead-free, but urban soils contain much of the lead formerly used in paint and gasoline. Because lead is tightly bound to soil particles, lead toxicity is a legacy problem.


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