NRCS Equity 

Division

What is Equity?

Equity is the consistent and systematic

treatment of all individuals in a fair, just,

and impartial manner, including people

who belong to communities that have been

denied such treatment. NRCS customers are

the most important visitors to the agency. 

The staff relies on our customers to remain 

a successful and accomplished federal 

entity. For such a profound situation, NRCS 

must provide all our customers with the 

opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive, 

regardless of their circumstances. Program 

history does not reflect continuous 

recognition and awarding to underserved 

farmers and ranchers. Without Equity, the 

systemic recognition and awarding of 

resources have too often fallen to those

who are already set up for success...with 

Equity, NRCS will change this. 

We must first understand and be able to 

identify the equity dimension and its impact. 

Although the terms “equality” and “equity” 

are sometimes used interchangeably, the 

two convey significantly different ideas. 

Equity is about fairness, while equality is 

about resemblance. 

Released in January 2021, Executive Order 

13985, “Advancing Racial Equity and 

Support for Underserved Communities 

Through the Federal Government,” directs 

federal agencies to examine the services it 

provides and develop a plan for addressing:

• any barriers to full and equal participation

in programs identified pursuant to section

5(a) of this order; and

• any barriers to full and equal

participation in agency procurement

and contracting opportunities identified

pursuant to section 5(b) of this order.

Released in February 2023, EO 14091,

“Further Advancing Racial Equity and

Support for Underserved Communities

Through the Federal Government”, builds 

upon EO 13985 and other executive 

orders and directives to target specific 

barriers still faced by under-served 

communities by requiring federal agencies 

to integrate equity into planning and 

decision-making. 

NRCS collaboration with agency

partnerships is vital to examine our

services. It is necessary to identify

and define roles of NRCS partners,

stakeholders, Tribal entities, Community

Based Organizations, and other

underserved communities and relevant

institutions at National, Regional, State, 

and local levels. Transformation requires 

that the people experiencing problems

are at the center of determining the

solutions to inequities, rather than experts 

deciding for them. Local boots on the 

ground, regional, and national equity work

is prudent, but it requires partnership,

association, alliance, and cooperation with

communities to achieve equity.

Mission, Vision 

and Core Values

MISSION – Advocate 

for and better align 

institutional Equity into 

the work and practices of 

NRCS to ensure that every 

USDA-NRCS customer is 

put in a position to succeed 

in a diverse government 

world and notably feel 

inclusiveness to agency 

programs and services. 

VISION – Diversity 

and inclusion for every 

customer through our 

programs. 

CORE VALUES – 

Believing that NRCS 

customers’ opportunity 

and benefits of agency 

programs are strengthened 

when working towards 

the common good and 

goals by improving agency 

program outreach; NRCS 

improves customers 

Equity and equality of 

life through conservation 

opportunities and benefits. 

Foundational Information

Executive Order 13985

Executive Order 14091

USDA Equity Commission

USDA Equity Action Plan

NRCS Equity Action Plan 

NRCS Equity Policy 

Statement and Poster

MARCH 2023 Helping People Help the Land nrcs.usda.gov
NRCS EQUITY DIVISION 2

Equity Focus

Justice40

NRCS aims to increase program participation by 10 percent 

each year until the agency meets, or exceeds, the Justice40 

goals outlined in President Biden’s commitment. 

Equity in Implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act 

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Of 2022 is an historic 

investment in climate and conservation agriculture. 

Equity through Collaboration with Partners 

Collaboration with internal and external partners, 

stakeholders, and various communities is paramount to the 

success of advancing equity and removing inequities in NRCS 

programs, policies, and services. 

Equity and the Technical Service Providers Program 

NRCS is utilizing a multi-pronged approach to improve 

technical assistance to underserved communities. We are 

continually working to expand the number of conservation 

technical experts who can offer technical assistance and 

one-on-one conservation advice to historically underserved 

producers. 

Limited English Proficiency 

Limited English Proficiency refers to people who do not 

speak English as their primary language and who have limited 

ability to read, speak, write, or understand English. Laws and 

regulations prohibit exclusion from participation in, denial of 

benefits of, and discrimination under Federal programs. 

Equity in Conservation Outreach Cooperative Agreements

The Equity in Conservation outreach cooperative 

agreements fund two-year projects to expand the delivery 

of conservation assistance to producers who are new 

to farming, are low-income, identify as one or more 

marginalized race or ethnicity, and/or are military veterans. 

Equity Key Terms

Bias: prejudice in favor of or against a person or group, 

usually considered unfair. 

Discrimination: unfavorable or unfair treatment of a person 

or class of persons. 

Diversity: the practice of including the many communities, 

identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, 

cultures, and beliefs of the people, including underserved 

communities. 

Equality: each individual or group of people is given the same 

resources or treatment. 

Equity: the consistent and systematic treatment of all 

individuals in a fair, just, and impartial manner, including 

people who belong to communities that have been denied 

such treatment. 

Inequity: lack of fairness or justice; occurs when everyone does 

not have the same access to opportunities and resources. 

Justice: the systematic, proactive reinforcement of policies, 

practices, and attitudes that produce equitable power, 

access, opportunities, treatment, and outcomes for all. 

Prejudice: an unfair belief or feeling of dislike for a person 

or group because of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or other 

interpersonal differences. 

Racism: a belief that race is a fundamental determinant 

of human traits and capacities and that racial differences 

produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. 

Underserved Communities: populations sharing a particular 

characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have 

been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate 

in aspects of economic, social, and civic life. 

Why Achieving Equity is a priority

Achieving Equity is an NRCS priority because this 

Administration has identified Equity as a priority for all 

levels of federal government. From the White House to 

USDA to NRCS, we will achieve Equity in our programs and 

services. 

Equity is not only dividing resources fairly and equally, but 

also factoring in differences among people or communities. 

Equality is dividing resources equally but does not factor 

differences in need and ability. 

The route to achieving Equity will not be accomplished 

through treating everyone equally. It will be achieved 

by treating everyone equitably, not just according to 

circumstances. 

All NRCS Employees will be responsible for achieving 

equity in everything we do, at all levels—from programs to 

employment to technical assistance to customer service—

we will provide equal opportunity for all!

For More Information

Equity homepage: nrcs.usda.gov/about/priorities/equity.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. nrcs.usda.gov