PHOENIX, Jan. 17, 2012 – The Arizona Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has partnered with Arizona’s Conservation Districts in a conservation planning campaign. Conservation planning is the fundamental starting point for maintaining and improving the natural resources that support agricultural production and the lifestyle we love and enjoy. Arizona NRCS and Arizona’s Conservation Districts care about conservation and are here to help agricultural producers conserve the resources and the lifestyle they love for future generations.

“We are getting conservation on the ground faster and more efficiently by working together. The relationship between the NRCS and Arizona’s Conservation Districts is a symbiotic one,” said Tedd Haas, farmer from the Willcox-San Simon Natural Resources Conservation District.

Conservation Districts provide leadership for a locally led conservation program to help producers address local conservation priorities. Arizona’s Conservation Districts are strong partners with NRCS and work closely with NRCS field staff to communicate the needs and priorities of conservation on the ground at the local level.

A conservation plan is a free service NRCS provides to agricultural producers that combines the practical knowledge of the producers, the local conservation district natural resource priorities and the scientific knowledge of NRCS conservationists. NRCS experts help producers to conserve water, improve air quality, and reduce soil erosion. It’s the producers plan to use as they wish – a guide to using their natural resources more efficiently.

Agricultural producers can request technical assistance and develop a conservation plan at any time. The conservation plan is a three phase process. Once a conservation plan is completed, producers have the opportunity to apply for NRCS funding to help implement the improvements and structures needed to achieve their conservation plan.

As part of the campaign, participating producers will have the opportunity to be highlighted on the Arizona NRCS website as well as through “We Care About Conservation” success stories. They will also be recognized by their local Conservation District for taking a pro-active approach in conserving their natural resources for future generations.

Contact your local Conservation District or NRCS field office to sign-up for your free conservation plan by visiting http://www.az.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/directory/fsccontact1.html. More information and a conservation planning sign-up form can be found on the Arizona NRCS website at www.az.nrcs.usda.gov.  Please visit the Arizona Association of Natural Resources Conservation Districts website at www.aznrcd.org to learn more about conservation districts and how they can be of assistance to you.

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Links:

Conservation Planning Webpage