The State Technical Committee advises the State Conservationist on technical guidelines necessary to implement the conservation provisions of the Farm Bill.
What is the State Technical Committee?
The State Technical Committee serves in an advisory capacity to the NRCS and other agencies of the USDA on the implementation of the natural resources conservation provisions of Farm Bill legislation. State Technical Committee membership includes representatives from federal and state agriculture and environmental agencies, agricultural producers, UMass Extension, nonprofit organizations and agribusiness. Meetings are open to the public and are held on a regular basis to advise and implement NRCS conservation programs.
State Technical Committees have been and continue to be a vital part of Farm Bill implementation. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) depends on their knowledge and expertise to implement Farm Bill programs that are locally‐led.
The Food Security Act of 1985 (1985 Farm Bill) required each NRCS state office to form a State Technical Committee to advise the State Conservationist on a variety of issues and to provide information, analysis and recommendations.
The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (the 2018 Farm Bill) amends the 1985 Farm Bill to include identifying additional mandatory members and areas where the Committee must participate and/or provide input during 2018 Farm Bill implementation.
For information about an upcoming meeting, call the Massachusetts NRCS State Office at 413-253-4365 or contact Catherine Magee, State Resource Conservationist at catherine.magee@usda.gov.