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Natural Resources Conservation Service Fact Sheet

Helping People Help the Land

Our mission is, “Helping People Help the Land.” We provide technical and financial assistance to help farmers and ranchers make management decisions that sustain ecological systems and agricultural operations.

In many ways, the producer's or private landowner's goals and NRCS’ goals are very similar. NRCS is striving to maintain high quality, productive soils; clean and abundant water; healthy plant and animal communities; clean air; an adequate energy supply; and working farm and ranch lands.

NRCS conservationists, located in nearly every county, can use science-based knowledge and innovative technology to help producers and private landowners plan for and implement conservation practices. From range management and weed control to crop rotations and irrigation systems, NRCS can provide tools to make agricultural operations more efficient and lands healthier now and into the future.

What Can Producers and Private Landowners and NRCS Do?

Visit the local NRCS office. NRCS conservationists can help inventory the natural resources, identify areas for improvement, develop a plan to address those areas, and decide what can be done to improve the lands.

In addition, producers and private landowners may qualify for financial assistance to accomplish conservation objectives. The local NRCS conservationist can help determine what conservation programs best meet the need.

NRCS Financial Assistance

NRCS financial assistance programs can be broken down into three categories: cost share programs, easement programs, and stewardship reward programs.

Payment Programs
  • Conservation Innovation Grants
  • Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
  • EQIP Agricultural Water Enhancement Program
  • EQIP Ground and Surface Water Program
  • Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program
Easement Programs
  • Wetlands Reserve Program
  • Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program
  • Grassland Reserve Program
Stewardship Reward Program
  • Conservation Stewardship Program

NRCS also manages several other programs which may be of interest to you. These include:

  • Soil Survey
  • Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting
  • Plant Materials for Conservation
  • Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative
  • National Resources Inventory
  • Resource Conservation and Development

For More Information

Please contact NRCS at your local USDA Service Center or visit our Web site.

If you encounter any problems with the files provided on this page, please contact Webmaster at 406-587-6945.

The above information is also available in a printer-friendly version. This document requires Acrobat Reader.

Natural Resources Conservation Service (PDF; 292 KB)

Last Modified: 09/20/2007