Pollinator Conservation Takes Off in Montana 03/21/2019
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (MDNRC) recently published the below article. NACD thanks Linda Brander, a resource specialist for the Conservation Districts Bureau within MDNRC, for the opportunity to republish this story on our blog. [caption id="attachment_30163" align="alignright" width="200"] Doug and Ronda Bonsell. Photo by Jesse Scott, Ekalaka, Mont.[/caption] By John Grassy, Montana Department of Natural…… Continue reading →
Conservation Districts and the Sustainability Puzzle 04/12/2018
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 →
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 →
New bill supports NACD policy on CRP grazing 11/16/2017
By Edward Hutschenreuter Farmers with land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) may now have a new environmentally beneficial option for satisfying their contract requirements. On November 9, Rep. Vicky Hartzler of Missouri introduced the “CRP Grazing Flexibility Act” (H.R. 4298), which would allow farmers to graze livestock on their enrolled CRP acreage as an…… 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 →
National water campaign asks Americans to reflect on importance of water 10/11/2017
By Sara Kangas Each fall, the U.S. Water Alliance asks us to “Imagine a Day Without Water." Tomorrow, October 12, is that time to reflect - how much do you value water? When Americans go to brush their teeth, shower, or fill their coffee pot, they expect clean, safe water to flow from their taps.…… Continue reading →
Did You Know? How to build effective conservation partnerships 09/26/2017
By Mike Brown, Executive Director of the National Association of State Conservation Agencies and Associate Board Supervisor of the Kent Conservation District in Delaware Did you know? That conservation districts, working in concert with NRCS, are ineffective as deliverers of soil and water conservation on private lands? That agricultural conservation programs only focus on farm-scale…… Continue reading →
Celebrate SepticSmart Week: Maintain septic systems to protect water quality 09/18/2017
Guest column provided by Corrina Parnapy In observance of the Environmental Protection Agency's SepticSmart Week - September 18-22, 2017 – conservation districts nationwide are discussing septic systems and how they can help landowners use them sustainably. Septic systems - made up of a tank and absorption field - are effective methods for treating wastewater. The…… Continue reading →
Award-winning company in Maryland gives credit to CDs for success 08/17/2017
By Elijah Olomoniyi A private sector partner to conservation districts in Maryland has been named in Inc. Magazine’s annual list of the top 5000 fastest growing private companies. Ecotone, Inc. was ranked #1834 overall and was named the #15 Top Environmental Services companies in the nation and #24 amongst Top Baltimore area companies. "The Inc. 5000…… Continue reading →
Voluntary conservation curbs the plague, boosts black-footed ferret numbers in the Southwest 08/16/2017
By Elijah Olomoniyi Yesterday, federal and state wildlife groups met north of Fort Collins, Colorado, at the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center to celebrate the ways voluntary conservation and a new sylvatic plague vaccine are helping to bring the black-footed ferret back from the brink of extinction. [caption id="attachment_9858" align="alignleft" width="489"] Black-footed ferret populations are mostly…… Continue reading →