News
Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Nearly $30 Million to Help Communities Prepare for Flooding, Heat Waves and Wildfires
The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced $28.7 million in grants to help 54 Massachusetts communities prepare for increasingly extreme weather – including heat waves, flooding, wildfires and storms. This year, the
New Rental Equipment at Hampden-Hampshire Conservation District
HHCD has added a 4-ton Stoltzfus Wet Lime Spreader to its low-till rental fleet! While the model is called a Wet Lime Spreader, it can spread many different soil amendments,
Indigenous-Led Conservation Effort Protects 17 Acres in Harwich
Seventeen acres of forestland in Harwich, formerly known as Hawksnest East and once zoned for a six-home subdivision, have been permanently protected. Adjacent to Hawksnest State Park, the land was
Major conservation deal protects nearly 2,900 acres of forests in region (Daily Hampshire Gazette)
In a second major transaction coordinated by the Kestrel Land Trust within the last year, a New Hampshire timber company is acquiring 2,864 acres of forested land across 10 towns
‘Disgraceful step backward’: USDA ends support for Black farmers, saying it ‘sufficiently’ handled discrimination
Agency will no longer use ‘socially disadvantaged’, which describes people subjected to discrimination, including Black, Hispanic, Native American, and Asian groups This story was originally published by Capital B, a nonprofit
USDA asks employees to transfer to ‘critical’ vacancies, suggests more cuts coming
The administration is asking employees “to help the agency with no guarantee of protection in the future,” one staffer says. Source: Government Executive by Eric Katz, Senior Correspondent Originally published
Soaked from below: Region confronts rising water tables unable to absorb water during more intense storms
From the Daily Hampshire Gazette by Emilee Klein Originally Published: July 18, 2025 WILLIAMSBURG — Instead of selling fresh, seafood-filled food on the busiest brunch weekend of the year, Williamsburg
Coalition Advocates for Conservation Funding in FY26 Appropriations
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) submitted a letter to the leaders of the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees urging robust support for the U.S. Department
Governor Healey Extends Hybrid and Remote Public Meetings to Increase Access
Boston — Today, Governor Maura Healey signed An Act Extending Certain COVID-19 Measures Adopted During the State of Emergency. This legislation will permit state and local public bodies to conduct public meetings
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins: USDA will release first tranche of paused IRA funding
On Thursday, February 20, 2025, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that USDA will release the first tranche of funding that was paused due to the review of funding in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
56 Acres of Falmouth Woodlands to be Preserved by 2026
The 300 Committee Land Trust (T3C) and the Falmouth Conservation Commission are collaborating on a two-phase Falmouth Woodland Acquisition Project to permanently preserve key woodlands in North Falmouth. Covering 56
Applications Open: Exhibitor Opportunities at the Massachusetts Building at the Big E
It’s time to apply for your exhibit space at the Big E!
MDAR is Accepting Proposals for Middleborough Property
Deadline: Proposals must be received by MDAR no later than 2:00 PM Friday, February 28th, 2025. MDAR is soliciting proposals for the agricultural use of approximately 12.2 +/‐ acres total located in Middleborough,
National Biochar Survey
If you are a farmer applying or interested in applying biochar, please take our national biochar survey, led by American Farmland Trust’s Climate and Soil Health Initiative alongside the Social Science
USDA Announces Availability of $1.13 Billion for Local Food Programs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a $1.13 billion investment to support local and regional food systems, building upon the Department’s previous investments in the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement (LFPA) and Local Food for Schools (LFS) programs. This round of funding will allow states, territories, and federally recognized Tribes to purchase wholesome, locally produced foods for distribution within their communities to emergency food providers, schools, and child care centers.
Open Space Regulations Available for Public Comment (Short 30-day comment period!)
The Public Lands Preservation Act (PLPA) regulations are now out for public comment. The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) is now calling PLPA the Open Space Act and these draft regulations
No-Till November: Keep the Stubble
Your field doesn’t care if you have a bit of stubble, so why worry if your field has some stubble, too? Join No-Till Nolan on his no-shave/no-till journey this November on the NRCS Facebook page as he learns more about the benefits of leaving the stubble.
Conservation Innovation Grant Helps Create Healthy Farms and Soils Across Vermont
Partners are using a five-year NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) to study and evaluate the ecological, economic, and social outcomes of incorporating grass-based soil health practices on farms. The Vermont Land Trust (VLT),