Visit NRCS in June to Start Conservation Planning

Farmers, ranchers, and foresters are invited to visit the local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office throughout the month of June to start or update their conservation plan. Working on the conservation plan now allows conservationists to effectively conduct the field visits and inventories needed during the growing season.

Start conservation planning now to be prepared for the new Regenerative Pilot Program (RPP). This program addresses whole-farm resource concerns through voluntary regenerative agriculture conservation plans. RPP is driven by producer objectives, ensuring site-specific solutions that work for their operation. RPP is available to all landowners in Montana on all land uses.

Conservation planning helps new and existing customers address natural resource challenges on private lands across Montana. Technical assistance is available on all land uses and operation sizes. Start planning early to ensure enough time for effective site visits, resource assessments, and plan development.

"NRCS technical assistance and conservation funding like the Regenerative Pilot Program help land managers address issues on their operation to improve the long-term productivity and profitability of the farm or ranch," said Gayle Barry, NRCS State Conservationist for Montana. "Conservation planning and implementation help keep working lands in working hands, supporting our rural economies."

The first step in conservation planning is for producers to explain their operational goals while walking the land with an NRCS conservationist. From there, they will work to identify concerns, explore practices that address the issues and fit the operation, then develop a personalized plan.

A conservation plan may include land use maps, soils information, inventory data, recommended practices, and other tools and resources to help landowners make management changes or install conservation practices. Conservation plans can help landowners improve productivity and resilience to extreme weather and market fluctuations while improving the health of the soil, crops and forage, livestock, and forests. Implementing the plan can help to better balance feed and forage needs, manage water quality and quantity, reduce erosion, and support wildlife habitat and diversity.

NRCS staff can also discuss all financial assistance opportunities, including the popular Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) that may be available to help implement the conservation practices recommended in the conservation plan.

"NRCS takes applications for our conservation programs all year round, so conservation planning in June positions producers to be prepared for funding announcements," said Barry. "Opportunities like the Regenerative Pilot Program are grounded in conservation planning that supports holistic management and delivers lasting benefits to farmers, ranchers, foresters, and tribal producers."

NRCS planners familiar with local natural resource concerns and production practices are located in nearly every county and dedicated district conservationists serve Tribal nations. To find the nearest NRCS office, visit nrcs.usda.gov/contact.

More Information

To learn more about NRCS programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also apply for NRCS programs, manage conservation plans and contracts, and view and print conservation maps by logging into their farmers.gov account. If you don't have an account, sign up today.

For 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers and forestland owners make investments in their operations and local communities to improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitat. NRCS uses the latest science and technology to help keep working lands working, boost agricultural economies, and increase the competitiveness of American agriculture. NRCS provides one-on-one, personalized advice and financial assistance and works with producers to help them reach their goals through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs. For more information, visit nrcs.usda.gov.