Equity and the Technical Service Providers Program

NRCS is utilizing a multipronged approach to improving technical assistance to underserved communities. The agency is continually working to expand the number and availability of conservation technical experts capable of offering technical assistance and one-on-one conservation advice to historically underserved producers. The NRCS Equity program initiatives include increasing TSP Program participation of providers who can offer conservation technical assistance for historically underserved producers (see Priority Action 4.6 of the NRCS Equity Action Plan).

Technical service providers (TSPs) offer services to agricultural producers such as farmers, ranchers, and non-industrial private forest landowners on behalf of NRCS. TSPs help producers to plan, design, and implement conservation practices or develop conservation activity plans to improve agricultural operations. TSPs include individuals, private businesses, Indigenous and American Indian tribes, nonprofit organizations, and public agencies.

Offering technical services through an approved third party like a TSP ensures:

• NRCS conservation program participants have additional options to access technical assistance,
• quality conservation work by vetted and trained professionals, and
• personalized, one-on-one assistance to meet the needs of one’s conservation efforts.