Local Work Groups focus on identifying agricultural and natural resource issues existing in our communities and provide information and feedback to direct NRCS programs. Participants can be agricultural producers; owners of nonindustrial private forest land; representatives of agricultural and environmental organizations; and representatives of governmental agencies carrying out environmental, agricultural, or natural resource conservation programs and activities.
Each NRCS Local Work Group, representing their NRCS field team, may submit one EQIP proposal and one AMA irrigation proposal. A separate form must be used for each proposal. This process will not replace the typical NRCS EQIP fund allocation process but instead will give the Local Work Group the opportunity to apply for additional, dedicated funding to focus on a specific resource concern, if they choose.
NRCS Local Work Groups are subcommittees of the NRCS State Technical Committee and they meet annually to provide recommendations on local natural resource priorities to assist USDA NRCS in providing Farm Bill program conservation programs in New York. For information about the State Technical Committee, contact Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, Tammy Willis at 315-477-6503.
Provided below are the current Local Work Group meetings scheduled for NRCS New York. All meetings are free to attend and are open to the public. Directions and phone numbers to your local USDA Service Center are available online.