Changing Roles

by Troy Munsch, Resource Conservationist
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Manhattan, Kansas

Historically, the Soil Erosion Service (SES) then Soil Conservation Service (SCS) has, as these agency names imply, focused primarily on addressing concerns with soil erosion.

Past Farm Bill legislation, particularly the Food Security Act of 1985, mandated the development of conservation compliance plans for producers with highly erodible (HEL) cropland if they wanted to remain eligible for farm program participation. The application of the conservation practices contained in these plans did a tremendous job in treating water and wind erosion on HEL cropland.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), formerly SES then SCS, has expanded on this foundation. NRCS personnel are trained to provide technical assistance to its clients who want to address natural resource concerns in the areas of soil, water, air, plants, and animals. They have also been trained to look at a producer’s entire operation, keeping in mind the objectives of that producer.

The NRCS would like to offer their assistance to you on your operation. The NRCS would like for you to show them your whole operation. The point of the visit would not be to address the concerns that the NRCS has, but rather to address any matters with which YOU are concerned.

The NRCS could then develop treatment alternatives for you to review. Based on your selection of a treatment alternative, a VOLUNTARY conservation plan could be developed for the resource concerns that you are ready, willing, and able to treat.

Technical assistance would then be provided in implementing and/or installing the conservation practices included in the plan you have chosen. Follow-up assistance by the NRCS would also be included to ensure the conservation plan is meeting your goals and objectives.

If you are interested in scheduling a visit, please contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service or conservation district office located at you local county USDA Service Center.

For more information about NRCS programs, visit the Kansas NRCS web site at www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov.

This article is also available in Microsoft Word format.

Changing Roles (DOC; 23 KB)

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Last Modified: 09/09/2008