Information For Farmers and Ranchers

Last Modified: 03/29/2006

Current Farm Bill Programs

• Conservation Security Program  (CSP)


• Environmental Quality Incentives Program  (EQIP)

Vegetation Problem

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Vegetation Problem Reaches Critical Mass Across the US (103 KB)

General Information

Contact Us
Defending Against Drought
Related Links
Soils
Technical Service Providers
Texas Electronic Field Office Technical Guide eFOTG
Texas Agricultural Statistics Service

For more than 60 years, the Natural Resources Conservation Service has been working one-on-one with farmers and rural landowners, providing technical assistance and conservation advice. NRCS works with farmers to develop conservation plans for the whole farm or ranch as well as address individual concerns about soil, water and other resources.

Conservation planning is a step beyond mere erosion control. It is helping farmers manage their soil, water, air, plant and animal resources in a way that prevents resource degradation, ensures sustainability, allows for productivity and respects the farmer’s needs. Conservation planning can make improvements to livestock operations, crop production, soil quality, water quality, hay land, forestland and wildlife habitats. For custom conservation advice for your farm, contact the nearest NRCS office.

Conservation Practices for the Farm

There are many ways to practice conservation on the farm and reap long-term benefits. Some common conservation practices are described in detail on the following handouts. They are available in pdf format. When you click on one of these conservation practices, the pdf file will download to your computer. It can be viewed and printed with Adobe Acrobat.

Understanding Locally Led Conservation

The technical services of the Natural Resources Conservation Service are provided in cooperation with local conservation districts. There are 216 conservation districts in Texas. See the Conservation Partnership for more information, or call the conservation office in your county.

About NRCS Conservation Programs

NRCS offers a variety of conservation programs that enhance our technical services. Some programs, like the Texas Soil Survey Program, are a unique service offered by the agency. Others like EQIP, WHIP, FPRP and WRP are funded by Congress in the 2002 Farm Bill and are now administered by NRCS. For an overview of each NRCS conservation program, see Conservation Programs.

About the NRCS State Technical Committee

The State Technical Committee advises the NRCS State Conservationist on the technical guidelines necessary to implement the conservation provisions of the 1996 Farm Bill. Committee membership includes representatives from federal and state conservation agencies, agricultural producers, nonprofit organizations and agribusiness.

State Technical Committee meetings are open to the public and are held in Temple as often as necessary to advise and implement the conservation programs assigned to NRCS. For information about an upcoming meeting, call the NRCS State Office at 254-742-9800.

Watershed Planning

Everyone lives in a watershed. A watershed is an area of land that water flows over and under on its way to a stream, river or lake. It is like a collection basin. You and everyone in your watershed are part of the watershed community. The quality of your watershed is directly related to how the community treats the soil, water, air, plants and animals. What happens in your small watershed also affects other watersheds downstream.

There are many ways you and your community can work together to keep your watershed healthy and productive. Contact your local NRCS office for more information.