Did You Know: There’s a Soil and Water Conservation Merit Badge? 04/29/2019
By Sara Kangas Since 1910, Boy Scouts of America – which consists of Cub Scouts (grades K-5); Boy Scouts (beginning at age 10 or who have completed fifth grade) and Venturing (ages 14-21) – has overseen programs for millions of children, training them in responsible citizenship, character development and self-reliance. As part of the tradition…… Continue reading →
San Antonio’s Mission Reach urban ecosystem restoration provides many benefits 02/12/2019
By NACD Southeast Region Representative Candice Abinanti Strolling along San Antonio, Texas,’ Historic Downtown River Walk, it can be easy to overlook the infrastructure that keeps the water in the San Antonio River level. After all, San Antonio has a history with flooding. During the 73rd NACD Annual Meeting, the Association of Texas Soil and Water…… Continue reading →
Conservation Districts Key in the Agricultural Sustainability Conversation 03/19/2018
Note from the editor: This blog is the first of a two-part series. By Laura Demmel A conversation has been brewing for years on the topic of agricultural sustainability. As consumers care more and more about where their food comes from, the entire food and agriculture industry has responded. From the farm level to the…… Continue reading →
Conservation field day sparks stewardship in New York 11/21/2017
By Caitlin Stewart Earlier this fall, the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District (HCSWCD) in upstate New York hosted its 38th annual Lynn Galusha Memorial Conservation Field Day to encourage fifth and sixth graders to become the future stewards of our natural resources. The event drew 72 area students from Lake Pleasant, Wells, Long…… Continue reading →
NCF-Envirothon gearing up for 2018 in Idaho 11/21/2017
By Carly Burton I recently had the opportunity to travel to Pocatello, Idaho: the location of the 2018 NCF-Envirothon competition. Pocatello is a city sprinkled with hills (and mini-volcanoes that still steam!) nestled between mountains and flat farmland. It shares a portion of its land with the Fort Hall Indian Reservation and is known as…… Continue reading →
New educational coloring book features tiny superhero of the soil 11/15/2017
She’s a wee bit smaller than your typical superhero. But the creators of a new soil health-themed coloring book believe “Mighty Mini Microbe’s Tale” will encourage the next generation of real-life hero farmers, conservationists, and scientists to further unlock the secrets in the soil. The 24-page coloring book is produced by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation…… Continue reading →
Conservationists in Washington state host 10th annual Wounded Veteran Duck Hunt 11/06/2017
On the afternoon of Wednesday, October 18, 2017, the Barker Ranch in West Richland, Washington, hosted its 10th Annual Wounded Veteran Duck Hunt to honor those that have served and sacrificed for their country. The Barker Ranch is a 2,000-acre private ranch and wildlife area that is best known for the volume of ducks and…… Continue reading →
Celebrating bats: Unexpected pollinators 10/26/2017
By Sara Kangas Bat Week is held each October 24 – 31 and raises awareness for how integral bats are to our ecosystems. Bats are some of America’s best pollinators, but they’re often shrouded in mystery! Here are some facts about pollinating bats in the United States: Chiropterophily is the official term for pollination of…… Continue reading →
Montana CDs play critical role in wildfire recovery 08/25/2017
By Laura Demmel Wildfires continue to take their toll across the West, sweeping through forests, grasslands, and communities. Some 80 wildfires in the United States have burned over 942,000 acres already this fire session. Nearly half of those acres are in Montana. The great loss to landowners in land and assets, as well as the…… Continue reading →
VESP means good stewardship in Vermont 08/14/2017
By Bill Berry What good things are there to say about the Vermont Environmental Stewardship Program (VESP)? Let us count some of the ways. The program will be piloted this year and next on 10 to 12 farms. It is an example of cooperative conservation at its best with roles for federal, state, and local…… Continue reading →