New Customer Service Toolkit …A Big Help in Conservation Planning

When farmers step into their local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office to develop a conservation plan, conservationists will be using the new Customer Service Toolkit (CST) to help visualize their plan.

According to Jeff Hart, CST Coordinator, NRCS, Salina, the purpose of the toolkit is to integrate computer applications and digital data to help natural resource planners provide information to the public that results in conservation on the land.

“Conservation planning is the basis for all assistance we provide,” Hart said.

The toolkit is available in every county office for NRCS field employees who work with the public, primarily with farmers and ranchers. It is also useful when working with other partner agencies, such as conservation districts or others who provide conservation planning and resource assessment information.

For years, maps have been a traditional method of communicating with customers. “With the CST, conservationists can assemble a plan with a landowner, and when finished, they have a professional-looking document,” said Hart.

ARCView is a computer tool that accompanies the “toolkit.” Digital maps are loaded onto a computer and the conservation technicians can outline a proposed field and indicate areas where land treatment may be beneficial. “This process allows several different layers to be viewed at a time, such as soils, land use, and contour lines reducing the need for hand drawn, composite maps,” explained Hart.

“The toolkit is an excellent way to help NRCS become more efficient with our customers when they walk through the door for conservation assistance. The ability to evaluate natural resource concerns and assist the landowner in making decisions to achieve their conservation objectives will be enhanced by use of this new technology,” Hart added.

For more information about the customer service toolkit, please contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service or conservation district office located at your local county USDA Service Center.

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

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Last Modified: 09/09/2008