Soil Health

By NACD Government Affairs Manager Eric Hansen The USDA Census of Agriculture is conducted every five years. As a complete count of every farm in America, it is unique from other USDA data sets, which are based on sampling and statistical modeling. The Ag Census started in 1840 and has been conducted by USDA’s National…… Continue reading →

Now that President Donald Trump has signed the 2018 Farm Bill into law, NACD’s Government Affairs Team will be releasing a series of blog posts to break down the bill in more detail with the expected changes folks can expect on the ground as USDA works to implement the new law.  Changes Coming to CSP…… Continue reading →

By Melina Sempill Watts, Glenn County Resource Conservation District Sitting at the Glenn County Farm Bureau annual dinner last year as a new hire at the Glenn County Resource Conservation District (RCD), I started estimating decades of experience, per farmer in the room, and multiplying it by the numbers of people in chairs. Then I…… Continue reading →

By Jessica Espenshade, agricultural program coordinator, National Wildlife Federation District program coordinators across the country have noticed a trend - agricultural outreach is relying on traditional field days to bridge the knowledge and action gap in the farming community, and attendance is increasingly a challenge. Outreach specialists need to think outside of the box to…… Continue reading →

[DISPLAY_ULTIMATE_SOCIAL_ICONS] By NACD Intern Katrina Vaitkus In Oklahoma, a state deeply affected during the Dust Bowl, erosion is a major concern. Since the region's soil is highly erodible, farmers must consider soil health practices that will reduce erosion and preserve water quality. Sarah Blaney, executive director of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts (OACD), has…… Continue reading →

By NACD Communications Manager Sara Kangas As spring concludes and summer finally arrives, you're likely seeing more critters around your garden hard at work. Today marks the beginning of National Pollinator Week, an annual event to raise awareness of the animals and invertebrates that make our ecosystems function. In addition to graphics on NACD's social…… Continue reading →

Editor's note: This blog is the second part in a series. Click here to read the first installment. By Laura Demmel Agricultural sustainability could be defined as “natural resource stewardship practices that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.1” Conservation districts work toward this goal…… Continue reading →

By Beth Mason This month, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Soil Health Champions Network surpassed 200 members across the United States and is still in the process of confirming more members every day. Since its inception in 2015, the NACD Soil Health Champions Network has brought together landowners and operators that not only…… Continue reading →

By Beth Mason As we celebrate World Soil Day on December 5, it is only appropriate to also celebrate those who help maintain and improve soil health across our country’s landscape. NACD’s Soil Health Champions Network is a group of such individuals - landowners and operators who have made improving the soil in their operation…… Continue reading →

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 →