Benton County
Benton County has a unique and diverse population base primarily due to the presence of Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. Benton County is 676.46 square miles. Eastern parts of the County are characterized by floodplain and hydric conditions while northern and western parts are mountainous with occasional valleys and river channels. NRCS in Benton County works collaboratively with Federal, State, Local and Non-profit conservation organizations to strategically deliver Federal Farm Bill Programs. The Local Work Group has identified the lack of riparian buffers, habitat fragmentation and the loss of rare and declining habitats as priorities in Benton County.
Current Financial Assistance Opportunities for Farmers, Ranchers and Forest Owners in Benton County
The following Conservation Implementation Strategies are available to help Benton County agricultural producers address targeted resource concerns identified in the Long Range Plan. Click the project names below for more information:
- Forest Management Planning
- Prescribed Fire Management Planning
- Forest Resistance and Resilience
- Hazelnut Conservation
- Oak Woodland and Prairie Restoration
- Climate-Focused Sustainable Livestock Production in Oregon
- Local Foods and Food Systems Resilience Initiative
Additional Funding Opportunities...
In addition to the local projects above, producers may also apply for statewide programs such as the Conservation Stewardship Program, the Organic Initiative, Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative, On-Farm Energy Initiative, and conservation easement programs. Visit with your local District Conservationist for more information on these and other programs, or visit the NRCS Programs webpage.
Local Work Group Meetings
Every year, NRCS hosts a Local Work Group meeting where farmers, landowners, conservation partners and other members of the community discuss the natural resource needs for the county. Based on feedback from those meetings, NRCS updates the county's Long Range Plan and develops new Conservation Implementation Strategies to address those resource concerns. You may contact us anytime to express concerns or comments about conservation needs in the county, and we encourage you to attend the next Local Work Group meeting in your county. For more information about Local Work Group meetings, contact your local NRCS office.