Northeast Region Certified Crop Adviser (NRCCA) Study Resources

In This Section

• PO 85 The planning process
• PO 86 Implementation of conservation plans
• PO 87 NRCS 9-Step Planning Process
• PO 88 USDA NRCS references
• PO 89.1 CAFO & AFO 1
• PO 89.2 CAFO & AFO 2
• PO 90.1 Conservation agencies: CES
• PO 90.2 Conservation agencies: SWCD
• PO 90.3 Conservation agencies: FSA
• PO 90.4 Conservation agencies: NRCS
• PO 90.5 Conservation agencies: DEC
• PO 90.7 Conservation agencies: EPA
• PO 90.7 Conservation agencies: DOH
• PO 90.8 Conservation agencies: RC&D
• Summary

Competency Area 9: Conservation Planning AEM

PO 90. Understand the roles and responsibilities of the local, state, and federal conservation agencies (i.e. CES, SWCD, FSA, NRCS, DEC, RD, EPA, DOH, and RC&D).

1. Cooperative Extension Service (CES)
2. Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD)
3. Farm Service Agency (USDA-FSA)
4. Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS)
5. Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS-DEC)
6. Rural Development (USDA-RD)
7. Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA)
8. Department of Health (NYS-DOH, County-DOH)

Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS)

Since 1935, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (originally called the Soil Conservation Service) has provided leadership in a partnership effort to help America's private land owners and managers conserve their soil, water, and other natural resources. NRCS employees provide technical assistance based on sound science and suited to a customer's specific needs. The agency provides financial assistance for many conservation activities through Federal conservation programs. Participation in these programs is voluntary.

• Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) program provides voluntary conservation technical assistance to land-users, communities, units of state and local government, and other Federal agencies in planning and implementing conservation systems.
• NRCS reaches out to all segments of the agricultural community, including underserved and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, to ensure that our programs and services are accessible to everyone.
• NRCS manages Federal natural resource conservation programs that provide environmental, societal, financial, and technical benefits.
• Our science and technology activities provide technical expertise in such areas as animal husbandry and clean water, ecological sciences, engineering, resource economics, and social sciences.
• We provide expertise in soil science and leadership for soil surveys and for the National Resources Inventory, which assesses natural resource conditions and trends in the United States.
• We provide technical assistance to foreign governments, and participate in international scientific and technical exchanges.

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/