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National Technology Support Centers

 

NRCS Regional Map with National Technology Support Centers in Greensboro, NC, Fort Worth, TX and Portland, OR

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Adobe Acrobat DocumentMap: NRCS National Technology Centers

National Technology Support Centers

In order to strengthen scientific and technological support for NRCS' conservation programs and activities, three new National Technology Support Centers (NTSCs) are established: East, Central, and West. These Centers have two primary functions: to provide technological direct assistance and technology transfer (including collaboration with others for technical training) to States and the Pacific Basin and Caribbean Areas and to acquire and/or develop new science and technology in order to provide cutting-edge technological support. These Centers are also charged with developing and maintaining national technical standards and other technological procedures and references.

Each NTSC is staffed with experts in the following technical disciplines: agronomist; forester; rangeland management/pasture land specialist; soil scientist; biologist; agricultural engineer; environmental engineer; sociologist; economist; water management specialist; GIS specialist; environmental compliance specialist; and plant materials specialist.

Each NTSC also has three Special Technology Development Teams (STDTs) that will lead the acquisition and/or development of new science and technologies to address prescribed special emphasis areas.

These include:

  • West—bio-energy, air quality/atmospheric change, water quality/quantity;
  • Central—grazing lands, wetlands, and wildlife; and
  • East—animal waste utilization technology, soil quality, and social sciences.

Periodically, NRCS managers will assess emerging conservation issues to ensure that these emphasis areas appropriately address the public's and land operators' concerns and needs and to determine whether changes are needed.