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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, your goals and NRCS’ goals are very similar. Like you, 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 you plan for and implement conservation practices. From range management and weed control to crop rotations and irrigation systems, NRCS can provide tools to make your operation more efficient and your lands healthier now and into the future.

What Can You and NRCS Do?

Visit your local NRCS office. NRCS conservationists can help you to inventory your natural resources, identify areas you would like to improve, develop a plan to address those areas, and decide what you can do to improve your lands.

In addition, you may qualify for financial assistance to accomplish your conservation objectives. The local NRCS conservationist can help you decide what conservation programs are right for you and your operation.

NRCS Financial Assistance

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

Cost Share Programs
  • Environmental Quality Incentives Program
  • EQIP Ground and Surface Water Program
  • Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program
Easement Programs
  • Wetlands Reserve Program
  • Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program
  • Grassland Reserve Program
Stewardship Reward Program
  • Conservation Security 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.

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

Natural Resources Conservation Service (PDF; 292 KB)

Last Modified: 09/20/2007