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Natural Resources Conservation Service

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Natural Resources Conservation Service
Agency overview
FormedApril 20, 1932
Preceding agency
  • Soil Erosion Service
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
Employees11,478 (2006)
Agency executives
  • Dave White, Chief
  • Ginger Murphy, Acting Associate Chief
Parent agencyDepartment of Agriculture
Websitewww.nrcs.usda.gov

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), formerly known as the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that provides technical assistance to farmers and other private landowners and managers.

Its name was changed in 1994 during the Presidency of Bill Clinton to reflect its broader mission. It is a relatively small agency, currently comprising about 12,000 employees. Its mission is to improve, protect, and conserve natural resources on private lands through a cooperative partnership with local and state agencies. While its primary focus has been agricultural lands, it has made many technical contributions to soil surveying, classification and water quality improvement.[1][2] One example is the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP), set up to quantify the benefits of agricultural conservation efforts promoted and supported by programs in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 Farm Bill). NRCS is the leading agency in this project.

History

The agency was founded largely through the efforts of Hugh Hammond Bennett, a soil conservation pioneer who had worked for the Department of Agriculture from 1903 to 1952[3] . Bennett's motivation was based on his knowledge of the detrimental effects of soil erosion and the impacts on U.S lands.[4] On September 13, 1933, the Soil Erosion Service was formed in the Department of the Interior, with Bennett as chief. The service was transferred to the Department of Agriculture on March 23, 1935, and was shortly thereafter combined with other USDA units to form the Soil Conservation Service by the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act of 1935.[5][6] Hugh Bennett continued as chief, a position he held until his retirement in 1952[7] . On October 20, 1994, the agency was renamed to the Natural Resources Conservation Service as part of the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994.[8][6]

Programs & Services

As of November 2011 the NRCS consists of 42 programs and activities. The NRCS also offers services to private land owners, conservation districts, tribes, and other types of organizations. These services include: The farm bill which is the conservation provisions in the Food, Conservation, and Energy act of 2008. This bill provides conservation opportunities for farmers. Services also include financial assistance which makes sure money is allocated and used properly in providing conservation for various natural resources, technical assistance which is given through the Conservation Technical Assistance program (CTA). This service is available to anyone interested in conservation of any natural resources, easements (this includes The Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program, The Grasslands Reserve Program, The Healthy Forests Reserve Program, and The Wetlands Reserve Program) these programs are to encourage local landowners and organizations to participate in the conservation of natural resources on their land, and lastly landscape planning has a goal to solve problems dealing with natural resource conservation with the help of the community in order to reach a desired future outcome.

Technical Resources

The NRCS utilizes a very wide range of interdisciplinary resources. They utilize the following disciplines in order to maximize efficiency. Agronomy, Erosion, Air Quality and Atmospheric Change, Animal Feeding Operations and Confined Animal Feeding Operations, Biology, Conservation Innovation Grants, Conservation Practices, Cultural Resources, Economics, Energy, Engineering, Environmental Compliance, Field Office Technical Guide, Forestry, Maps, Data, and Analysis, Nutrient Management, Pest Management, Plants, Pollinators, Range and Pasture, Social Sciences, Soils, and Water Resources. These Science-Based technologies are all used together in order to provide the best conservation of natural resources possible.

Supported organizations

See also

References

  1. ^ U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Washington, DC. "Soil Survey Programs." Accessed 2009-06-05.
  2. ^ NRCS. "National Conservation Practice Standards." National Handbook of Conservation Practices. Accessed 2009-06-05.
  3. ^ Cook, Maurice. "Hugh Hammond Bennett: the Father of Soil Conservation". Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. North Carolina State University. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  4. ^ "Biography of Hugh Hammond Bennett". NRCS. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  5. ^ Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, P.L. 74-46, 49 Stat. 163, 16 U.S.C. § 590(e), April 27, 1935.
  6. ^ a b "Records of the Natural Resources Conservation Service". NARA. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  7. ^ Cook, Maurice. "Hugh Hammond Bennett: the Father of Soil Conservation". Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. North Carolina State University. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  8. ^ Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, 108 Stat. 3223, October 13, 1994.
  9. ^ "Great Basin Plant Materials Center". USDA NRCS. Retrieved 22 October 2010.


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