90 Years of Helping People Help the Land
NRCS History
For 90 years, the Natural Resources Conservation Service has helped farmers, ranchers and forestland owners make critical investments in their operations and local communities to keep working lands working and boost agricultural production, while at the same time improving the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitats.
Find out more about NRCS’s history:
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History of NRCS
On April 27, 1935, Congress established the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) as a permanent agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The SCS would later become the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
90 Years of Helping People Help the Land Video
Today and into the future, NRCS is committed to continue its legacy of Helping People Help the Land.
Interactive Timeline of NRCS’s History
See the history of NRCS through this interactive story and timeline.
NRCS Documentary
Watch the NRCS documentary Hugh Hammond Bennett: The Story of America's Private Lands Conservation Movement.
Hugh Hammond Bennett Resources
Hugh Hammond Bennett was the first chief of the Soil Conservation Service, now the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Historical Publications
Browse a collection of NRCS historical publications.
90th Anniversary Blog
NRCS continues to grow its conservation legacy.
NRCS: The Origin Story (Getting to April 27, 1935) Video
Watch "NRCS: The Origin Story (Getting to April 27, 1935)," a presentation by Dr. Shelby Callaway, NRCS Historian at 90th Anniversary Event on April 25, 2025.