# Louisiana

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**Welcome to the Louisiana NRCS website**

## On This Page

            - Contact Information
            - State Programs and Initiatives
            - How to Get Assistance
            - Related News and Events

## **About Louisiana NRCS - *"Helping People Help the Land"***

### From the windswept marshes of coastal Louisiana, to the rice and crawfish fields in Cajun country, to the upland forestland at the top of our state, the beauty of Louisiana captivates. Our landscape is as  diverse as our producers, with a common thread that binds our state as one... Conservation.

## **Who we are:**

#### Welcome to the NRCS in Louisiana. Sometimes defining what a federal agency does for the public can be confusing, and rarely does one word sum it all up. So, when someone asks us, “What can the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) do for me”, we want to provide a clear and concise message so that you know exactly what services we offer you. What can the NRCS do for you? We help you help the land.

## **What we do:**

#### We offer technical and financial assistance through five business lines: *1st* - "conservation planning and technical consultation". *2nd* - "conservation implementation". *3rd* - "natural resource inventory and assessment". *4th* - "natural resource technology transfer". *5th* - "financial assistance". These services help customers and partners make informed decisions about natural resource management, install conservation practices, collect and analyze data, develop and distribute technology, and encourage the adoption of beneficial land-treatment practices to conserve and protect our nation's natural resources.

## **How we can help:**

#### Financial assistance is awarded to those who voluntarily enter into contracts, easements and agreements to conserve natural resources. Financial assistance is provided through cost-share/ incentives, easements, grants and stewardship payments. So, what can the NRCS do for you? We help you help the land. It’s that simple. By providing technical and financial assistance through our five business lines, we will help you help the land.

##   State Pages of Interest

        Louisiana State Technical Committee (LASTC)    

###                     Louisiana State Technical Committee (LASTC)                

The Louisiana State Technical Committee (LASTC) is an advisory group led by the Louisiana State Conservationist, responsible for organizing and delivering Farm Bill-related program benefits.

### **Visit Page**

        What's Happening in Louisiana?    

###                     What's Happening in Louisiana?                

**Tales of Conservation***- Be Inspired by Stories of Environmental Preservation*

**Louisiana Update and Annual Report***- Louisiana's NRCS news at your fingertips*

**Louisiana Press Releases**

**Louisiana Public Notices**

        Louisiana Vendors    

###                     Louisiana Vendors                

### **Visit Page**

        Louisiana NRCS Careers    

###                     Louisiana NRCS Careers                

Are you excited to make a positive impact with your career? Check out the awesome job opportunities available with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)! Join our team in working towards our mission of preserving natural resources for the benefit of future generations.

## Join Our Team!

Follow us on Twitter/X @NRCS_Louisiana to stay up to date on any job announcements!

## More Information

                                    - USAJobs
                                    - Insurance and FEHB
                                    - Retirement Information
                                    - Office of Personnel Management

## Louisiana State Office

                -    318-473-7904 
                -    3737 Government StAlexandria, LA71302-3327 

State Office Page

## 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.  

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## State Programs and Initiatives

Louisiana Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

Louisiana Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)

Louisiana Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

Louisiana Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)

Louisiana Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA)

Louisiana Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP)

Louisiana Healthy Forest Reserve Program (HFRP)

Louisiana High Tunnel Initiative

Louisiana Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership

Louisiana Landscape Conservation Initiatives

Louisiana Longleaf Pine Initiative (LLPI)

Louisiana Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative

Louisiana National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI)

Louisiana On-Farm Energy Initiative

Louisiana Organic Initiative

Louisiana Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)

Louisiana Working Lands for Wildlife

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## State Payment Schedule

NRCS provides financial assistance for selected conservation practices. The availability and amount of financial assistance can vary between states.

Learn More

## Civil Rights Committee

The National Civil Rights Advisory Committee to the Chief (NCRACC) is designed to provide management officials and employees with counsel and advice to enhance and ensure compliance with their equal employment opportunity and program delivery responsibilities.

Learn More

## State Technical Committee

State Technical Committees serve in an advisory capacity to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and other agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on the implementation of the natural resources conservation provisions of Farm Bill legislation.

Learn More

##   How to Get Assistance

**Do you farm or ranch and want to make improvements to the land that you own or lease?**

Natural Resources Conservation Service offers technical and financial assistance to help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners.

**Print this information

###         Step 1: Make a Plan    

**To get started with NRCS, we recommend you stop by your local NRCS field office. We’ll discuss your vision for your land.**

NRCS provides landowners with free technical assistance, or advice, for their land. Common technical assistance includes: resource assessment, practice design and resource monitoring. Your conservation planner will help you determine if financial assistance is right for you.

###         Step 2: Start an Application    

**We’ll walk you through the application process. To get started on applying for financial assistance, we’ll work with you:**
                        - To fill out an AD 1026, which ensures a conservation plan is in place before lands with highly erodible soils are farmed. It also ensures that identified wetland areas are protected.
                        - To meet other eligibility certifications.

Once complete, we’ll work with you on the application, or CPA 1200.

Applications for most programs are accepted on a continuous basis, but they’re considered for funding in different ranking periods. Be sure to ask your local NRCS district conservationist about the deadline for the ranking period to ensure you turn in your application in time.

###         Step 3: Check your eligibility    

**As part of the application process, we’ll check to see if you are eligible. To do this, you’ll need to bring:**
                        - An official tax ID (Social Security number or an employer ID)
                        - A property deed or lease agreement to show you have control of the property; and
                        - A farm number.

If you don’t have a farm number, you can get one from USDA’s Farm Service Agency. Typically, the local FSA office is located in the same building as the local NRCS office. You only need a farm number if you’re interested in financial assistance.

###         Step 4: Rank your application    

**NRCS will take a look at the applications and rank them** according to local resource concerns, the amount of conservation benefits the work will provide and the needs of applicants. View Application Ranking Dates by State.

###         Step 5: Implement your plan    

**If you’re selected, you can choose whether to sign the contract for the work to be done.**

Once you sign the contract, you’ll be provided standards and specifications for completing the practice or practices, and then you will have a specified amount of time to implement. Once the work is implemented and inspected, you’ll be paid the rate of compensation for the work if it meets NRCS standards and specifications.

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## Related News and Events

NewsUSDA Makes $1.5 Billion Available to Help Farmers Advance Conservation and Climate-Smart Agriculture as Part of President Biden’s Investing in America AgendaApril 03, 2024

NewsUSDA Seeks Partnerships to Expand Conservation on Grazing Lands  March 27, 2024

NewsAgricultural Producers to Conserve Land through Climate-Smart Easements as part of President Biden’s Investing in America AgendaMarch 13, 2024

- - State Technical CommitteeSpring 2024 Louisiana NRCS State Technical Committee MeetingApril 25, 2024

          -  View More News 
          -  View More Events