Its mission is to plan, conserve, and utilize natural resources to solve locally identified problems. It is based on Councils, each consisting of three to eleven counties. Other partners are the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the Alabama Forestry Commission, the U.S. Forest Service, the Rural Development, and the Farm Service Agency. Alabama's nine councils cover the state.
Some councils have additional memberships in order to reach a wider audience.
The Council has a Board of Directors that conducts the business of the Council. USDA provides the Council with a full time coordinator, who assists the Council with planning, program administration, searching for sources of financial and technical assistance, and implementing projects.