NRCS in Missouri

O c tob e r 1 , 2 0 0 5 - S e p t e m b e r 3 0 , 2 0 0 6

U n i t e d S tat es De pa r t m e n t o f Ag r i cultur e • Natur a l Resour c es Co nse r vat i o n S e r v i c e

Program Highlights

During fiscal year 2006, NRCS and its partners in Missouri 

helped land users plan conservation systems on more than 1 million acres 

and apply conservation systems on more than 800,000 acres.

NRCS provided assistance to establish irrigation management systems on 

43,333 acres in southeastern Missouri, helped establish prescribed grazing 

systems on 112,098 acres in the state’s grassland areas, assisted with pest 

management on 79,828 acres, and nutrient management on 98,858 acres. 

NRCS also helped landowners improve wildlife habitat on 69,800 acres 

throughout the state. 

Missouri’s natural resources conservation team also provided technical 

assistance to install 114 animal waste management systems through the 

implementation of comprehensive nutrient management plans.

Conservation Technical Assistance

Technical assistance is simply about helping people. The CTA program 

provides technical assistance supported by science-based technology and 

tools to help people conserve, maintain, and improve natural resources. 

The CTA program provides the technical capability, including direct 

conservation planning, design, and implementation assistance, that helps 

people plan and apply conservation on the land. This assistance is provided

to individuals, groups, and communities that make natural resource 

management decisions affecting private, tribal, and other nonfederal lands. 
 Natural Resources Conservation Service

Environmental Quality Incentives 

Program (EQIP)

EQIP promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible goals. EQIP provides 

financial and technical assistance to install or implement 

structural and management conservation practices 

on agricultural land.

In Fiscal Year 2006, Missouri farmers received 

$19.7 million in EQIP financial assistance. It funded 

1,052 of the 4,865 Missouri EQIP applications. This 

financial assistance will help install conservation 

practices that will reduce soil erosion, use water more 

efficiently, and improve grazing land, wildlife habitat 

and water quality.

Cooperative Soil Survey Program

In Fiscal Year 2006, the Missouri Cooperative Soil Survey continued to be a 

leader in updating the initial soil survey information and in delivering this 

information to the public. The state’s partnership continues to be proactive, 

and is a national leader in both progress and innovation.

Last year, this partnership effort provided customers with updated soils 

information about 2.1 million acres (about 5 percent of Missouri’s land area). 

Missouri soils information has been distributed on the Web Soil Survey 

website: http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/, on the National Soil Data 

Mart, http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov, and on the state-supported CARES 

web site: http://soils.missouri.edu/surveys/soildata.html.

Current activities are focused on bringing the soils information for the state 

to a consistent and more accessible format. A state legend for soil symbols 

has been adopted, resulting in a uniform set of soil symbols that will join 

across county boundaries.

Helping People

 Help the Land.

Blong Thao, pictured above with his 

family, is one of many Hmong farmers 

in Southwestern Missouri that NRCS 

has worked with to protect natural 

resources. Several have used EQIP to 

construct animal waste storage sheds 

to improve water quality.
Natural Resources Conservation Service 

Conservation Security Program (CSP)

CSP supports ongoing stewardship of private, agricultural 

lands by providing payments for maintaining and enhancing 

natural resources. CSP identifies and rewards landowners

and farmers who are meeting the highest standards of 

conservation and environmental management. 

During Fiscal Year 2006, Missouri funded 352 of the 

551 CSP applications received in the Spring Watershed 

in Southwestern Missouri. These contracts will provide 

more than $47 million over the life of the contracts.

Total CSP payments of over $22 million were made in the

eight watersheds that have been selected to participate 

in CSP in Missouri.

Plant Materials Program

The Elsberry Plant Materials Center (PMC) helps land 

users, federal, state and local partners, and industry 

growers in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri protect, conserve 

and improve natural resources by providing plant 

materials and plant related technology. The staff 

researches plants to determine their possible uses in 

preventing soil erosion, providing wildlife food and 

cover and in protecting related natural resources. 

Suitable plants are released from the PMC and made 

available through nurseries and commercial seed growers.

Three new plants for conservation uses were released 

in 2006: Refuge Germplasm Big Bluestem; Midwest 

Premium Germplasm American Plum; and Central 

Iowa Germplasm Pale Purple Coneflower. 

During its 72-year history, the Center has released 83 

plants. The retail value of those plants sold in 2006 by 

private nurseries and commercial seed growers was 

approximately $3.5 million. 

Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)

WRP helps landowners restore wetlands on agricultural 

and non-agricultural lands. Restored wetlands provide

wildlife habitat for migratory birds, threatened and 

endangered species and other 

wetland wildlife. WRP started as 

a pilot in Missouri in 1992. To 

date, 787 applications have been 

funded statewide encompassing 

115,583 acres. During Fiscal Year 

2006, NRCS enrolled 71 applications 

covering 6,616 acres. 

Farm and Ranch Lands 

Protection Program (FRPP)

FRPP provides an opportunity for USDA to purchase 

development rights from private landowners to keep 

productive farmland in agricultural use and to protect 

historical sites on agricultural land. USDA provides 

matching funds to organizations with existing farmland 

protection procedures to help them acquire permanent 

conservation easements from landowners interested in 

maintaining their current farming enterprise.

In Fiscal Year 2006, NRCS closed one easement which 

protects 70 acres adjacent to Wilson’s Creek National 

Battlefield, near Springfield, from development.

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program 

(WHIP)

WHIP is designed to maintain ecosystem diversity 

by improving habitats of reduced or declining wildlife populations within agricultural systems. Missouri 

obligated more than $815,000 with 68 contracts during 

Fiscal Year 2006.

Grassland Reserve Program (GRP)

GRP offers landowners an opportunity to restore and protect grassland and pastureland rather than converting 

it to cropland or other uses. In FY 2006, nearly $1 million in financial assistance was available for drought-affected areas in Missouri. These funds were used to enter into rental agreements with producers to maintain 6,987 

acres in grassland for the life of the rental agreement.
  Natural Resources Conservation Service

Roger A. Hansen

State Conservationist

USDA - NRCS 

Missouri

601 Business Loop 70 West, 

Suite 250, 

Columbia, Missouri 65203

 (573) 876-0901 

www.mo.nrcs.usda.gov

Watershed Program (PL-566)

The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act authorizes NRCS to provide 

assistance to local organizations in planning and implementing watershed projects.

In Fiscal Year 2006, Missouri’s $4.3 million allotment of PL-566 watershed implementation

funds was used to award nine contracts in eight watersheds. The contracts are for 

constructing 51 floodwater retarding structures.

The East Locust Creek Watershed Plan Revision and Environmental Impact Statement

was completed. Implementation of this plan will include constructing a 2,235-acre 

reservoir to serve as a rural water supply for a 10-county area in north-central Missouri.

Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI)

CCPI targets watersheds of special significance and other geographic areas of 

environmental sensitivity. It funds projects that focus technical and financial 

resources on conservation priorities in those areas. 

The University of Missouri-Columbia is receiving $181,426 to complete rapid watershed

assessments on four Missouri watersheds: Sac River; South Grand River; Lower Osage

River; and the Lower Gasconade River. The assessments will provide initial estimates 

of where conservation investments would best address the concerns of landowners,

conservation districts, and other community organizations and stakeholders. Landowners 

and leaders can use this information to set local priorities and determine the best 

actions to achieve their goals.

Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D)

The premise of the RC&D program is that local people know what is best for their 

communities. Because of this, local people create and organize their own RC&D areas,

define their own goals, and work with a broad range of public and private entities to 

achieve their objectives. 

Missouri’s eight, multi-county RC&D areas completed 157 projects during Fiscal Year 

2006. Those activities improved water quality, provided information and education 

assistance, resolved waste utilization issues, and supported rural tourism. They also 

benefited fish and wildlife, economic development, forestry, cultural resources, and 

local natural resources.

Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)

The voluntary Conservation Innovation Grants program is intended to stimulate the 

development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. 

CIGs will benefit agricultural producers by providing more options for environmental 

enhancement and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

The curators of the University of Missouri are receiving $241,440 to demonstrate farm 

profitability from utilizing management techniques that promote soil and water conservation

practices and improve pastures. Missouri is also one of several Midwest states participating in a Carbon Credit Generation Program that is receiving $750,000 through the 

Chicago Climate Exchange, Inc. The intent is to develop cost effective procedures to 

estimate, aggregate, verify and deliver carbon credits to private sector markets.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

prohibits discrimination in all its programs 

and activities on the basis of race, color, 

national origin, age, disability, and where 

applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, 

parental status, religion, sexual orientation, 

genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, 

or because all or a part of an individual’s 

income is derived from any public assistance 

program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to 

all programs.) Persons with disabilities who 

require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large 

print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s 

TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice 

and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil 

Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., 

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 

795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and 

employer.