The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), formerly the Soil Conservation Service was born of adversity, a national response to the Dust Bowl catastrophe of the mid-1930's. The agency's first chief, Hugh Hammond Bennett, spoke eloquently for the land when he convinced the Congress that soil erosion was a national menace; that a permanent agency was needed within the Department of Agriculture to call landowners' attention to their land stewardship opportunities and responsibilities; that a nationwide partnership of Federal agencies with local communities was needed to help farmers and ranchers conserve their land.

The NRCS mission is to provide leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, improve, and sustain our natural resources and environment

The NRCS vision is harmony between people and the land. (From NRCS web site)

• Animal Waste storage/stacking, composting and storage, field spreading, nutrient management
• Conservation Education
• Erosion Control cover crops for bare soil, critical area planting to keep soil in place, managing last year’s crop residue for soil protection, field borders, crop rotations Soils land use, building site suitability, soil maps, soil testing
• Water stream bank stabilization, well protection/stream protection, surface water and runoff control
• Wetlands identifying wetlands, enhancement and restoration
• Wildlife creating and preserving wildlife habitats, establishing food plots for wildlife

Please contact Dana Young, the District Conservationist, or any of the NRCS staff with your questions, needs and concerns.