NRCS expands technical assistance availability

Little Rock, Ark., March 3, 2004 — The Natural Resources Conservation Service is expanding the availability of technical assistance to private landowners by encouraging the use of third parties – called technical service providers – to assist in delivering conservation technical services to farmers, ranchers and others. 

The premise behind technical service providers is the public interest to do conservation work and the government’s financial commitment.

The 2002 Farm Bill authorized USDA to use technical service providers. TSPs were included in the 2002 Farm Bill because the demand for conservation assistance is increasing. The TSP effort is also designed to build a new industry of certified professionals from the private sector, non-profit organizations and public agencies to provide direct technical assistance and deliver conservation services.

 “NRCS and our locally-led partners are committed to getting this money out quickly and efficiently. Helping build a new industry of certified professionals from the private sector, non-profit organizations, and public agencies to provide direct technical assistance and deliver conservation activities will help with this commitment,” said Kalven L. Trice, state conservationist.

Technical assistance includes conservation planning and design, layout, installation, and checkout of approved conservation practices. NRCS and conservation districts have traditionally provided these technical services, and will continue to do so. What’s new is that USDA will now reimburse producers for technical assistance provided by certified technical service providers.

“NRCS is committed to ensuring quality technical assistance no matter whether this service comes from NRCS employees or a TSP. NRCS is also committed to a technical service provider process that is farmer and producer friendly,” Trice said.

“Producers will have a choice of providers. Landowners may use NRCS for technical assistance, or may call on a technical service provider certified by NRCS to provide such assistance,” he said.

The certified specialists will be placed on a national, Web-based registry called TechReg that is available to landowners, farmers, ranchers and others seeking conservation technical assistance.

Additional information on technical service provider assistance is available at http://techreg.usda.gov or from local NRCS offices.

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