Explore

USDA Invests Over $325 Million in 42 Conservation Partnerships Nationwide

USDA Invests Over $325 Million in 42 Conservation Partnerships Nationwide

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced an investment exceeding $325 million into 42 projects across the nation through its Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). This funding aims to support farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in enhancing their operations while conserving natural resources. Among the initiatives, the Lake Decatur Targeted Soil Health and Water Quality initiative in Illinois will receive over $6.3 million to address agricultural runoff impacting water quality. Indiana's Central Hardwoods Working Forests for Birds RCPP will receive $9.5 million to accelerate conservation efforts on private working forests. Colton Buckley, USDA’s NRCS chief, emphasized the program's commitment to producer-focused conservation solutions and leveraging public-private partnerships. Seventy-five percent of this year's RCPP funding will directly benefit American farmers or cover the costs of conservation practice implementation. The NRCS prioritizes projects addressing soil health...

South Carolina White Tract Land to Be Permanently Conserved After Two Decades of Opposition

South Carolina White Tract Land to Be Permanently Conserved After Two Decades of Opposition

A 229-acre parcel of land in South Carolina, known as the White Tract, which was previously slated for a 200-home residential development, is now set for permanent conservation. The property, located adjacent to the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge in Awendaw, Charleston County, had been the subject of nearly two decades of opposition from conservation groups. The South Carolina Environmental Law Project (SCELP), representing organizations like the Coastal Conservation League, Charleston Waterkeeper, and Friends of Coastal South Carolina, announced an agreement on November 6, 2026. Under this settlement, developer Pulte Home Company has agreed to sell the White Tract to the nonprofit Open Space Institute for conservation. The proposed development, which included approximately 208 single-family homes, raised concerns about its impact on wetlands, wildlife, and water quality, particularly due to reliance on septic systems near a critical ecological area.

Oregon Department of Agriculture Confirms First Detection of Invasive Hydrilla verticillata in Jackson County

Oregon Department of Agriculture Confirms First Detection of Invasive Hydrilla verticillata in Jackson County

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) has confirmed the first-ever presence of Hydrilla verticillata, an invasive aquatic weed, in Oregon. The plant was discovered on private property in Jackson County in October. Hydrilla verticillata, often referred to as water thyme, is recognized as one of the most problematic invasive species globally. It forms dense mats of vegetation with long, slender branches and serrated leaves, which can obstruct waterways and displace native ecosystems. Troy Abercrombie, program manager for ODA's noxious weed control, described it as 'the worst invasive weed in the world' and noted its status as a federally listed noxious weed. The ODA considers this an early detection, as the plant is currently isolated to small ponds. In Oregon, it is classified as an A-rated invasive species, indicating it is not widespread and is a target for eradication using herbicides. The department is consulting with experts from Florida, a state that has invested hundreds of millions of dollars o...

USDA Partnering with Ducks Unlimited for Wetland Conservation and Invasive Species Management in Illinois

USDA Partnering with Ducks Unlimited for Wetland Conservation and Invasive Species Management in Illinois

Ducks Unlimited, in collaboration with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is seeking a Wetland Biologist to support wetland conservation and restoration efforts across Illinois. This partnership aims to deliver wetland conservation easements, restoration projects, and Farm Bill conservation programs on private lands. The Wetland Biologist will provide technical expertise for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), specifically its Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) component. This role involves assisting private landowners with wetland determination, restoration, enhancement, and management activities. Key responsibilities include conducting site visits, developing habitat management plans, and utilizing knowledge of wetland ecology and wildlife habitat requirements. The position also entails monitoring and evaluating wetland restoration projects, preparing necessary documentation, and coordinating with NRCS staff and conservation partners to maximize environmental benefits....

Middletown's Emerson Farms Honored with 2026 Environmental Stewardship Award for Dairy Operations

Middletown's Emerson Farms Honored with 2026 Environmental Stewardship Award for Dairy Operations

Emerson Farms in Middletown, a fifth-generation dairy farm, has been recognized as the 2026 Environmental Stewardship Award winner. The farm, established in the early 1940s and operated by Robert and Sarah Emerson, their son Lee, and grandson Robbie, milks approximately 180 cows daily. The award acknowledges their commitment to top environmental practices, including injecting manure, strip tillage to reduce fertilizer needs, fenced ditches and waterways, and a recently constructed dyked and enclosed chemical mixing and storage building. They also prioritize animal health through RFD ear tags to monitor milk production and quality of life. Emerson Farms actively engages with the community by hosting 4-H meetings, local high school visits, and University of Delaware honors classes, and by leasing animals for students to show. The farm received $1,000, an Environmental Stewardship recognition plaque, and a lane sign for their achievement.

Famed ship heads for afterlife as artificial reef in deliberate sinking off Florida

Famed ship heads for afterlife as artificial reef in deliberate sinking off Florida

By Steve Gorman Nov 11 (Reuters) - Famed ocean liner SS United States, the largest passenger ship ever built in America and the world's fastest, headed for the sea floor near Florida on Wednesday in a deliberate sinking designed to transform the vessel into the world's biggest artificial reef.

Natural Ecosystems in Argentina Demonstrate Greater Drought Resilience Than Agricultural Lands, Study Finds

Natural Ecosystems in Argentina Demonstrate Greater Drought Resilience Than Agricultural Lands, Study Finds

A recent national-scale investigation in Argentina, utilizing over two decades of satellite observations, has revealed that natural vegetation exhibits significantly higher and more stable resilience to droughts compared to agricultural and cultivated lands. Researchers tracked aboveground net primary productivity dynamics from 2001 to 2024 using the Enhanced Vegetation Index. The study found that structurally complex native ecosystems maintained greater functional stability during precipitation deficits, whereas human-modified systems showed pronounced vulnerability with steeper productivity declines as meteorological drought conditions intensified. Across Argentina's diverse landscape, native plant covers buffered climatic fluctuations more effectively than simplified croplands and pastures. The investigation divided Argentina's terrestrial territory into 50 distinct vegetation units and mapped stable vegetation covers at 30-meter resolution. Meteorological drought events were quantified at a 5-kilometer...

Environmental Group Sues Boulder County Over Aerial Herbicide Spraying Plans

Environmental Group Sues Boulder County Over Aerial Herbicide Spraying Plans

Grounds for Action, an environmental group, has filed a lawsuit against Boulder County, Colorado, seeking to halt the county's plans for aerial herbicide applications at three open space properties: Heil Valley Ranch’s Red Hill area, Hall Ranch, and Rabbit Mountain. The lawsuit, filed under the Endangered Species Act, names the Boulder County commissioners and Boulder County Parks and Open Space Director Jason Seuc as defendants. The group is concerned about the potential harm to the Preble’s meadow jumping mouse, a species protected under the Endangered Species Act. The county plans to use drones to apply indaziflam, an herbicide, to target invasive cheatgrass, which county staff describe as a widespread weed that can suppress native species and create a fire hazard. Grounds for Action is requesting a 90-day suspension of the program to allow the court to hear the case, and if denied, plans to seek an emergency order to pause applications. The lawsuit alleges that indaziflam remains active in the soil for...

SYRCL Raises Concerns Over Proposed 750-Megawatt Hydropower Project on Fish Creek, Urges Public Comment to FERC

SYRCL Raises Concerns Over Proposed 750-Megawatt Hydropower Project on Fish Creek, Urges Public Comment to FERC

The South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) is urging the public to submit comments to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) by November 30, 2026, regarding a proposed 750-megawatt (MW) pumped storage hydropower project on Fish Creek. Fish Creek is a tributary of the Wild and Scenic South Yuba River, located east of Nevada City. RamaFlux Sierra PSH LLC, a company recently formed, has filed an application with FERC for a preliminary permit to study the project. The proposed development would include two new dams and reservoirs, an underground powerhouse, new construction roads, and a new 230-kilovolt high-voltage transmission line that would traverse Sierra Nevada foothill forests. This project's generating capacity would exceed that of all existing hydropower projects in the Yuba River watershed combined, producing more than double the power of the Colgate Powerhouse. For comparison, Shasta Dam, which produces 710 MW, is built on a river with significantly greater flow than Fish Creek.

Texas A University Participates in International Forum Addressing Global Food Security Challenges

Texas A University Participates in International Forum Addressing Global Food Security Challenges

More than 1,200 leaders from over 65 countries, including representatives from Texas A&M University, gathered in Des Moines, Iowa, for the 2026 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue. This annual conference, marking the 40th anniversary of the World Food Prize Foundation, focused on global food security under the theme 'Before Hunger Wins.' Discussions covered agriculture innovation, international cooperation, climate pressures, and the future of food systems. Texas A&M faculty, former students, and current students, such as horticulture junior Justine Chavez, actively participated. Chavez, who has been involved with the World Food Prize since high school, emphasized the importance of youth engagement and the exchange of ideas from diverse global figures. Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov, a Texas A&M alumnus and Uzbekistan's Minister of Agriculture, also attended, highlighting the connection between scientific research and agricultural innovation and the need to involve farmers in the process.

National Deer Association Expands Partnership with U.S. Forest Service for Active Forest Management

National Deer Association Expands Partnership with U.S. Forest Service for Active Forest Management

The National Deer Association (NDA) has signed three new Stewardship Agreements with the USDA Forest Service, significantly expanding active forest management and wildlife habitat improvements across 12 National Forests in 10 states. These agreements represent approximately $23 million in total project value. The initiatives include NDA's first Stewardship Agreements in Alabama (Tuskegee National Forest) and the Pacific Northwest (Oregon and Washington, starting with Colville, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie, and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests), as well as a major expansion of an existing agreement in the Eastern Region (Region 9). The expanded Region 9 agreement now includes the Chippewa National Forest in Minnesota and Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Wisconsin, bringing the total to eight National Forests in that region. The work encompasses commercial timber sales, forest thinning, wildlife habitat improvement, prescribed fire support, invasive-species treatment, and road maintenance.

Pacific Northwest Partners Expand Prescribed Fire and Smoke Management Pilot in Central Washington

Pacific Northwest Partners Expand Prescribed Fire and Smoke Management Pilot in Central Washington

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with the Washington State Department of Health, Department of Natural Resources, and Department of Fish & Wildlife, are expanding a collaborative effort in Central Washington. This initiative aims to increase the use of prescribed fire, reduce wildfire risk, and enhance public health protections from smoke. Building on a Pacific Northwest collaboration launched in 2024, this expansion focuses on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and nearby state-managed lands and communities. Agency partners are coordinating planning, outreach, air-quality monitoring, and public health protections through an incident command structure for multi-jurisdictional prescribed burns scheduled for fall 2026 and spring 2027. The pilot, which began in Kittitas and Chelan counties, will now extend into western Okanogan County and Yakima County.