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A meeting in a conference room

Rhode Island State Technical Committee

The Rhode Island State Technical Committee advises the NRCS State Conservationist on the technical guidelines necessary to implement the conservation provisions of the Farm Bill.

State Technical Committee members include representatives from federal and state agriculture and environmental agencies, agricultural producers, Extension Service and Universities, nonprofit organizations and agribusiness. Meetings are open to the public and are held as often as necessary to advise and implement NRCS conservation programs. For information about upcoming meetings, please call the Rhode Island State Office at 401-828-1300.

The STC meets regularly to provide information, analysis, and recommendations to appropriate USDA officials, who strongly consider their advice. Individuals or groups wanting to participate as members on the STC may submit requests to the State Conservationist explaining their interest and relevant credentials.

Decision Making Process

The list of eligible practices in Rhode Island, payment rates and limits, eligible resource concerns, and state scoring criteria are developed based on input and recommendations from the STC. County-level priorities are based on input from the Local Working Group (LWG) that provides feedback to the Field Offices.

Local Working Groups (LWGs) are subcommittees of the State Technical Committee and provide recommendations to USDA on local and state natural resource priorities and criteria for conservation activities and programs.

The priorities set at the state and county level are those that the STC and LWG determined were of the greatest need and would have the greatest positive environmental impact. The scoring process at both the state and local level was developed in order to select those projects that would provide the greatest environmental benefit, and therefore provide the greatest public good.

2025 STC Meeting Schedule

Past Meeting Info

Fiscal Year 2025 LWG Meeting Schedule

This year's Local Working Group meetings will be held in each Conservation District area. Dates and locations will be posted here as soon as they are scheduled.

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Additional Information

Find Your Local Service Center

USDA Service Centers are locations where you can connect with Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or Rural Development employees for your business needs. Enter your state and county below to find your local service center and agency offices. If this locator does not work in your browser, please visit offices.usda.gov.