Ecological Sciences- Mississippi

Conservation cropping systems for residue management and improving soil quality, water quality and profitability on cropland in Mississippi.

Residue and Tillage Management no Till/Strip-till

This practice includes planting methods commonly referred to as no-till, strip till, direct seed, zero till, slot till or zone till.  Approved implements are no-till and strip-till planters; certain drills and air seeder; strip-type fertilizer and manure injectors and applicators; in-row chisels; and similar implements that only disturb strips and slots.  All others are considered to be full-width or capable of full disturbance and therefore not compatible.

Residue Management, Seasonal

Seasonal residue management includes managing residues of annual crops from harvest until the residue is:

• Buried by tillage for seedbed preparation
• Removed by grazing, or
• Mechanically removed

It also includes the management of residues form biennial of perennial seed crops from the time of seed harvest until regrowth begins the next season.

Residue and Tillage Management Mulch-till

This practice includes tillage methods commonly referred to as mulch tillage where a majority of the soil surface is disturbed by tillage operations such as vertical tillage, chiseling and disking and also includes tillage/planting systems with relatively minimal soil disturbance, but which do not meet the criteria for Residue and Tillage Management (No Till/Stiip Till/Direct Seed) (Code 329).  It applies to stubble mulching on summer-fallowed land, to tillage for annually planted crops and to tillage for planting perennial crops.

It also includes some planting operations, such as hoe drills that disturb a large percentage of the soil surface during the planting operation and cropping systems in which the majority of surface area is disturbed during harvest.

Residue and Tillage Management Ridge-till

This practice includes tillage and planting methods commonly referred to as ridge till or ridge planting.  It does not include no-till planting on ridges, or bedding or listing operations that bury crop residues.

Following crop harvest, residues shall remain on the surface until planting with no additional disturbance except for normal weathering.

After planting, residues shall be maintained in the furrows until the ridges are rebuilt by cultivation.  Ridges shall be rebuilt to their design height and shape during the last row cultivation.

Cover Crops

Managing Cover Crops     

Termination Cover Crops

Fish and Wildlife (General)

NRCS pursues a science-based approach in the development and implementation of conservation practices benefiting fish and wildlife.  As such, NRCS has developed and distributed scientifically based technical materials related to fish and wildlife habitat management.  these materials are available for use to all interested parties including landowners, NRCS staff, Conservation Districts, Fish and Wildlife Agencies and Farm and Wildlife Groups.

Fish/Wildlife Habitat Leaflets for Selected Species can be located at the following website:

National Fish & Wildlife Leaflets

Leaflets are produced in cooperation with the Wildlife Habitat Council   

Technical and Financial Assistance to Producers to Create Fish and Wildlife Habitat

NRCS Conservation Practices that are commonly used in Mississippi to directly address fish and wildlife habitat management include:

• Conservation cover (PC# 327)
• Prescribed Burning (PC# 338
• Field Borders (PC # 338)
• Riparian Herbaceous Buffers (PC# 390)
• Riparian Forest Buffers (PC# 391)
• Firebreak (PC# 394)
• Fishpond Management (PC# 399)
• Hedgerow Planting (PC# 422)
• Tree/Shrub Establishment (PC# 612)
• Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitat (PC# 643)
• Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management (PC# 644)
• Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (PC# 645)
• Shallow Water Habitat Development and Management (PC# 646)
• Early Successional Habitat Development/Management (PC# 647)
• Wetland Restoration (PC#657)
• Forest Stand Improvement (PC# 666)

NRCS Conservation Practices that are commonly used in Mississippi to indirectly address fish and wildlife habitat management or are used as supporting practices for direct fish and wildlife practices include:

• Brush management (PC# 314)
• Herbaceous Weed Control (PC# 315)
• Dike (PC# 356)
• Filter Strip (PC# 393)
• Tree/Shrub Site Prep (PC# 490)
• Structure for Water control (PC# 587)
• Forest Trails and Landings (PC# 655)

For more information

Pollinator Habitat

Cultural Resources Fact Sheet

Our Cultural Resources Fact Sheet page describes the important role cultural resources plays in support of the Natural Resources Conservation Service Mission.

NRCS Cultural Resources Training Series

(Go to Agricultural Learning Service under USDA Employee Resources and log in)

National NRCS Cultural Resources webpage

Cultural Resources Compliance Process 

Final Draft Mississippi NRCS Prototype PA (PDF)

Cultural Resources Review Form

Instructions for completing the MS-CR-1 form (PDF)
Sample MS-CR-1 Form (PDF)
Instructions for Mississippi Site Files Section Grid (PDF)

Classification of Conservation Practice Effects on Cultural Resources

Effects Document (PDF)

Table 1. Conservation Practice Descriptions and Classifications (PDF)

Cultural Resources Guidance Documents
Mississippi Cultural Resources Procedures Handbook (PDF)
Compliance Process Overview (PDF)
Compliance Process Flowchart (PDF)
Check Sheet for Review Practices and Field Inspections (PDF)

Mississippi Cultural Resources Fact Sheets

Indian Mounds (PDF)

Cultural Resources Links

Mississippi Department of Archives and History     
Mississippi Archaeological Association     
Indian Mounds of Mississippi     
Vicksburg National Military Park     
Southeastern Archaeological Center, NPS     
Southeastern Archaeological Conference     
National Park Service     
United South and Eastern Tribes     
Lower Mississippi Delta Region Initiative     
Strategies for Protecting Archaeological Sites on Private Lands     
Archaeology for Kids     
Southeastern Region Outline of Prehistory and History

Every day, invasive species are threatening the health of our nation's vital agricultural and natural lands.  Forests are being infested, cropland production is being negatively impacted, streams and waterways are being choked with weeds, and wildlife species are losing habitat.  These conditions are just a few of the negative impacts that will continue, or will become more severe, if successful actions are not taken to halt and/or reverse this trend.

Technical and Financial Assistance to Producers to Manage Invasive Species and Pests 

NRCS technical assistance for invasive species begins with NRCS invasive species policy that:

• Directs NRCS to prevent the introduction of invasive species, to provide for their control, and encourage the use of native plants species in restoration activities
• Encourages partnerships and local assistance for compiling State and Regional invasive species lists and in detection of invasive species
• Requires assisting with detection, inventorying and monitoring on private lands as part of the conservation planning process
• Requires informing landowners of the presence of invasive species and providing appropriate conservation technical assistance. 

NRCS Conservation Practices that are commonly used in Mississippi to directly address invasive species management and control include:

• Brush management (PC# 314)
• Herbaceous Weed Control (PC# 315)
• Prescribed Burning (PC# 338)
• Prescribed Grazing (PC# 528)
• Integrated Pest management (PC# 595
• Early Successional Habitat Development/Management (PC# 647)
• Forest Stand Improvement (PC# 666)

Invasive Plants

Invasive plants, designated by state or national authorities as threatening to agricultural and/or horticultural crops and/or humans, livestock and native wildlife, included species such as the fast-growing kudzu vine that blankets the eastern, southern and central United States.  This and many other invasive plants compete with desired plants such as crops or native vegetation reducing economic productivity and upsetting ecological integrity.

Over the past several years, the rate of introduction of invasive plants has risen significantly, degrading renewable resources, diminishing the productive capacity of agriculture lands and degrading wildlife habitat.  NRCS primarily helps producers to tackle invasive species problems by providing technical and financial assistance to manage invasive species and pests.  NRCS works internally through its Plant Materials Centers and with many other partners to address the spread of plants that have been classified as noxious or invasive.

Farmers, ranchers and forest landowners are making voluntary improvements to their land, helping save habitats for at-risk, threatened and endangered species.

Owners and managers of working lands coordinate with NRCS through the agency’s Working Lands for Wildlife partnership with the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service to create and enhance wildlife habitat for many different species, including those facing population troubles. This work helps reverse population declines of seven wildlife species targeted in the partnership as well as provides benefits to other wildlife.

Two of the endangered species in Mississippi are the Gopher Tortoise and the Black Pine Snake.