Turtle Mountain Soil Conservation District

08/24/2026

Our Summer Newsletter is out! ☀️ Take a look at what we’ve been up to this season, including tree planting and a few helpful resources and updates from the district.

08/19/2026

08/14/2026

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

A member of the mint family, wild bergamot is a pollinator magnet, used in teas and traditional meditation, an excellent plant in gardens and resistant to deer in native prairie plantings.

08/11/2026

Our August seeding window has begun! We have a few acres to complete before the August window closes. The seed in the pictures are from acres enrolled in the Governor’s Legacy program. For more information on grass seedings and cost-share programs available, call the office at 701-228-3611 ext. 3. We hope everyone has a safe and successful harvest season! 🚜🌾

08/06/2026

Healthy soil does more than grow crops. It also helps protect our water. 🌱

Practices like no-till farming help reduce soil erosion, keeping sediment and nutrients out of North Dakota's rivers and lakes. By keeping soil where it belongs, we can support healthier waterways for everyone.

Learn more about no-till farming in North Dakota: https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-hub/publications/2025-comparing-conventional-till-vs-no-till-ne-north-dakota

08/04/2026

Linda planted a “butterfly plant” down at the district sheds a year ago and you should see all the monarch caterpillars on it! I bet there are at least 6-7 of them on it, and it’s not a very big plant yet, but it sure is fun to see! 🐛🦋

07/29/2026

Well deserved and congratulations! 🌳🌲🌎

Environmental Educator of The Year

Dakota College at Bottineau (DCB) is excited to announce that Michelle Cauley has been selected to receive the 2026 “Environmental Educator of the Year” Trees Award. The Trees Awards are sponsored by the NDSU-North Dakota Forest Service and will be presented during the Trees Bowl at North Dakota State University at the end of August in Fargo.

The Trees Awards recognize individuals, organizations and agencies who contribute in an outstanding way to forestry activities including: fire mitigation, tree planting or environmental education. These efforts improve North Dakota’s forest resources; enhance our quality of life; and impact the state’s health, safety and economy.

This award is presented to an educator who demonstrates creativity, dedication and commitment to teaching and whose outstanding leadership motivates others to learn about the benefits of forestry and the environment. Kayla O’Toole, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs shares, “Anyone who knows Michelle knows how passionate she is about environmental education. She goes above and beyond to create meaningful experiences for her students and inspire an appreciation for our natural resources. This recognition is so well deserved, and we are proud to celebrate this accomplishment with her.”

Michelle’s work alongside the Project Learning Tree and Project WILD programs and commitment to building tomorrow’s stewards of the land have earned this well-deserved award.

Photos: Michelle Cauley, professional photo courtesy of DCB Photography

Contact: Kayla O’Toole, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
[email protected] | 701-228-5479