$100,000 available until Sept. 15, 2003 for Technical Service Providers

Little Rock – The Natural Resources Conservation Service in Arkansas has $100,000 available for Technical Service Providers to provide Farm Bill program assistance to private landowners by Sept. 15, 2003.

Technical Service Providers, authorized by the 2002 Farm Bill, are individuals certified to provide technical assistance on behalf of USDA to private landowners and managers for conservation planning and design, layout, installation and checkout of approved conservation practices.

The 2002 Farm Bill authorized USDA to use Technical Service Providers because of the increased demand for conservation assistance, and the effort to build a new industry of certified professionals from the private sector, non-profit organizations, and public agencies.

While USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and conservation districts have traditionally provided these services, and will continue to do so, USDA will now reimburse producers for technical assistance provided by certified Technical Service Providers.

USDA’s online certification system (TechReg Website: http://techreg.usda.gov) will be used to certify Technical Service Providers.

For more information, contact Doris Washington, assistant state conservationist for strategic planning, at (501) 301-3162.

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