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:  NACD’s Government Affairs update on President Biden’s EO
By Coleman Garrison
02/01/21

Since President Biden was sworn into office on January 20, he has issued a series of executive orders (EO) that pertain to conservation and natural resource protection.

Agri-View: Vilsack should be confirmed
By Tim Palmer and Michael Crowder
02/03/21

(Opinion) "During his term as Secretary, (the National Association of Conservation Districts) appreciated his support for the voluntary, locally led, incentive-based conservation delivery system that has served communities well across the United States for over 80 years,” we wrote.

AgDaily: A look at the Biden Administration’s agriculture policies and initiatives
By Brian Boyce
02/03/21

Vilsack has received high praise from the groups ranging from the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, the Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, the National Corn Growers Association, the National Association of Conservation Districts and the American Farmland Trust.

The Miami County Republic: Taking a look back at 2020
By Lesley Rigney
02/03/21

In July, the National Association of Conservation Districts awarded us an $85,265 grant to hire a technician to work on urban conservation in Miami and Johnson counties.

Sentinel Source: NH Conservation Districts celebrate 75th anniversary with awards, podcasts and more
02/01/21

New Hampshire Conservation Districts are celebrating their 75th year of conservation in 2021. Conservation Districts were established in the state in 1946, except for the Cheshire County Conservation District, which was established in 1945.

CSR Wire: Soil Health Institute to Collaborate With Truterra on TruCarbon™ Metrics and Soil Sampling Protocols
02/04/21

The Soil Health Institute (SHI), the global non-profit charged with safeguarding and enhancing the vitality and productivity of soils, is collaborating with Truterra as the scientific partner for soil metrics and sampling design for TruCarbon, the first farmer-owned carbon program in the U.S.

MPR News: Corporations nudge farmers to help the environment
By Dan Gunderson
02/03/21

Two of Minnesota’s biggest food companies are pushing the farmers they work with to grow crops in a way that is better for the environment.

PennState News: Newly discovered trait helps plants grow deeper roots in dry, compacted soils
By Jeff Mulhollem
02/01/21

A previously unknown root trait allows some cereal plants to grow deeper roots capable of punching through dry, hard, compacted soils, according to Penn State researchers, who suggest that harnessing the inherited characteristic could lead to crops better able to deal with a changing climate.

Bloomberg Law: Colorado River Getting Saltier Sparks Calls for Federal Help
By Emily C. Dooley
02/01/21

Water suppliers along the drought-stricken Colorado River hope to tackle another tricky issue after the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation installs a new leader: salty water.

E&E News: Feds defend gray wolf delisting
By Michael Doyle
02/01/21

(Subscriber Only) The Biden administration is sticking with a decision to remove the gray wolf from Endangered Species Act protections, at least for now.

Crosscut: To build up urban forests, WA cities could get help from the state
By Levi Pulkkinen
01/26/21

State Rep. Bill Ramos, D-Issaquah, contends that the state’s Department of Natural Resources may have just the tools to help, and has introduced legislation that would enable the department to deliver guidance, grant money and other resources to cities interested in improving urban forests.

The Daily Sentinel: Spotted Lanternfly: Invasive species a threat [to] local fruit crops
By Charles Ashby
01/30/21

It isn’t a question of if, but when the Spotted Lanternfly will land on Colorado and other parts of the West.

York Daily Record: Pennsylvania is failing the Chesapeake Bay — here's how that affects you
By Mike Argento
02/02/21

Last, best chance for restoration: Pennsylvania is $324 million behind in its commitment to clean up the Susquehanna and Chesapeake watersheds.

Chicago Tribune: Bill that would strip state protections for wetlands heads to Indiana House
By Meredith Colias-Pete
02/01/21

A controversial bill to strip state protections of isolated wetlands passed the Indiana Senate Monday. It now heads to the House.

Enid News & Eagle: OSU researcher explores fungi’s importance in promoting land stewardship
By Donald Stotts
01/31/21

"Most people are not aware the biodiversity in one handful of soil is equivalent to the biological diversity in a rainforest,” Wilson said. “The biodiversity in soil declines, sometimes drastically, as soil degrades. The bottom line is we need to repair the soil if we are to promote the plants that grow in the soil. It’s all interconnected."

Harvest Public Media: More Farmers Are Planting Cover Crops Thanks To State Incentive Programs
By Dana Cronin
01/29/21

Last month, the Illinois Department of Agriculture opened applications for its second annual Fall Covers for Spring Savings Program -- which provides a crop insurance discount for each acre of cover crop a farmer plants. It filled up in less than 24 hours.

WSIU: Small "Super" Device Could Hold Key to Better Soil, Water
02/02/21

A state-of-the-art tool is helping researchers in Indiana better understand the effectiveness of soil-conservation practices.

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