Mobile Technology Pilot

In the fall of 2006, State Conservationist Harold Klaege for the NRCS in Kansas, decided it was time to free the employees from the brick and mortar building and allow them to do conservation planning where it should be done, from the grasslands and croplands of Kansas.

"Today, with the latest portable technology at their fingertips, such as laptop computers, geographic information system technology, printers, cell phones, and more, NRCS field staff can meet with a farmer or rancher on the land and develop a conservation plan on site," said Klaege.

"This is how Hugh Hammond Bennett, the father of the soil conservation movement during the Dust Bowl days in the 1930's, envisioned conservation planning, by walking the land with the farmer or rancher."

Starting the week of February 12, 2007, 15 Kansas NRCS employees, including five rangeland management specialists and 10 service center personnel, will be participating in a mobile office pilot project.

Participants will be able to continue using conservation planning tools and technology available in the service center for years, only this time from their truck anywhere in the state.

The ability to create the conservation plan, print the documents, scan information provided by the producer, and access electronic Field Office Technical Guide (eFOTG) documentation will greatly increase the amount of time in the field and increase the customer service provided to landowners and operators.

Technical assistance is available from the NRCS at your local USDA Service Center (listed in the telephone book under United States Government). More information is also available on the Kansas Web site.

Last Modified: 02/21/2007