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Natural Resources Conservation Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture

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About NRCS
farmers.gov
USDA.gov
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Conservation Basics
Conserving our natural resources is a vital part of creating and maintaining healthy ecosystems on our nation’s lands.

View All Conservation Basics
Soil

Water

Plants

Animals

Land

Air

Energy

Wildlife Habitat

Invasive Species and Pests
Featured

Soil Science

NRCS delivers science-based soil information to help farmers, ranchers, foresters, and other land managers effectively manage, conserve, and appraise their most valuable investment — the soil.
Getting Assistance
For 90 years, we’ve helped America’s farmers, ranchers, and landowners conserve our nation’s resources through our voluntary programs and science-based solutions.

View All Getting Assistance
Conservation Technical Assistance

Helps producers identify conservation objectives and a roadmap for conservation on their operation.

Conservation Concerns Tool

Use this tool to learn about natural resource concerns that may impact your ag operation (farmers.gov).

Engineering

NRCS applies sound engineering tools and principles to plan, design, and implement conservation practices and systems through delegated approval authority.

Technical Service Providers

Technical service providers offer planning, design, and implementation services to agricultural producers on behalf of NRCS.
Featured

Conservation Technical Assistance

Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) provides our nation’s farmers, ranchers and forestland owners with the knowledge and tools they need to conserve, maintain and restore the natural resources on their lands and improve the health of their operations for the future.
State Offices
Explore State-specific resources, updates, and contact information to support your conservation efforts.

View All State Offices
Programs & Initiatives
Our natural resource conservation programs help people reduce soil erosion, enhance water supplies, improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat, and reduce damage caused by floods and other natural disasters.

View All Programs & Initiatives
Environmental Quality Incentives Program

Provides assistance to agricultural producers to address natural resource concerns.

Regional Conservation Partnership Program

Brings together partners to expand the reach of NRCS conservation programs.

Conservation Innovation Grants

Brings together partners to innovate on conservation approaches and technologies.

Conservation Stewardship Program

Helps agricultural producers take their conservation efforts to the next level.

Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program

Helps state and tribal governments improve public access to private lands for recreation.

Agricultural Management Assistance

Helps agricultural producers manage financial risk through diversification, marketing or natural resource conservation practices.

Wetland Mitigation Banking Program

Offers competitive grants to support wetland mitigation bank for agricultural producers.

Conservation Reserve Program

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) provides a yearly rental payment to farmers who remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and plant species that will improve environmental health and quality.
Featured

Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land.
Resources
The technical resources and references NRCS provides uses science-based technology to aid conservation planning and benefit soil, water, air, plants, and animals for productive lands and healthy ecosystems.

View All Resources
Field Office Technical Guides

Conservation Practice Standards

How to Get a DUNS Number

National Soil Survey Handbook

Keys to Soil Taxonomy

Soil Survey Manual

Soil Taxonomy

Technical Soil Services Handbook

View All Guides and Instructions
Featured

Ag Innovator’s Guide

Tips for Recommending Innovation and New Technologies for Use in Conservation Assistance
News & Events
Welcome to the NRCS newsroom! Here you’ll find the latest information on USDA’s conservation agency, including news releases, feature stories, downloadable media files and more.

View All News & Events
- News
  View All News
  USDA is announcing a new framework for migratory big game conservation, bringing together federal, state and Tribal partners across 17 states to address threats to big game like elk, pronghorn and mule deer.
  
  Featured
  
  USDA Unveils New Framework for Migratory Big Game Conservation
  
  Read more
- Events
  View All Events
  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing $52 million to help state and tribal governments encourage private landowners to allow public access to their land for hunting, fishing and other wildlife-dependent recreation through the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications through June 8, 2026 on Grants.gov for this program that benefits landowners and the public.
  
  Featured
  
  USDA Announces $52 Million to Boost Public Access to Private Land...
  
  Read more

Full Menu

Conservation Basics
Conserving our natural resources is a vital part of creating and maintaining healthy ecosystems on our nation’s lands.

View All Conservation Basics
Soil

Water

Plants

Animals

Land

Air

Energy

Wildlife Habitat

Invasive Species and Pests
Featured

Soil Science

NRCS delivers science-based soil information to help farmers, ranchers, foresters, and other land managers effectively manage, conserve, and appraise their most valuable investment — the soil.
Getting Assistance
For 90 years, we’ve helped America’s farmers, ranchers, and landowners conserve our nation’s resources through our voluntary programs and science-based solutions.

View All Getting Assistance
Conservation Technical Assistance

Helps producers identify conservation objectives and a roadmap for conservation on their operation.

Conservation Concerns Tool

Use this tool to learn about natural resource concerns that may impact your ag operation (farmers.gov).

Engineering

NRCS applies sound engineering tools and principles to plan, design, and implement conservation practices and systems through delegated approval authority.

Technical Service Providers

Technical service providers offer planning, design, and implementation services to agricultural producers on behalf of NRCS.
Featured

Conservation Technical Assistance

Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) provides our nation’s farmers, ranchers and forestland owners with the knowledge and tools they need to conserve, maintain and restore the natural resources on their lands and improve the health of their operations for the future.
State Offices
Explore State-specific resources, updates, and contact information to support your conservation efforts.

View All State Offices
Programs & Initiatives
Our natural resource conservation programs help people reduce soil erosion, enhance water supplies, improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat, and reduce damage caused by floods and other natural disasters.

View All Programs & Initiatives
Environmental Quality Incentives Program

Provides assistance to agricultural producers to address natural resource concerns.

Regional Conservation Partnership Program

Brings together partners to expand the reach of NRCS conservation programs.

Conservation Innovation Grants

Brings together partners to innovate on conservation approaches and technologies.

Conservation Stewardship Program

Helps agricultural producers take their conservation efforts to the next level.

Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program

Helps state and tribal governments improve public access to private lands for recreation.

Agricultural Management Assistance

Helps agricultural producers manage financial risk through diversification, marketing or natural resource conservation practices.

Wetland Mitigation Banking Program

Offers competitive grants to support wetland mitigation bank for agricultural producers.

Conservation Reserve Program

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) provides a yearly rental payment to farmers who remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and plant species that will improve environmental health and quality.
Featured

Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land.
Resources
The technical resources and references NRCS provides uses science-based technology to aid conservation planning and benefit soil, water, air, plants, and animals for productive lands and healthy ecosystems.

View All Resources
Field Office Technical Guides

Conservation Practice Standards

How to Get a DUNS Number

National Soil Survey Handbook

Keys to Soil Taxonomy

Soil Survey Manual

Soil Taxonomy

Technical Soil Services Handbook

View All Guides and Instructions
Featured

Ag Innovator’s Guide

Tips for Recommending Innovation and New Technologies for Use in Conservation Assistance
News & Events
Welcome to the NRCS newsroom! Here you’ll find the latest information on USDA’s conservation agency, including news releases, feature stories, downloadable media files and more.

View All News & Events
- News
  View All News
  USDA is announcing a new framework for migratory big game conservation, bringing together federal, state and Tribal partners across 17 states to address threats to big game like elk, pronghorn and mule deer.
  
  Featured
  
  USDA Unveils New Framework for Migratory Big Game Conservation
  
  Read more
- Events
  View All Events
  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing $52 million to help state and tribal governments encourage private landowners to allow public access to their land for hunting, fishing and other wildlife-dependent recreation through the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications through June 8, 2026 on Grants.gov for this program that benefits landowners and the public.
  
  Featured
  
  USDA Announces $52 Million to Boost Public Access to Private Land...
  
  Read more

Subscribe
About NRCS
farmers.gov
USDA.gov
Contact Us

Publications

Breadcrumb

Home
Resources
Publications

The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides a variety of publications about conserving our natural resources.

Farm Bill Programs

ACEP Factsheet_National_FY26.pdf (420.04 KB)

CSP Factsheet_National_FY26.pdf (399.45 KB)

EQIP Factsheet_National_FY26.pdf (801.67 KB)

RCPP Factsheet_National_FY26.pdf (1.19 MB)

VPA-HIP Factsheet_National_FY26.pdf (1.23 MB)

Working with NRCS

Applying for USDA Programs (1.56 MB)

Farm Bill Benefits for Special Audiences (240.69 KB)

What to expect with NRCS Financial Assistance (1.02 MB)

Conservation Programs at a Glance (2.38 MB)

Farmers Guide to Farm Bill Programs (832.23 KB)

Supporting Americas Working Lands (6.17 MB)

New Farmers Getting Started (4.06 MB)

Soil Health Publications

Download fact sheets about soil health.

NRCS-Basics-and-Benefits-Factsheet (482.31 KB)

NRCS-Checklist-for-Growers-Factsheet.pdf (434.33 KB)

NRCS-Dig-a-Little-Learn-a-Lot-Factsheet.pdf (473.18 KB)

NRCS-Discover-Cover-Factsheet.pdf (418.8 KB)

NRCS-Do-Not-Distrub-Factsheet.pdf (531.07 KB)

NRCS-Principles-for-High-Functioning-Soils-Factsheet.pdf (465.08 KB)

Urban and Small Farm Publications

Irrigation Water Management Plan for Small Farms and Gardens (449) (2.02 MB)

Mulching for Small Farms and Gardens (484) (2.04 MB)

Small Farms and Gardens - Cover Crop Overview (2.82 MB)

Small Farms and Gardens - Cover Crop Seeding Methods (6.37 MB)

Small Farms and Gardens - Cover Crop Termination (11.48 MB)

High Tunnel System_Practice 325 (735.01 KB)

Low Tunnel System_Practice 821 (299.75 KB)

Guidance for CSP Small Farm Enhancements (2.75 MB)

INNRCS Resources for Small Scale Farms and Gardens (855.43 KB)

Conservation Choices

Use these publications to identify practices you might add to your farm to better protect your soil and water.

Indiana Conservation Choices cropland (3.84 MB)

Indiana Conservation Choices Erosion Control Management Practices (2.35 MB)

Indiana Conservation Choices Forest Management Practices (5.1 MB)

Indiana Conservation Choices Irrigation (1.16 MB)

Indiana Conservation Choices Grazing Management Practices (3.62 MB)

Indiana Conservation Choices Soil Health Practices (3.57 MB)

Indiana Conservation Choices urban-small farm (3.31 MB)

Indiana Conservation Choices Wildlife Management Practices (2.78 MB)

Indiana Conservation Choices Orchard and Vineyard Practices (4.51 MB)

Career and Recruiting

Are you looking for a job in conservation? USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service is the place for you!

1890 Scholar Program (577.57 KB)

1994 Tribal Scholars Program 2021 (1.24 MB)

NRCS Careers one pager (1.06 MB)

Why Work in Indiana (1.79 MB)

NRCS Pathways Internship Program Factsheet (749.35 KB)

How to Apply to USAjobs (1.88 MB)

Annual Reports

For more than 80 years, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has worked with farmers and landowners to help them manage natural resource concerns on their land and improve the health of their communities. Below are the last five annual reports for Indiana NRCS.

FY25 INNRCS Annual Report (15.05 MB)

FY24 Indiana NRCS Annual Report (3.5 MB)

FY23 IN NRCS Annual Report (6.23 MB)

Indiana NRCS FY22 Annual Report (6.86 MB)

Indiana NRCS FY21 Annual Report (2.1 MB)

FY20 IN NRCS Annual Report (5.47 MB)

FY19 IN NRCS Annual Report (5.1 MB)

2018 Indiana NRCS Annual Report (2.27 MB)

Initiative Application Documents

MRBI FY2026 Actions Needed (58.5 KB)

NWQI FY2026 Actions Needed (70.72 KB)

Natural Resources Conservation Service

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