Steele County Soil Conservation District

08/25/2026

Apply now for NRCS programs: EQIP, CSP, and ACEP.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): EQIP provides producers with the technical and financial resources they need to address resources concerns on their land including improved water and air quality, increased soil health, reduced soil erosion, improved natural vitality and more.

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP): CSP helps producers build on existing conservation efforts while strengthening their operation.

Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP): The Agricultural Land Easement component of ACEP enables producers to protect their agricultural land from development by enrolling it in a permanent Agricultural Land Easement. The Wetland Reserve Easement component of ACEP helps landowners protect, restore and enhance wetlands which have been previously degraded due to agricultural uses.

NRCS accepts applications throughout the year; however, North Dakota producers should submit theirs by September 18, 2026, to be considered for FY2027 funding

08/20/2026

This week's Drought Monitor includes the addition of D3 along the eastern border and expansion in the west. D1 and D2 areas continue to expand across the state https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-hub/ag-topics/disasters/drought

Please continue to submit local drought impacts weekly. These reports are critical to showing map authors what is happening in your area.

Submit a report https://go.unl.edu/cmor

08/19/2026

08/17/2026

A new threat to North Dakota's conifers has been confirmed this week: pine wilt disease. This discovery will have a great impact on our state's windbreaks and community forest resources, as non-native species of pine (like Scotch pine) are a commonly used tree in these settings.

While investigating mortality in Scotch pine trees, our Forest Health staff tentatively identified pine wilt disease in Ransom County at Sheyenne River State Forest and in Sargent County near Forman, ND. The finding was confirmed on August 11, 2026, by the South Dakota State University plant pathology lab.

To learn more about this disease and how it could affect your trees, visit https://bit.ly/NDPineWilt

08/12/2026

Starting on September 1st 2026 the USDA office in Finley will be moving away from landlines and our current phone numbers will no longer work. The districts new direct number will be 701-951-0562 with the general office number being 701-951-0550!

Send a message to learn more

08/06/2026

07/30/2026

Expanding areas of D1 and D2 in this week's Drought Monitor https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-hub/ag-topics/disasters/drought

Your reports matter! Please continue to submit drought impacts weekly. Your local reports are critical to ensuring the accuracy of the map https://go.unl.edu/cmor

07/21/2026

Don't miss out on this cost-share opportunity through the Grass is Greener program! Brought to you by AgSpire.

A voluntary program that focuses on practical changes that increase productivity, efficiency, and long-term land resiliency.

View more program details: www.dakotalegacyinitiative.com/programs/grass-is-greener

07/06/2026

⚠️ Harmful Algal Bloom Alert ⚠️

Harmful algal blooms have been identified at Lake Darling, Bowman-Haley Dam, and South Golden Lake.

If the water looks green, blue-green, or has a thick surface scum, stay out. Harmful algal blooms can produce toxins that may pose health risks to people and animals.

Avoid contact with algae-covered water.
Report suspected blooms: 701-328-5210 or [email protected]

When in doubt, stay out.

07/01/2026

In the Northern Great Plains, more than half of the native grasslands have been converted to other uses. Many of those acres are less productive as cropland than initially expected, and landowners are looking for options to establish those acres for forage production.

The Conservation Forage Program provides technical and financial assistance to landowners who want to return croplands to native grasslands to support their livestock operations.

Financial assistance is available for seed, fencing, and water, as well as establishment payments that ensure the landowner receives income while the prairie plants become fully established.

Audubon Great Plains