83rd Annual Meeting of Texas Soil and Water District Directors Recently Held in Fort Worth

Chuck Emerson recalls noticing a weed on the property, that he described as a nasty looking weed that had purple thistles with long spikes. Passing by the NRCS office in Bell County, he noticed they had a poster on their door that showed this purple thistle. He went in and introduced himself to Troy Reinke, the local NRCS district conservationist, who educated him on the thistle, and how to deal with it, or he would have a pasture full of it. That discussion transitioned into how Emerson desired to take the plowed portions of their land back to native grasses. “Reinke just started laying out everything the NRCS could do for me to help,” said Emerson. Emerson utilized the conservation technical assistance that NRCS provided to develop his conservation plan for the farm. He also applied for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which provided financial assistance for installing the recommended practices in his conservation plan, like planting a multi- species cover crop, treating herbaceous weeds and prescribed grazing.

To celebrate 50 years of the Endangered Species Act this fall is to acknowledge the nation’s wildlife and wild places in its simplest form. At the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, it’s an opportunity to reflect on the research at the nexus of national security, conservation, and healthy working lands. Every day, we look to strengthen wildlife conservation and to keep working lands sustainable. At the heart of the Endangered Species Act is a safety net for our nation’s wildlife, fish and plants on the brink of extinction. The Act protects thousands of endangered species and millions of acres of habitat. Too often we read about species-related crises and conflict, while success stories go relatively unpublicized and uncelebrated. While the ESA is frequently portrayed as a command-control approach to wildlife conservation, that portrayal isn’t always true, and it certainly doesn’t need to be. Indeed, the ESA works most effectively when its requirements never come into play because it spurs proactive…

The Texas Agricultural Land Trust (TALT) is excited to announce a landmark $25 million pledge from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through its Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). This substantial commitment is a testament to the united efforts of conservation organizations across Texas, dedicated to advancing conservation solutions in the Texas coastal region. The grant marks an unprecedented milestone in conservation funding, contributing to an historic investment of over $1 billion in the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. Administered by TALT, the $25 million grant will fuel the Coastal Prairie Additive Conservation Partnership. This initiative builds upon the collaborative efforts of various conservation organizations and focuses on partnering with Texas landowners to safeguard the natural resources of coastal prairies. Crucial working lands across Texas, which offer conservation benefits and support wildlife habitats are…