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Introduction to NRCS Field Office Technical

GuideMark Anderson,

Resource Conservationist

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Field Office Technical Guide

What it is What it contains How to access it How to navigate in it Look at some items TSPs will use

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FOTG – What it is

It is NRCS’ primary technical reference for conservation planning and application.

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FOTG – What it contains Contains information about Soil,

Water, Air, Plant, and Animal resources, plus Human considerations (SWAPA+H)

Localized to each county, although many items are applicable State-wide.

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FOTG – What it containsI. General Resource ReferencesII. Natural Resource InformationIII. Resource Management Systems

and Quality CriteriaIV. Conservation Practices

(Standards, Design & Documentation instructions)

V. Conservation Effects

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FOTG – How to access it It is on a Web site called the

electronic FOTG or eFOTG www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/efotg

Use Internet Explorer; Netscape won’t work.

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Click on ND in USA map.

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Navigating eFOTGeFOTG information is arranged in folders and subfolders. Many categories (subfolders) are necessary to keep the huge array of information organized properly.

When scrolling in tree menu, use the elevator bar, not the arrows. It doesn’t work to click with pointer between document titles.

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Finding Cons. Practice info

Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment – 380

• Open the Section IV folder.• Open Conservation Practices subfolder.

• Open the Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment subfolder.

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Hit Refresh icon to activate changed view preference.

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Searching for information Search feature in left pane only covers

document titles. The Search/Index button on upper center

screen allows search by key words or subjects. It is much more helpful than the left pane search tool.

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Search Index tab

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Information about information

Information button in upper left part of screen provides info about a selected document or Web site:

Title Subject Author(s) Abstract Date Applicable Counties File Size Contact name Key words

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Click for data about hi-lighted item / Website

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Thunderbook A personalized version of eFOTG. Backup when server or www isn’t working. User chooses content –Select only eFOTG

subfolders or documents you want. Info routinely updated on user’s hard drive. User can also maintain personal (non-

NRCS) references you develop/choose in your Thunderbook.

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Thunderbook For eFOTG and Thunderbook, NRCS

National Employee Development Center has on-line training. http://www.nedc.nrcs.usda.gov/fotg/

Go to http://my.nrcs.usda.gov Your eGov login and password gets U in. Then click on my.nrcs tab to begin. Click on “My Thunderbook.”

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eFOTG user tips Additions and revisions of eFOTG data &

documents is a continuous process. Beware using eFOTG hard copy, due to

risk of it being outdated. If you are going to keep hard copy for future reference, you must diligently watch for revisions.

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More eFOTG user tips: Changes are posted in the “What’s New”

section. They are also announced in the Notices, which are posted in Section I – ND User Guide subfolder. Check them often!

If you want to use hard copy information you download from eFOTG, replace it as soon as revisions are announced!

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More eFOTG user tips: A few errors slip by authors and

reviewers. Please report errors or suspected errors to mark.anderson@nd.usda.gov

or call me if you have questions 701-530-2039.

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USDA – NRCS, North Dakota☻ All programs and services are offered

on a non-discriminatory basis.