U.S. flag
        An official website of the United States government
          Here's how you know
        Here's how you knowDot gov**The .gov means it’s official.**
              
              Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.
        Https**The site is secure.**
              
              The **https://** ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.  Menu
Natural Resources Conservation Service
    U.S. Department of Agriculture
        Subscribe
                              About NRCS
                              Equity
                              farmers.gov
                              USDA.gov
                              State OfficesEnter Search Term(s):
    Main navigation
  

        

  Conservation Basics
                                

  
  Conserving our natural resources is a vital part of creating and maintaining healthy ecosystems on our nation’s lands.
        View All Conservation Basics
    Natural Resource Concerns
                Soil
                      
        Water
                      
        Plants
                      
        Animals
                      
        Land
                      
        Air
                      
        Energy
                      
        Climate
                      
        Wildlife Habitat
                      
        Invasive Species and PestsView All Natural Resource Concerns
                          Conservation By State
                State Technical Committees
          
  
  Every state has an NRCS State Technical Committee. The State Technical Committee advises the State Conservationist on technical guidelines necessary to implement the conservation provisions of the Farm Bill.
            Conservation by State
          
  
  Learn about the conservation needs and latest updates in your state, and access needed resources.
            State Offices
          
  
  Find contact information for your state office location and employees.
            Soil
                      
        Water
                      
        Plants
                      
        Animals
                      
        Land
                      
        Air
                      
        Energy
                      
        Climate
                      
        Wildlife Habitat
                      
        Invasive Species and PestsView All Natural Resource Concerns
                          State Technical Committees
          
  
  Every state has an NRCS State Technical Committee. The State Technical Committee advises the State Conservationist on technical guidelines necessary to implement the conservation provisions of the Farm Bill.
            Conservation by State
          
  
  Learn about the conservation needs and latest updates in your state, and access needed resources.
            State Offices
          
  
  Find contact information for your state office location and employees.
        Farmer and agronomist discuss how to improve soil quality.

      Featured
    Soil Science
        NRCS delivers science-based soil information to help farmers, ranchers, foresters, and other land managers effectively manage, conserve, and appraise their most valuable investment — the soil.
                      
        Getting Assistance
                                

  
  For over 80 years, we’ve helped America’s farmers, ranchers, and landowners conserve our nation’s resources through our voluntary programs and science-based solutions.
        View All Getting Assistance
    Technical Help
                Conservation Technical Assistance
          
  
  Helps producers identify conservation objectives and a roadmap for conservation on their operation.
            Conservation Concerns Tool
          
  
  Use this tool to learn about natural resource concerns that may impact your ag operation (farmers.gov).
            Engineering
          
  
  NRCS applies sound engineering tools and principles to plan, design, and implement conservation practices and systems through delegated approval authority.
            Technical Service Providers
          
  
  Technical service providers offer planning, design, and implementation services to agricultural producers on behalf of NRCS.
                          Financial Help
                Act Now
          
  
  Enables states to pre-approve applications when they meet or exceed a state's pre-determined minimum ranking score.
            Applications and Forms
          
  
  Find more information on how to apply for NRCS conservation programs.
            Conservation Compliance: Wetlands and Highly Erodible Land Provisions
          
  
  To maintain eligibility for most USDA programs, producers must comply with wetland conservation provisions.
            How to Apply
          
  
  Follow our step-by-step process to get started making improvements on your land with our one-on-one conservation assistance.
            Payment Schedules
          
  
  Review the amount and availability of financial assistance for selected conservation practices in your state.
            Ranking Dates
          
  
  Applications for NRCS conservation programs are ranked and funded at key times throughout the year.
                          Compliance and Cultural Resources
                Cultural Resources
          
  
  NRCS programs are administered following the National Historic Preservation Act and other laws.
            Environmental Compliance
          
  
  NRCS programs are administered following the National Environmental Policy Act.
                          Other Topics
                Disaster Recovery
          
  
  NRCS can help ag producers and communities recover when natural disasters strike.
            Underserved Communities
          
  
  Farm Bill special provisions provide incentives and address unique circumstances of historically underserved producers.
            Nutrient Management
          
  
  This practice helps producers reduce input costs, maximize yields, and efficiently manage nutrients.
            Organic Agriculture
          
  
  Conservation and organics go hand-in-hand, and NRCS offers tools for organic farmers to improve their operations.
            Urban Agriculture
          
  
  Conservation assistance is available for urban farmers, including high tunnels, soil health practices, composting and irrigation.
            Conservation Technical Assistance
          
  
  Helps producers identify conservation objectives and a roadmap for conservation on their operation.
            Conservation Concerns Tool
          
  
  Use this tool to learn about natural resource concerns that may impact your ag operation (farmers.gov).
            Engineering
          
  
  NRCS applies sound engineering tools and principles to plan, design, and implement conservation practices and systems through delegated approval authority.
            Technical Service Providers
          
  
  Technical service providers offer planning, design, and implementation services to agricultural producers on behalf of NRCS.
                          Act Now
          
  
  Enables states to pre-approve applications when they meet or exceed a state's pre-determined minimum ranking score.
            Applications and Forms
          
  
  Find more information on how to apply for NRCS conservation programs.
            Conservation Compliance: Wetlands and Highly Erodible Land Provisions
          
  
  To maintain eligibility for most USDA programs, producers must comply with wetland conservation provisions.
            How to Apply
          
  
  Follow our step-by-step process to get started making improvements on your land with our one-on-one conservation assistance.
            Payment Schedules
          
  
  Review the amount and availability of financial assistance for selected conservation practices in your state.
            Ranking Dates
          
  
  Applications for NRCS conservation programs are ranked and funded at key times throughout the year.
                          Cultural Resources
          
  
  NRCS programs are administered following the National Historic Preservation Act and other laws.
            Environmental Compliance
          
  
  NRCS programs are administered following the National Environmental Policy Act.
                          Disaster Recovery
          
  
  NRCS can help ag producers and communities recover when natural disasters strike.
            Underserved Communities
          
  
  Farm Bill special provisions provide incentives and address unique circumstances of historically underserved producers.
            Nutrient Management
          
  
  This practice helps producers reduce input costs, maximize yields, and efficiently manage nutrients.
            Organic Agriculture
          
  
  Conservation and organics go hand-in-hand, and NRCS offers tools for organic farmers to improve their operations.
            Urban Agriculture
          
  
  Conservation assistance is available for urban farmers, including high tunnels, soil health practices, composting and irrigation.
        A producer reviews a conservation plan.

      Featured
    Conservation Technical Assistance
        **Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA)** provides our nation’s farmers, ranchers and forestland owners with the knowledge and tools they need to conserve, maintain and restore the natural resources on their lands and improve the health of their operations for the future.
                      
        Programs & Initiatives
                                

  
  Our natural resource conservation programs help people reduce soil erosion, enhance water supplies, improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat, and reduce damage caused by floods and other natural disasters.
        View All Programs & Initiatives
    Programs
                Environmental Quality Incentives Program
          
  
  Provides assistance to agricultural producers to address natural resource concerns.
            Regional Conservation Partnership Program
          
  
  Brings together partners to expand the reach of NRCS conservation programs.
            Conservation Innovation Grants
          
  
  Brings together partners to innovate on conservation approaches and technologies.
            Conservation Stewardship Program
          
  
  Helps agricultural producers take their conservation efforts to the next level.
            Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program
          
  
  Helps state and tribal governments improve public access to private lands for recreation.
            Agricultural Management Assistance
          
  
  Helps agricultural producers manage financial risk through diversification, marketing or natural resource conservation practices.
            Wetland Mitigation Banking Program
          
  
  Offers competitive grants to support wetland mitigation banks for ag producers.
            Conservation Reserve Program
          
  
  The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) provides a yearly rental payment to farmers who remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and plant species that will improve environmental health and quality.
                          Easements
                Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
          
  
  Helps producers protect wetlands, grasslands and farmlands for future generations.
            Wetland Reserve Easements
          
  
  Helps private and tribal landowners protect, restore, and enhance wetlands degraded by agricultural uses.
            Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership
          
  
  Brings together partners and producers to protect wetlands.
            Healthy Forests Reserve Program
          
  
  Helps landowners restore, enhance, and protect forestland resources on private and tribal lands and aids the recovery of endangered and threatened species.
            Agricultural Land Easements
          
  
  Helps private and tribal landowners, land trusts, and other entities protect croplands and grasslands on working farms and ranches.
                          Watershed Programs
                Emergency Watershed Protection
          
  
  Assists communities recovering from natural disasters.
            Watershed and Flood Prevention Operation
          
  
  Offers assistance to communities to address watershed resource concerns.
            Watershed Rehabilitation
          
  
  Rehabilitates NRCS dams to comply with design safety performance standards.
                          Initiatives
                Landscape Conservation Initiatives
          
  
  Accelerates conservation benefits through targeted efforts for water quality, water quantity and wildlife.
            Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative
          
  
  Nationwide collaborative process working to maintain and improve the management, productivity, and health of privately owned grazing land.
            High Tunnel
          
  
  Provides targeted assistance to promote use of high tunnels, which offer many benefits including longer growing season.
            On-Farm Energy Initiative
          
  
  Assistance to inventory and analyze farm systems that use energy and identify ways to improve efficiency through an Agricultural Energy Management Plan.
            Sentinel Landscapes Initiative
          
  
  The Sentinel Landscapes Partnership is a coalition of federal agencies, state and local governments, and nongovernmental organizations that work with private landowners.
            Environmental Quality Incentives Program
          
  
  Provides assistance to agricultural producers to address natural resource concerns.
            Regional Conservation Partnership Program
          
  
  Brings together partners to expand the reach of NRCS conservation programs.
            Conservation Innovation Grants
          
  
  Brings together partners to innovate on conservation approaches and technologies.
            Conservation Stewardship Program
          
  
  Helps agricultural producers take their conservation efforts to the next level.
            Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program
          
  
  Helps state and tribal governments improve public access to private lands for recreation.
            Agricultural Management Assistance
          
  
  Helps agricultural producers manage financial risk through diversification, marketing or natural resource conservation practices.
            Wetland Mitigation Banking Program
          
  
  Offers competitive grants to support wetland mitigation banks for ag producers.
            Conservation Reserve Program
          
  
  The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) provides a yearly rental payment to farmers who remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and plant species that will improve environmental health and quality.
                          Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
          
  
  Helps producers protect wetlands, grasslands and farmlands for future generations.
            Wetland Reserve Easements
          
  
  Helps private and tribal landowners protect, restore, and enhance wetlands degraded by agricultural uses.
            Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership
          
  
  Brings together partners and producers to protect wetlands.
            Healthy Forests Reserve Program
          
  
  Helps landowners restore, enhance, and protect forestland resources on private and tribal lands and aids the recovery of endangered and threatened species.
            Agricultural Land Easements
          
  
  Helps private and tribal landowners, land trusts, and other entities protect croplands and grasslands on working farms and ranches.
                          Emergency Watershed Protection
          
  
  Assists communities recovering from natural disasters.
            Watershed and Flood Prevention Operation
          
  
  Offers assistance to communities to address watershed resource concerns.
            Watershed Rehabilitation
          
  
  Rehabilitates NRCS dams to comply with design safety performance standards.
                          Landscape Conservation Initiatives
          
  
  Accelerates conservation benefits through targeted efforts for water quality, water quantity and wildlife.
            Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative
          
  
  Nationwide collaborative process working to maintain and improve the management, productivity, and health of privately owned grazing land.
            High Tunnel
          
  
  Provides targeted assistance to promote use of high tunnels, which offer many benefits including longer growing season.
            On-Farm Energy Initiative
          
  
  Assistance to inventory and analyze farm systems that use energy and identify ways to improve efficiency through an Agricultural Energy Management Plan.
            Sentinel Landscapes Initiative
          
  
  The Sentinel Landscapes Partnership is a coalition of federal agencies, state and local governments, and nongovernmental organizations that work with private landowners.
        RPCC

      Featured
    Regional Conservation Partnership Program
        The**Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)** is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land.
                      
        Resources
                                

  
  The technical resources and references NRCS provides uses science-based technology to aid conservation planning and benefit soil, water, air, plants, and animals for productive lands and healthy ecosystems.
        View All Resources
    Guides and Instructions
                Field Office Technical Guides
                      
        Conservation Practice Standards
                      
        How to Get a DUNS Number
                      
        National Soil Survey Handbook
                      
        Keys to Soil Taxonomy
                      
        Soil Survey Manual
                      
        Soil Taxonomy
                      
        Technical Soil Services HandbookView All Guides and Instructions
                          Data and Reports
                Web Soil Survey
                      
        PLANTS Database
                      
        RCA Dataviewer
                      
        Soil Texture Calculator
                      
        Official Soil Series Descriptions
                      
        SSURGO/STATSGO2 Metadata
                      
        Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP)View All Data and Reports
                          Education and Teaching Materials
                What is Soil?
                      
        State Soils
                      
        Soil Colors
                      
        Soil Formation and ClassificationView All Education and Teaching Materials
                          Tech Tools
                WIN-PST
                                
  
  WIN-PST is an environmental risk screening tool for pesticides.
                      
        WinTR-20
                                
  
  Download WinTR-20 Tool
                      
        WinTR-55
                                
  
  Download WinTR-55 ToolView All Tech Tools
            Field Office Technical Guides
                      
        Conservation Practice Standards
                      
        How to Get a DUNS Number
                      
        National Soil Survey Handbook
                      
        Keys to Soil Taxonomy
                      
        Soil Survey Manual
                      
        Soil Taxonomy
                      
        Technical Soil Services HandbookView All Guides and Instructions
                          Web Soil Survey
                      
        PLANTS Database
                      
        RCA Dataviewer
                      
        Soil Texture Calculator
                      
        Official Soil Series Descriptions
                      
        SSURGO/STATSGO2 Metadata
                      
        Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP)View All Data and Reports
                          What is Soil?
                      
        State Soils
                      
        Soil Colors
                      
        Soil Formation and ClassificationView All Education and Teaching Materials
                          WIN-PST
                                
  
  WIN-PST is an environmental risk screening tool for pesticides.
                      
        WinTR-20
                                
  
  Download WinTR-20 Tool
                      
        WinTR-55
                                
  
  Download WinTR-55 ToolView All Tech Tools
        seedlings growing in an aquaponic system in a greenhouse.

      Featured
    Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG)
        Technical guides are the primary scientific references for NRCS. They contain technical information about the conservation of soil, water, air, and related plant and animal resources.
                      
        News & Events
                                

  
  Welcome to the NRCS newsroom! Here you’ll find the latest information on USDA’s conservation agency, including news releases, feature stories, downloadable media files and more.
        View All News & Events
    News
              

  
  View All News
    

            USDA Makes $1.5 Billion Available to Help Farmers Advance Conservation and Climate-Smart Agriculture as Part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda
      

            A sunset view of the Madison Mountain Range neat Ennis, Montana and the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

      Featured
    USDA Makes $1.5 Billion Available to Help Farmers Advance Conservation and Climate-Smart ...
      Read more
                  Events
              

  
  View All Events
    

            Learn about webinars, training opportunities and local events related to NRCS programs and services.
      

            Green cereal rye, used as a cover crop. There's a house in the distance and a road to the far right of the image. There are blue skies above.

      Featured
    Emerging Findings on the Effects of Cover Crops on Grassland Birds
      Read more
                      
        Contact
                                

  
  NRCS has employees in counties across America that help local communities every day.
        View All Contact
    Find a Service Center
              
  
  Access local services provided by the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Rural Development agencies.
                  Find An Employee
              
  
  Looking for a particular employee of NRCS? Find them in the USDA Employee Directory.
                  State Office Contacts
              
  
  Our State Offices Directory provides contact information for NRCS State Office Representatives.
                  NRCS Careers
              
  
  Looking for a career that can make a difference? Find information about NRCS career opportunities.
                  National Information and Centers
              
  
  Find information about NRCS National Programs and Centers.
        close
          Full Menu
          

  Conservation Basics
                                

  
  Conserving our natural resources is a vital part of creating and maintaining healthy ecosystems on our nation’s lands.
        View All Conservation Basics
    Natural Resource Concerns
                Soil
                      
        Water
                      
        Plants
                      
        Animals
                      
        Land
                      
        Air
                      
        Energy
                      
        Climate
                      
        Wildlife Habitat
                      
        Invasive Species and PestsView All Natural Resource Concerns
                          Conservation By State
                State Technical Committees
          
  
  Every state has an NRCS State Technical Committee. The State Technical Committee advises the State Conservationist on technical guidelines necessary to implement the conservation provisions of the Farm Bill.
            Conservation by State
          
  
  Learn about the conservation needs and latest updates in your state, and access needed resources.
            State Offices
          
  
  Find contact information for your state office location and employees.
            Soil
                      
        Water
                      
        Plants
                      
        Animals
                      
        Land
                      
        Air
                      
        Energy
                      
        Climate
                      
        Wildlife Habitat
                      
        Invasive Species and PestsView All Natural Resource Concerns
                          State Technical Committees
          
  
  Every state has an NRCS State Technical Committee. The State Technical Committee advises the State Conservationist on technical guidelines necessary to implement the conservation provisions of the Farm Bill.
            Conservation by State
          
  
  Learn about the conservation needs and latest updates in your state, and access needed resources.
            State Offices
          
  
  Find contact information for your state office location and employees.
        Farmer and agronomist discuss how to improve soil quality.

      Featured
    Soil Science
        NRCS delivers science-based soil information to help farmers, ranchers, foresters, and other land managers effectively manage, conserve, and appraise their most valuable investment — the soil.
                      
        Getting Assistance
                                

  
  For over 80 years, we’ve helped America’s farmers, ranchers, and landowners conserve our nation’s resources through our voluntary programs and science-based solutions.
        View All Getting Assistance
    Technical Help
                Conservation Technical Assistance
          
  
  Helps producers identify conservation objectives and a roadmap for conservation on their operation.
            Conservation Concerns Tool
          
  
  Use this tool to learn about natural resource concerns that may impact your ag operation (farmers.gov).
            Engineering
          
  
  NRCS applies sound engineering tools and principles to plan, design, and implement conservation practices and systems through delegated approval authority.
            Technical Service Providers
          
  
  Technical service providers offer planning, design, and implementation services to agricultural producers on behalf of NRCS.
                          Financial Help
                Act Now
          
  
  Enables states to pre-approve applications when they meet or exceed a state's pre-determined minimum ranking score.
            Applications and Forms
          
  
  Find more information on how to apply for NRCS conservation programs.
            Conservation Compliance: Wetlands and Highly Erodible Land Provisions
          
  
  To maintain eligibility for most USDA programs, producers must comply with wetland conservation provisions.
            How to Apply
          
  
  Follow our step-by-step process to get started making improvements on your land with our one-on-one conservation assistance.
            Payment Schedules
          
  
  Review the amount and availability of financial assistance for selected conservation practices in your state.
            Ranking Dates
          
  
  Applications for NRCS conservation programs are ranked and funded at key times throughout the year.
                          Compliance and Cultural Resources
                Cultural Resources
          
  
  NRCS programs are administered following the National Historic Preservation Act and other laws.
            Environmental Compliance
          
  
  NRCS programs are administered following the National Environmental Policy Act.
                          Other Topics
                Disaster Recovery
          
  
  NRCS can help ag producers and communities recover when natural disasters strike.
            Underserved Communities
          
  
  Farm Bill special provisions provide incentives and address unique circumstances of historically underserved producers.
            Nutrient Management
          
  
  This practice helps producers reduce input costs, maximize yields, and efficiently manage nutrients.
            Organic Agriculture
          
  
  Conservation and organics go hand-in-hand, and NRCS offers tools for organic farmers to improve their operations.
            Urban Agriculture
          
  
  Conservation assistance is available for urban farmers, including high tunnels, soil health practices, composting and irrigation.
            Conservation Technical Assistance
          
  
  Helps producers identify conservation objectives and a roadmap for conservation on their operation.
            Conservation Concerns Tool
          
  
  Use this tool to learn about natural resource concerns that may impact your ag operation (farmers.gov).
            Engineering
          
  
  NRCS applies sound engineering tools and principles to plan, design, and implement conservation practices and systems through delegated approval authority.
            Technical Service Providers
          
  
  Technical service providers offer planning, design, and implementation services to agricultural producers on behalf of NRCS.
                          Act Now
          
  
  Enables states to pre-approve applications when they meet or exceed a state's pre-determined minimum ranking score.
            Applications and Forms
          
  
  Find more information on how to apply for NRCS conservation programs.
            Conservation Compliance: Wetlands and Highly Erodible Land Provisions
          
  
  To maintain eligibility for most USDA programs, producers must comply with wetland conservation provisions.
            How to Apply
          
  
  Follow our step-by-step process to get started making improvements on your land with our one-on-one conservation assistance.
            Payment Schedules
          
  
  Review the amount and availability of financial assistance for selected conservation practices in your state.
            Ranking Dates
          
  
  Applications for NRCS conservation programs are ranked and funded at key times throughout the year.
                          Cultural Resources
          
  
  NRCS programs are administered following the National Historic Preservation Act and other laws.
            Environmental Compliance
          
  
  NRCS programs are administered following the National Environmental Policy Act.
                          Disaster Recovery
          
  
  NRCS can help ag producers and communities recover when natural disasters strike.
            Underserved Communities
          
  
  Farm Bill special provisions provide incentives and address unique circumstances of historically underserved producers.
            Nutrient Management
          
  
  This practice helps producers reduce input costs, maximize yields, and efficiently manage nutrients.
            Organic Agriculture
          
  
  Conservation and organics go hand-in-hand, and NRCS offers tools for organic farmers to improve their operations.
            Urban Agriculture
          
  
  Conservation assistance is available for urban farmers, including high tunnels, soil health practices, composting and irrigation.
        A producer reviews a conservation plan.

      Featured
    Conservation Technical Assistance
        **Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA)** provides our nation’s farmers, ranchers and forestland owners with the knowledge and tools they need to conserve, maintain and restore the natural resources on their lands and improve the health of their operations for the future.
                      
        Programs & Initiatives
                                

  
  Our natural resource conservation programs help people reduce soil erosion, enhance water supplies, improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat, and reduce damage caused by floods and other natural disasters.
        View All Programs & Initiatives
    Programs
                Environmental Quality Incentives Program
          
  
  Provides assistance to agricultural producers to address natural resource concerns.
            Regional Conservation Partnership Program
          
  
  Brings together partners to expand the reach of NRCS conservation programs.
            Conservation Innovation Grants
          
  
  Brings together partners to innovate on conservation approaches and technologies.
            Conservation Stewardship Program
          
  
  Helps agricultural producers take their conservation efforts to the next level.
            Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program
          
  
  Helps state and tribal governments improve public access to private lands for recreation.
            Agricultural Management Assistance
          
  
  Helps agricultural producers manage financial risk through diversification, marketing or natural resource conservation practices.
            Wetland Mitigation Banking Program
          
  
  Offers competitive grants to support wetland mitigation banks for ag producers.
            Conservation Reserve Program
          
  
  The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) provides a yearly rental payment to farmers who remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and plant species that will improve environmental health and quality.
                          Easements
                Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
          
  
  Helps producers protect wetlands, grasslands and farmlands for future generations.
            Wetland Reserve Easements
          
  
  Helps private and tribal landowners protect, restore, and enhance wetlands degraded by agricultural uses.
            Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership
          
  
  Brings together partners and producers to protect wetlands.
            Healthy Forests Reserve Program
          
  
  Helps landowners restore, enhance, and protect forestland resources on private and tribal lands and aids the recovery of endangered and threatened species.
            Agricultural Land Easements
          
  
  Helps private and tribal landowners, land trusts, and other entities protect croplands and grasslands on working farms and ranches.
                          Watershed Programs
                Emergency Watershed Protection
          
  
  Assists communities recovering from natural disasters.
            Watershed and Flood Prevention Operation
          
  
  Offers assistance to communities to address watershed resource concerns.
            Watershed Rehabilitation
          
  
  Rehabilitates NRCS dams to comply with design safety performance standards.
                          Initiatives
                Landscape Conservation Initiatives
          
  
  Accelerates conservation benefits through targeted efforts for water quality, water quantity and wildlife.
            Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative
          
  
  Nationwide collaborative process working to maintain and improve the management, productivity, and health of privately owned grazing land.
            High Tunnel
          
  
  Provides targeted assistance to promote use of high tunnels, which offer many benefits including longer growing season.
            On-Farm Energy Initiative
          
  
  Assistance to inventory and analyze farm systems that use energy and identify ways to improve efficiency through an Agricultural Energy Management Plan.
            Sentinel Landscapes Initiative
          
  
  The Sentinel Landscapes Partnership is a coalition of federal agencies, state and local governments, and nongovernmental organizations that work with private landowners.
            Environmental Quality Incentives Program
          
  
  Provides assistance to agricultural producers to address natural resource concerns.
            Regional Conservation Partnership Program
          
  
  Brings together partners to expand the reach of NRCS conservation programs.
            Conservation Innovation Grants
          
  
  Brings together partners to innovate on conservation approaches and technologies.
            Conservation Stewardship Program
          
  
  Helps agricultural producers take their conservation efforts to the next level.
            Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program
          
  
  Helps state and tribal governments improve public access to private lands for recreation.
            Agricultural Management Assistance
          
  
  Helps agricultural producers manage financial risk through diversification, marketing or natural resource conservation practices.
            Wetland Mitigation Banking Program
          
  
  Offers competitive grants to support wetland mitigation banks for ag producers.
            Conservation Reserve Program
          
  
  The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) provides a yearly rental payment to farmers who remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and plant species that will improve environmental health and quality.
                          Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
          
  
  Helps producers protect wetlands, grasslands and farmlands for future generations.
            Wetland Reserve Easements
          
  
  Helps private and tribal landowners protect, restore, and enhance wetlands degraded by agricultural uses.
            Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership
          
  
  Brings together partners and producers to protect wetlands.
            Healthy Forests Reserve Program
          
  
  Helps landowners restore, enhance, and protect forestland resources on private and tribal lands and aids the recovery of endangered and threatened species.
            Agricultural Land Easements
          
  
  Helps private and tribal landowners, land trusts, and other entities protect croplands and grasslands on working farms and ranches.
                          Emergency Watershed Protection
          
  
  Assists communities recovering from natural disasters.
            Watershed and Flood Prevention Operation
          
  
  Offers assistance to communities to address watershed resource concerns.
            Watershed Rehabilitation
          
  
  Rehabilitates NRCS dams to comply with design safety performance standards.
                          Landscape Conservation Initiatives
          
  
  Accelerates conservation benefits through targeted efforts for water quality, water quantity and wildlife.
            Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative
          
  
  Nationwide collaborative process working to maintain and improve the management, productivity, and health of privately owned grazing land.
            High Tunnel
          
  
  Provides targeted assistance to promote use of high tunnels, which offer many benefits including longer growing season.
            On-Farm Energy Initiative
          
  
  Assistance to inventory and analyze farm systems that use energy and identify ways to improve efficiency through an Agricultural Energy Management Plan.
            Sentinel Landscapes Initiative
          
  
  The Sentinel Landscapes Partnership is a coalition of federal agencies, state and local governments, and nongovernmental organizations that work with private landowners.
        RPCC

      Featured
    Regional Conservation Partnership Program
        The**Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)** is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land.
                      
        Resources
                                

  
  The technical resources and references NRCS provides uses science-based technology to aid conservation planning and benefit soil, water, air, plants, and animals for productive lands and healthy ecosystems.
        View All Resources
    Guides and Instructions
                Field Office Technical Guides
                      
        Conservation Practice Standards
                      
        How to Get a DUNS Number
                      
        National Soil Survey Handbook
                      
        Keys to Soil Taxonomy
                      
        Soil Survey Manual
                      
        Soil Taxonomy
                      
        Technical Soil Services HandbookView All Guides and Instructions
                          Data and Reports
                Web Soil Survey
                      
        PLANTS Database
                      
        RCA Dataviewer
                      
        Soil Texture Calculator
                      
        Official Soil Series Descriptions
                      
        SSURGO/STATSGO2 Metadata
                      
        Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP)View All Data and Reports
                          Education and Teaching Materials
                What is Soil?
                      
        State Soils
                      
        Soil Colors
                      
        Soil Formation and ClassificationView All Education and Teaching Materials
                          Tech Tools
                WIN-PST
                                
  
  WIN-PST is an environmental risk screening tool for pesticides.
                      
        WinTR-20
                                
  
  Download WinTR-20 Tool
                      
        WinTR-55
                                
  
  Download WinTR-55 ToolView All Tech Tools
            Field Office Technical Guides
                      
        Conservation Practice Standards
                      
        How to Get a DUNS Number
                      
        National Soil Survey Handbook
                      
        Keys to Soil Taxonomy
                      
        Soil Survey Manual
                      
        Soil Taxonomy
                      
        Technical Soil Services HandbookView All Guides and Instructions
                          Web Soil Survey
                      
        PLANTS Database
                      
        RCA Dataviewer
                      
        Soil Texture Calculator
                      
        Official Soil Series Descriptions
                      
        SSURGO/STATSGO2 Metadata
                      
        Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP)View All Data and Reports
                          What is Soil?
                      
        State Soils
                      
        Soil Colors
                      
        Soil Formation and ClassificationView All Education and Teaching Materials
                          WIN-PST
                                
  
  WIN-PST is an environmental risk screening tool for pesticides.
                      
        WinTR-20
                                
  
  Download WinTR-20 Tool
                      
        WinTR-55
                                
  
  Download WinTR-55 ToolView All Tech Tools
        seedlings growing in an aquaponic system in a greenhouse.

      Featured
    Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG)
        Technical guides are the primary scientific references for NRCS. They contain technical information about the conservation of soil, water, air, and related plant and animal resources.
                      
        News & Events
                                

  
  Welcome to the NRCS newsroom! Here you’ll find the latest information on USDA’s conservation agency, including news releases, feature stories, downloadable media files and more.
        View All News & Events
    News
              

  
  View All News
    

            USDA Makes $1.5 Billion Available to Help Farmers Advance Conservation and Climate-Smart Agriculture as Part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda
      

            A sunset view of the Madison Mountain Range neat Ennis, Montana and the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

      Featured
    USDA Makes $1.5 Billion Available to Help Farmers Advance Conservation and Climate-Smart ...
      Read more
                  Events
              

  
  View All Events
    

            Learn about webinars, training opportunities and local events related to NRCS programs and services.
      

            Green cereal rye, used as a cover crop. There's a house in the distance and a road to the far right of the image. There are blue skies above.

      Featured
    Emerging Findings on the Effects of Cover Crops on Grassland Birds
      Read more
                      
        Contact
                                

  
  NRCS has employees in counties across America that help local communities every day.
        View All Contact
    Find a Service Center
              
  
  Access local services provided by the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Rural Development agencies.
                  Find An Employee
              
  
  Looking for a particular employee of NRCS? Find them in the USDA Employee Directory.
                  State Office Contacts
              
  
  Our State Offices Directory provides contact information for NRCS State Office Representatives.
                  NRCS Careers
              
  
  Looking for a career that can make a difference? Find information about NRCS career opportunities.
                  National Information and Centers
              
  
  Find information about NRCS National Programs and Centers.Enter Search Term(s):
          
      Subscribe
                              About NRCS
                              Equity
                              farmers.gov
                              USDA.gov
                              State Offices Classroom training

                              Focus Teams
  Breadcrumb
        Home
                            About NRCS
                            Partner With Us
                            Focus Teams

          About NRCS
                            Careers
                              Civil Rights
                              Farm Bill
                              History
                              Leadership
                              Partner With Us
                            Focus Teams
                              National Cooperative Soil Survey
                              Outreach & Partnerships
                              Priorities
                              NRCS Strategic Plan
              Effectively and efficiently delivers soil and ecological site knowledge to the user community.

      
  
  

      Focus Teams logo
**Overview**

The Soil and Plant Science Division has implemented a Focus Team concept in order to effectively and efficiently deliver soil and ecological site knowledge to the user community while maintaining the high quality of the data and information. The 15 focus teams will be composed of subject matter experts from within and outside the Division and the geographic diversity of the team members assures dissemination of knowledge, skills, and abilities across the Division.

**Teams**

Coastal Zone Soil Survey Team
	Communications and Outreach Team
	Digital Soil Mapping Team
	Dynamic Soil Properties Team
	Dynamic Soil Survey Team
	Ecological Sites Team
	Initial Mapping Team
	Leadership, Diversity, and Recruitment Team
	Research Team
	Safety Team
	Soil Survey Database Team
	Soil Survey Interpretations Team
	Technology Team
	Training Team
	Urban Soils Team**Charges**

Act as liaisons across Division and NCSS
	Provide leadership, guidance and coordination with their specified area of activity
	Serve as a repository of information in specified area of activity
	Coordinate with other teams to ensure continuity of activities, training and information exchange
	Supplement and enhance activities of regional and local board of advisors (BOA) and management teams (MGT)
	Provide a national perspective to regions and teams
	Report directly to Steering Team
	Develop and maintain website**Contact**

David Lindbo, Director, Soil and Plant Science Division, USDA-NRCS, Washington, DC

**Members**

**Steering Team**

David Hoover, Director, NSSC, USDA-NRCS, Lincoln, Nebraska
	Eva Muller, Northwest Regional Director, USDA-NRCS, Bozeman, Montana
	Kamara Holmes, Soil Scientist, USDA-NRCS, Greensboro, North Carolina
	Debbie Surabian, National Leader, Soil Survey Standards, USDA-NRCS, Tolland, Connecticut
	Wade Bott, State Soil Scientist, USDA-NRCS, Bismarck, North Dakota
	Larry Laing, U.S. Forest Service, Washington, DC
	Mickey Ransom, Professor, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
	Joey Shaw, Professor, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
	David Kingsbury, Associate Director, Soil Services and Information, USDA-NRCS, Washington, DC
	Chris Tecklenburg, North Central Regional Director, USDA-NRCS, Salina, Kansas
              Contact Soils
                        Please contact us if you see something that needs to be updated, if you have any questions, or if you need accessibility assistance.


                    Soils Webmaster
                                      402-437-5499
                                      Soils-Webmaster@usda.gov
                            Find Your Local Service Center
  USDA Service Centers are locations where you can connect with Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or Rural Development employees for your business needs. Enter your state and county below to find your local service center and agency offices. If this locator does not work in your browser, please visit offices.usda.gov.
  Select your state
          

  - Please select -AlabamaAlaskaAmerican SamoaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict Of ColumbiaFederated States of MicronesiaFloridaGeorgiaGuamHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNorthern Mariana IslandsOhioOklahomaOregonPalauPennsylvaniaPuerto RicoRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVirgin IslandsVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
Select your county AskUSDA
          One central entry point for you to access information and help from USDA
              Ask.USDA.gov
              1-833-ONE-USDA
              askusda@usda.gov
          Ask a question
    Menu
Natural Resources Conservation Service
    U.S. Department of Agriculture
      Return to Top
    **Policies and Statements**
            FOIA
                              
                    Information Quality
                              
                    Our Performance
                              
                    Privacy Policy
                              
                    Accessibility Statement
                              
                    Non-Discrimination Statement
                              
                    **Related Sites**
            USDA.gov
                              
                    AskUSDA
                              
                    Office of the Inspector General
                              
                    USA.gov
                              
                    WhiteHouse.gov
                              
                    **Resources**
            OneFPAC - Employee Links
                              
                    eDirectives
                              
                    Glossary
                              
                    USDA CARES Partner Portal
                              
                    No Fear Act Data
                              
                    Open Government
                              
                    Plain Writing
                              
                    Report Fraud on USDA Contract
                              
                    Sitemap
          
                            **Subscribe to our Newsletter**
                Stay updated on the latest news and stories from NRCS and other USDA topics.
                    Email Address