Attention all Oklahoma college students!!!
Do you have a poster presentation that relates to sustainable urban landscapes in some way? It doesn't matter what your major is: marketing, economics, horticulture, agriculture, NREM, engineering or something else. All majors are welcome! Also, all levels are encouraged to apply: undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, or post-doctoral are welcome!
If your poster is accepted, your conference registration will be waved and you will be invited to share your work at the 3rd Sustainable Urban Landscape Conference on June 26th and 27th.
Submissions are due on June 5th. Accepted presentations will be notified starting June 12th.
Copy & paste the link to submit your poster:
/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPO0hEqjEb9R7eqXk0uSBEVS8sdwmGPj4CsX0DjP83xJHhzQ/viewform
To Seed or Not to Seed After Clearing Brush?
This is a question our soil health team hears often. My typical response is that the latent seed bank will usually provide plenty of options if given the opportunity to thrive. Forbs are often the first to take advantage of the newly opened canopy and freshly disturbed soil. These plants may be considered weeds, but they can help restore recently cleared areas.
Forbs are specialists at covering the ground quickly, and most have taproots adapted to scavenge for micronutrients and minerals deeper in the rootzone, which are then brought back to the surface in plant residue and recycled back into the topsoil.
Continue reading Josh Anderson's advice for managing your land after clearing brush, link in bio!
Congratulations to the participants of the 75th Annual National Land & Range Judging Contest, which took place from May 5–7, 2026, in El Reno, Oklahoma!
Oklahoma’s May weather cooperated beautifully as more than 740 4-H and FFA contestants, representing 191 teams from 32 states, from Florida to Washington, gathered to compete, learn, and connect through conservation.
This milestone year was made even more significant as we welcomed, for only the second time in the contest’s history, the current NRCS Chief. Chief Aubrey Bettencourt spent two days in Oklahoma visiting with contestants at practice sites, culminating in keynote remarks at the awards banquet. Her message encouraged this next generation of conservation leaders to stay engaged, remain committed to stewardship, and take pride in their role of shaping the future of working lands.
The speaker lineup for the fourth annual Crossroads Conference is out now!
Farmers and ranchers, get ready to connect and learn from your colleagues as we intersect at the crossroads of production.
"Crossroads" features multiple tracks delivering practical information on soil health approaches for Oklahoma and Southern Plains croppers, ranchers, and urban and small-farm food producers, regardless of scale.
Register using the link in our bio!
You're invited!
Make your voice heard about best management practices for improving and protecting Spring Creek and its tributaries at our next Spring Creek Watershed Plan Public Meeting on May 21 from 6:00-8:00pm, located at 450 US-59, Kansas, OK.
For more information please contact [email protected] or 405-334-6343
📆Only 5 days left to register for Noble Grazing Essentials at a discounted price!
🚨There are only a few spots left. Register today! Registration will close on May 17 at midnight, or whenever all spots are reserved!
🔗 link in bio!
Noble Grazing Essentials teaches you how to manage your grazing lands by:
- Improving the health and productivity of your soil.
- Maximizing forage use without over grazing.
- Properly assessing and calculating carrying capacity and stocking rate.
- Implementing adaptive grazing strategies for pasture rest and recovery.
This course is open to ALL producers!
Grab your friends and your clipboards, it's National Land & Range Judging Contest week! 🎉
Be sure to follow @nationallandrangejc on Facebook for live updates and information!
We can't wait to see you all in El Reno!
Soil is made up of layers! These layers can be hundreds and thousands of years old. When digging into soil, you are literally digging into history. Every layer tells a story; it’s like the earth’s own natural history book.
🌱 Topsoil – Where plants grow and roots live
💧 Subsoil – Stores water and nutrients
🪨 Parent Material – Pieces of rock breaking down
🟫 Bedrock – The solid rock below all layers
#NACDStewardshipWeek #SoilWhereItAllBegins
Plant roots and soil work together to support plant growth.
Roots take in water and nutrients, help hold soil in place, and work with tiny organisms in the soil.
As roots break down, they add organic matter back into the soil, helping keep it healthy and productive.
#NACDStewardshipWeek #SoilWhereItAllBegins
Happy NACD Stewardship Week!
This year's theme is Soil: Where it all Begins
Soil does a lot more than grow plants. It holds water, cycles nutrients, and provides homes for billions of living organisms that help keep nature in balance.
It keeps roots in place, helps prevent flooding, and supports wildlife and people alike. The trees in our neighborhoods, the food on our tables, and the natural places we love all depend on healthy soils!
Many Oklahoma Conservation Districts are participating in hosting youth poster and speech contests related to this theme, so be sure to check with them for details on how to participate!
#NACDStewardshipWeek #SoilSteward #SoilHealth
This spring, the Yard by Yard program received the Visionary Award from OKC Beautiful in recognition of its efforts to support at-home conservation across central Oklahoma.
Launched in 2020, Yard by Yard is a partnership between the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts, the Oklahoma County Conservation District, and Friends of Blue Thumb. This campaign started as an "eco-friendly" yard certification program and has grown into a movement that encourages urban residents to see the impact they can make by adopting even a few conservation practices at home.
To date, nearly 300 properties across the Oklahoma City metro have been certified, each contributing to healthier soil, better water conservation, and improved wildlife habitat.
