Stewardship

By Josie Fuentes Despite the warm temperatures, local supporters were not deterred from showing up to celebrate the Duval Soil and Water Conservation District’s (SWCD) 66th anniversary. Local sponsors, community advocates, city council members and members of the public were all present at the rooftop deck of Intuition Ale Works in the downtown Urban Core.…… Continue reading →

By Sunni Heikes-Knapton, NACD Northern Plains Region Representative Sometimes long roads are metaphorical, and sometimes they are literal. During the last days of April, both kinds of roads were a theme for a group of Montanans who gathered in Lewistown. Brought together by a keen interest in natural resource education, the assembly was part of…… Continue reading →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →