Ranching & Agriculture
Building on Agriculture’s Culture of Stewardship: A recent Lancaster Farming (PA) poll showed that the majority of the farmers of its readership view Earth Day as an opportunity to reflect with pride on our work as stewards of our lands.
Sixth generation Land family of Florida recognized by County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES), recognizing superior natural resource conservation and leadership by agricultural producers.
Throughout its 30-year history, one fact has remained constant: The work of the Land Trust, which recorded its 65th conservation easement on December 14, 2018, has always been committed to the protection of farmland here in Yolo County.
Could it be that land‐sharing (i.e. wildlife‐friendly farming systems) and land‐sparing (i.e. separation of high‐yielding agriculture and natural habitats) approaches to optimal land use are not mutually exclusive, but rather needed to balance management needs for the multifunctionality of agricultural landscapes??
Aspen Valley Land Trust looked to public input to help guide its future
Established in 1993 by walnut farmers Craig and Julie McNamara, the nonprofit Center for Land-Based Learning inspires, educates, and cultivates future generations of farmers agricultural leaders, and natural resource stewards. Now a $1.5 million gift from the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation has officially launched the Center’s campaign to build a new statewide headquarters and expand its programs and services.
Farming, conservation harmonize on northeast South Dakota farm. (No-till farming and cover crops were used for centuries before the rise of modern, chemical-based agriculture.)
Texas Land Conservation Assistance Network launches in May 2019
Soil health & conservation practices at center of sustainability
State governments across the nation are taking an increased interest in promoting soil health practices through legislation, all of which include incentives or collaboration with private landowners.
Water
Pecos Conservation Partnership with oil and natural gas companies and federal agencies announces second round of grants to conserve species and their habitats in the Pecos River Watershed of New Mexico and Texas.
The City of Newark pay-for-success transaction (PFS) is being conducted as a pilot program to examine whether investment in agricultural best management practices on farms can achieve cost-effective pollution reductions that meet regulatory compliance requirements under the Clean Water Act while also achieving watershed conservation goals.
Wildlife, Recreation & Education
Stunning Illinois prairie chicken dance could soon be a thing of the past. Only 200 remain, but one family is fighting to save the species.
There is social and financial value in farmland conservation practices
Retired dairy farmer hosts field day, concert to benefit grassland bird research in Iowa
Ask the expert, a new series on farmers.gov: If pollinator conservation is your goal when putting in a CRP grassland, then it is important to include a high percentage of wildflowers to provide nectar and pollen resources. Including host plant species like milkweed is also valuable for monarch butterflies and other specialist insects.
Forests
The Coastal Headwaters project in Florida’s panhandle is the largest single longleaf restoration effort on private land to date (3,719 acres), with the potential to protect up to 200,000 acres in Florida and Alabama through the collaboration of more than 30 public and private partners.
Local lawmakers push for conservation of largest urban forest in the state of Texas.
Women Managing Woodlands share expertise in Michigan.
While the Northwest has seen massive infernos in recent years, a new report shows its forests actually are experiencing a historical deficit of fires. That deficit could be fueling recent, dangerous wildfire seasons.
