OFRF is continuously working to facilitate smoother pathways for collaboration between organic producers and NRCS staff. We have created resources to increase NRCS staff knowledge of organic production and its benefits, and demonstrate how they can better serve the needs of organic farmers and tailor conservation contracts to NOP standards and timelines. We also have a variety of resources to help farmers understand the conservation programs and financial and technical assistance that are available.
NRCS Resources for Farmers and Technical Service Providers
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), formerly known as the Soil Conservation Service, is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that provides technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, and other private landowners and managers. Programs available through NRCS focus on conservation solutions to support agricultural producers in protecting natural resources. NRCS can provide free technical assistance and partial funding through conservation programs for a variety of things, including irrigation installations, high tunnel construction, cover cropping, perennial hedgerows, and fencing for rotational grazing. With approximately 2,300 Service Centers in communities nationwide, NRCS and other USDA employees work side by side with farmers in every state and territory, serving as a tremendous resource to achieve conservation stewardship goals. However, navigating the resources and services available through NRCS is not always easy.
Farmer Guidebook on NRCS
Coming in 2026! This comprehensive guidebook walks you through the planning process used by NRCS as well as the different programs they offer that can help you establish new conservation practices on your farm or enhance practices you may already be using. It is intended to familiarize you with the language used by NRCS staff and Technical Service Providers (TSPs), NRCS resource concerns, and Conservation Practice Standards. The guide also provides links to online resources for organic conservation and information about NRCS administrative processes, such as finding a service center, and payment schedules and ranking dates. Our goal is to help you engage successfully with NRCS to develop and implement a conservation plan for your operation and to advocate for yourself and the needs that are specific to your farm.
Toolkits: Accessing Federal Assistance through NRCS
In collaboration with the Transitioning to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), we have developed a series of toolkits on utilizing Federal Assistance programs, such as the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP). These toolkits are all available in English and Spanish and include a downloadable one-page flyer in PDF form, as well as an informative blog post.
Farmer Stories: Real-Life Experiences Working with NRCS
We know that the first resource that farmers turn to for information is other farmers. Nothing beats that firsthand knowledge and experience. So in our work, we always look for opportunities to highlight the wisdom of organic growers and producers across the country. In this section, we’ve rounded up a collection of stories featuring farmers who have utilized NRCS programs to improve their operations. These range from farms installing high tunnels, building cow lanes, installing roadways, planting hedgerows or cover crops, and more. The farmers offer their honest experiences working with NRCS agents, often including advice for other farmers on how to best approach the contract process.
Resources for NRCS Staff
NRCS staffers are dedicated to environmental conservation, and the Technical Service Providers (TSPs) can be a valuable resource to farmers looking to address a resource concern on their farm. However, there are nuances to working with organic farmers that differ from conventional operations. To help NRCS staff be better equipped to support organic producers, we’ve created a suite of resources that shine light on these particularities of organic systems management, and offer NRCS staff insights into the needs of organic producers.
Guidebooks: Technical Information for Producers and Service Providers
We have a collection of guidebooks focused on organic production. These guides offer NRCS staffers and organic producers alike a deeper dive into the technical aspects of soil health, water management, and climate mitigation strategies related to organic production systems.
Conservation Ag Webinars
As part of our past and present cooperative agreements with NRCS, we have developed webinars on various organic farming system topics. Each webinar shares organic farming practices and research findings, and many share stories of farmer experiences in organic farming as they pertain to the topic of the specific webinar in the series.
