CONSERVATION PLANNING SIGN UP OPPORTUNITY IN CAMPBELL, SHERIDAN, GOSHEN, AND UINTA COUNTIES

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announces a 2005 Conservation Planning Signup from October 3 through November 18, 2005 in the following counties:  Campbell, Goshen, Sheridan and Uinta.

The purpose of the signup is to help NRCS staff and customers schedule additional time to inventory and assess individual farm/ranch land and water conditions and then develop a plan for maintaining and improving the natural resource health and productivity.

“The growth in program funding for conservation on private lands, made available through the 2002 Farm Bill, has generated a priority workload that leaves very little staff time to help farmers and ranchers prepare conservation plans,” said Bruce Petersen , acting state conservationist for NRCS in Wyoming.  “Many ranchers and farmers need technical assistance to address basic resource concerns such as soil erosion, water quantity and quality, animal waste disposal, overgrazing and poor fish or wildlife habitat.  Often these requests are from customers who are not participating in a Farm Bill program.”  

CONSERVATION PLANNING APPLICATION, click here for online forms.

What is a Conservation Plan? 

A Conservation Plan is a written record of your management decisions and the conservation practices and systems you plan to use and maintain on your farm or ranch.  Your goals of protecting the environment and conserving the natural resources on and off your farm will be achieved as you carry out your plan. After soil, water, air, plant, and animal resources on your property are inventoried and evaluated, the NRCS Certified Conservation Planner will review several alternatives for you to consider. 

You are the final decision maker.  You determine when, and if, you will implement a conservation plan.  If you decide to move forward with the planning process, the alternatives you select are recorded in the conservation plan.  This document becomes your roadmap for better management of your natural resources.

A Conservation Plan Includes:

• An aerial photo or diagram of your pastures and fields. 
• A soil map and soil descriptions.
• Resource inventory data which can include forage or crop production potential, or potential livestock carrying capacity.
• A list of your treatment decisions.
• The location and schedule for applying conservation practices.
• A plan for operation and maintenance of conservation systems or practices.

Examples of Resource Concerns

Conservation planning is the most fundamental and important starting point for conserving and maintaining the natural resources on your farm or ranch.  Every farm or ranch has its own unique resource concerns.

Examples of activities that may cause resource concerns to the natural resources on America ’s private land include:

Overgrazing	Wind Erosion
Limited Fish/Wildlife Habitat	Animal Waste Management Systems

A conservation plan combines your farming or ranching skills with the science-based knowledge of the conservation planner.  By working together you can produce a conservation plan that meets your farming or ranching goals in a resource sustaining manner.

Benefits of a Conservation Plan:

• Identifies problems or potential problems overlooked on a day-to-day basis.
• Protects soil along with the farm's productivity.
• Helps comply with environmental regulations.
• Qualifies you for various USDA programs that can help you install your conservation plan.
• Adaptable to your changing farm or ranch operational goals.
• Sets up a reasonable schedule for applying needed conservation practices that fit your timetable.

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