Conservation Quick Links

As urban acreage continues to increase across the state, conservation on developed lands is becoming increasingly important. Our “Backyard Conservation” section provides simple ways to enhance the natural resources in residential and other urbanized areas.

Tree Planting Helpful Links:

• • Tree and Shrub Guide
  • North Dakota Tree Handbook

All About Windbreaks:

• How Windbreaks Work
• Windbreak Establishment
• Windbreaks for Wildlife
• Windbreaks for Rural Living
• Windbreaks for Livestock Operations
• Windbreaks for Snow Management
• Windbreak Renovation
• Field Windbreaks
  

Tree Protection and Problems:

• Emerald Ash Borer
• Fire Blight Fact Sheet
• Cedar-Apple Rust Fact Sheet
• Protecting Trees from Deer
• Tree Irrigation Water Fact Sheet
• Damaging our Trees Fact Sheet
• Tree Water Management Fact Sheet
• Fertilizing Trees
• Pruning of Overgrown Shrubs
• Pruning a Deciduous Tree
• Pruning Evergreens

Other Helpful Agencies:

• North Dakota Grazing Lands Coalition
• North Dakota NRCS
• Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory
• The Regional Environmental Educational Series (TREES)
• Lincoln-Oakes Nurseries
• Big Sioux Nursery
• Towner Nursery
• USDA Farmers.gov
• Morton County Extension Office
• Soil Health Champions Network
• Arbor Day – Tree selection tips
• Audubon Dakota
• Project Wet

Conservation:

• The Story of Conservation Origins – Video
• Backyard Conservation – Special thanks to Ms. Ainsworth & her students for this helpful link!
• USDA Conservation Programs
• USDA Conservation
• High Tunnel Initiative
• NRCS High Tunnel Questionairre
• NRCS Conservation Practice Overview – High Tunnels
• Why Conservation Education Matters – Ted Talk
• What is a Soil Conservation District?
• Urban Agriculture – Ted Talk
• High Tunnel – Video
• Why Conservation is Important
• Rainfall simulator demonstration – soil health
• No-Till and Cover Crops aid with nutrient run off – No Till Farmer
• The Future of Food – Video Documentary by Burleigh Co SCD     
  

  The Future of Food walks back through the history of agriculture and takes a look forward to Regenerative Agriculture.  Past increases in food demand were met with prairie and forest converted to cropland, increased fertilizer and pesticide usage, and an emphasis on volume.  The Future of Food is based on diverse cropping systems and grazing systems utilizing cover crops, increased produce production both indoors and outdoors, direct marketing to consumers, stacking enterprises with a diversity of livestock, reductions in food waste, and nutrient density awareness. The 5 Soil Health Principles provide us with a Regenerative Agriculture starting point and path forward.  Together we can make this happen, we hope you enjoy the video. – Introduction by Jay Fuhrer

MCSCD Docs:

• Long Range Work Plan (pdf)
• Cover Crops (pdf)

Employee Documents:

• Morton County SCD Employee Handbook

Employment Opportunities:

•  seasonal help for tree planting:       

             – tree planter/fabric application  

             – tractor driver

Scholarships:

• 2023 Scholarship Program
• 2023 Scholarship application                                                                                                        Morton County SCD offers a scholarship for college students.                                                             A maximum of one scholarship is awarded annually.
• Range Camp Sponsorship Form                                                                                                   Morton County SCD will sponsor up to 5 attendees of Range Camp annually, reimbursing the attendance fee post attendance to the camp.