Natural Resources Conservation Natural Resources Conservation ServiceService

► The Natural Resources Conservation Service The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides conservation planning and (NRCS) provides conservation planning and technical assistance to clients (individuals, technical assistance to clients (individuals, groups, and units of government). These clients groups, and units of government). These clients develop and implement conservation plans to develop and implement conservation plans to protect, conserve, and enhance natural resources protect, conserve, and enhance natural resources (soil, water, air, plants, and animals) within their (soil, water, air, plants, and animals) within their related social and economic interests.related social and economic interests.

► Conservation planning is a natural resource Conservation planning is a natural resource problem- solving and management process. The problem- solving and management process. The process integrates ecological (natural resource), process integrates ecological (natural resource), economic, and social considerations to meet economic, and social considerations to meet private and public needs. This approach, which private and public needs. This approach, which emphasizes identifying desired future conditions, emphasizes identifying desired future conditions, improves natural resource management, improves natural resource management, minimizes conflict, and addresses problems and minimizes conflict, and addresses problems and opportunities.opportunities.

Natural Resources Conservation Natural Resources Conservation ServiceService

► The success of The success of conservation planning conservation planning and implementation and implementation depends upon the depends upon the voluntary participation voluntary participation of clients. The planning of clients. The planning process used by NRCS is process used by NRCS is based on the premise based on the premise that clients will make that clients will make and implement sound and implement sound decisions if they decisions if they understand their understand their resources, natural resources, natural resource problems and resource problems and opportunities, and the opportunities, and the effects of their decisions.effects of their decisions.

NRCS ObjectiveNRCS Objective

► Conservation planning helps clients, Conservation planning helps clients, conservationists, and others view the conservationists, and others view the environment as a living system of which environment as a living system of which humans are an integral part. It enables humans are an integral part. It enables clients and planners to analyze and work with clients and planners to analyze and work with complex natural processes in definable and complex natural processes in definable and measurable terms.measurable terms.

► The NRCS objective in conservation planning The NRCS objective in conservation planning is the sound use and management of soil, is the sound use and management of soil, water, air, plant, and animal resources to water, air, plant, and animal resources to prevent their degradation and ensure their prevent their degradation and ensure their sustained use and productivity while also sustained use and productivity while also considering related human social and considering related human social and economic needs.economic needs.

EQIP ProgramEQIP Program► The Environmental Quality Incentives Program The Environmental Quality Incentives Program

(EQIP) was reauthorized in the Farm Security (EQIP) was reauthorized in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Farm Bill) to and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Farm Bill) to provide a voluntary conservation program for provide a voluntary conservation program for farmers and ranchers that promotes farmers and ranchers that promotes agricultural production and environmental agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible national goals. EQIP offers quality as compatible national goals. EQIP offers financial and technical help to assist eligible financial and technical help to assist eligible participants install or implement structural and participants install or implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural management practices on eligible agricultural land.land.

EQIP ProgramEQIP Program► EQIP offers contracts with a minimum term that EQIP offers contracts with a minimum term that

ends one year after the implementation of the last ends one year after the implementation of the last scheduled practices and a maximum term of ten scheduled practices and a maximum term of ten years. These contracts provide incentive payments years. These contracts provide incentive payments and cost-shares to implement conservation and cost-shares to implement conservation practices. Persons who are engaged in livestock or practices. Persons who are engaged in livestock or agricultural production on eligible land may agricultural production on eligible land may participate in the EQIP program. participate in the EQIP program.

► EQIP activities are carried out according to an EQIP activities are carried out according to an environmental quality incentives program plan of environmental quality incentives program plan of operations developed in conjunction with the operations developed in conjunction with the producer that identifies the appropriate producer that identifies the appropriate conservation practice or practices to address the conservation practice or practices to address the resource concerns. The practices are subject to resource concerns. The practices are subject to NRCS technical standards adapted for local NRCS technical standards adapted for local conditions. The local conservation district conditions. The local conservation district approves the plan.approves the plan.

EQIP ProgramEQIP Program► EQIP may cost-share up to 75 EQIP may cost-share up to 75

percent of the costs of certain percent of the costs of certain conservation practices. Incentive conservation practices. Incentive payments may be provided for up to payments may be provided for up to three years to encourage producers three years to encourage producers to carry out management practices to carry out management practices they may not otherwise use without they may not otherwise use without the incentive. However, limited the incentive. However, limited resource producers and beginning resource producers and beginning farmers and ranchers may be farmers and ranchers may be eligible for cost-shares up to 90 eligible for cost-shares up to 90 percent. Farmers and ranchers may percent. Farmers and ranchers may elect to use a certified third-party elect to use a certified third-party provider for technical assistance. An provider for technical assistance. An individual or entity may not receive, individual or entity may not receive, directly or indirectly, cost-share or directly or indirectly, cost-share or incentive payments that, in the incentive payments that, in the aggregate, exceed $450,000 for all aggregate, exceed $450,000 for all EQIP contracts entered during the EQIP contracts entered during the term of the Farm Bill.term of the Farm Bill.

CCPI ProgramCCPI Program► The Cooperative Conservation Partnership The Cooperative Conservation Partnership

Initiative (CCPI) is a voluntary program Initiative (CCPI) is a voluntary program established to foster conservation partnerships established to foster conservation partnerships that focus technical and financial resources on that focus technical and financial resources on conservation priorities in watersheds and airsheds conservation priorities in watersheds and airsheds of special significance. Under CCPI, funds are of special significance. Under CCPI, funds are awarded to State and local governments and awarded to State and local governments and agencies; Indian tribes; and non-governmental agencies; Indian tribes; and non-governmental organizations that have a history of working with organizations that have a history of working with agricultural producers. The CCPI is a component agricultural producers. The CCPI is a component of the Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) of the Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) program, established under authorities provided program, established under authorities provided by the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment by the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act of 1935, 16 U.S.C. 590a Act of 1935, 16 U.S.C. 590a et seqet seq. NRCS . NRCS administers CCPI.administers CCPI.

Conservation of Natural Conservation of Natural Resources Resources

►Air Air ►SoilSoil►WaterWater►Plants Plants ►AnimalsAnimals►Any natural resource Any natural resource

Special ProgramsSpecial Programs

►There are many special programs that There are many special programs that are targeted for each area. Check are targeted for each area. Check with your local NRCS office to find out with your local NRCS office to find out more about the programs in your areamore about the programs in your area