Natural Resources Conservation Service

NRCS Assistance

NRCS is here to assist the local Soil and Water Conservation District with the application of soil conservation, water conservation, water quality, and wildlife habitat practices for all land owners in the county.  Common conservation practices in the county include terraces, water and sediment control basins, grassed waterways, Ag waste storage structures, and windbreaks. 

(An example of terraces)

(An example of water and sediment control basins)

NRCS administers the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) which provides cost share assistance to landowners to install a variety of conservation practices.  It also provides incentive payments to producers to apply management practices like, conservation tillage and no-till planting, nutrient management, irrigation water management, and prescribed grazing.

(An example of no-till planting)

(An example of prescribed grazing)

(An example of waster runoff)

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is also administered by NRCS.  It provides technical and cost share assistance to producers for applying practices that benefit wildlife.  Tree and shrub plantings, stream habitat projects, grass nesting cover, and woodland improvement are a few examples.

NRCS provides the technical assistance for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).  This program sets aside cropland and marginal pasture land from production, pays an annual rental fee while it is retired, and assists with the cost of establishing the land to permanent cover like native grasses and forbs, and trees.

The Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) is available to restore and protect drained wetlands.  Though most of the funding for this program has gone to prairie pothole counties, interested individuals should sign up and see if the program has something to offer them on their land.

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) encourages agricultural and forestry producers to maintain existing conservation activities and adopt additional ones on their operations.  CSP is a new voluntary conservation program that provides financial and technical assistance to conserve and enhance soil, water, air, and related natural resources on their land.  CSP provides opportunities to both recognize excellent stewards and deliver valuable new conservation.