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NRCS Field Offices: Help Shape the Future of Conservation Through NRI Data Collection

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NRCS field offices play a pivotal role in gathering critical data for the National Resources Inventory (NRI) program in 2025.

NRCS is calling on North Dakota field offices to play a pivotal role in gathering critical data for the National Resources Inventory (NRI) program in 2025. 

BISMARCK, N.D. — The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is calling on North Dakota field offices to play a pivotal role in gathering critical data for the National Resources Inventory (NRI) program in 2025. The NRI, which includes cropland and grazing land inventories, is a cornerstone of the nation’s conservation efforts, providing the data needed to inform policy, assess resource trends, and develop conservation practices.

Jody Forman, NRCS State Resources Inventory Coordinator, emphasized the importance of field staff participation. “The Natural Resources Inventory needs consistent, accurate data to complete several important projects. Whether it’s the annual On-Site Grazing Land Inventory or the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) surveys, NRCS relies on local field staff to help collect this information,” Forman said. “You are the boots on the ground for the agency, and your knowledge of local producers is vital. Without on-site inventory data and surveys, we can’t keep Congress or the public informed about the condition and trends of our natural resources.”

Cropland Inventory: CEAP III Is Underway

The cropland portion of the NRI involves collecting data from 1,149 core or permanent segments and approximately 880 to 890 random segments across North Dakota each year. This data, stored in a national database managed by Iowa State University, supports several projects, including the Conservation Effects Assessment Project or CEAP.

CEAP III, the latest phase of this initiative, runs from 2024 to 2027 aims to gather farm-level land management and conservation practice data for cropland fields associated with selected NRI sample segments. Starting in February 2025, NRCS will conduct a supplemental survey using USDA records rather than farmer interviews to minimize the burden on producers.

“This is a significant effort, and we need your support to meet the April 25, 2025, deadline,” Forman said. “The information gathered through CEAP III will directly influence conservation decisions at both state and national levels.”

Grassland Inventory: On-the-Ground Data Collection

The NRI Grazing Land On-Site Data Collection Survey focuses on obtaining vital information about rangeland and pastureland conditions. Each year, Iowa State University provides a list of 60 to 70 random segments from the original NRI sample points in North Dakota. Field offices are responsible for contacting landowners to secure permission for NRCS specialists to collect data at these locations.

“This survey provides crucial insights into vegetation conditions, conservation practices, and natural disturbances on grazing lands,” Forman explained. “The data ensures the sustainability of critical resources like drinking water, wildlife habitat, and grazing products.”

Field staff can reassure landowners that the inventory process is non-invasive, confidential, and not tied to personal information. Individual plot data will not be published and will only be used for aggregated national and regional reports.

Why Your Help Matters

The NRI program is not just a data collection effort—it’s the foundation for shaping conservation policy and resource management across the country. Accurate, timely data from North Dakota field offices ensures that the state’s unique resource challenges are represented in national conversations.

“Your involvement makes a difference,” Forman said. “The data you help gather will influence everything from funding for conservation programs to the development of ecological site descriptions.”

Field offices with questions about the NRI or seeking guidance on this year’s surveys can contact Jody Forman at the NRCS office in Dickinson by phone at 701-495-7567 or email at jody.forman@usda.gov.

Moving Forward Together

As NRCS embarks on this critical year for NRI data collection, the dedication of North Dakota’s field offices will be instrumental in achieving success. By working together, NRCS staff can ensure that the natural resources we depend on are preserved for future generations.

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is calling on North Dakota field offices to play a pivotal role in gathering critical data for the National Resources Inventory (NRI) program in 2025.
NRCS North Dakota State Resource Inventory Coordinator Jody Forman, left, and retired Area Range Specialist Dennis Froemke, right, conduct a wildlife cover exercise as part of the NRI grazing inventory protocol. The NRI, which includes cropland and grazing land inventories, is a cornerstone of the nation’s conservation efforts, providing the data needed to inform policy, assess resource trends, and develop conservation practices.