Per section 1446 of the 1990 Farm Bill, the Oregon USDA established a state technical committee to provide advice for technical considerations and technical guidelines necessary to implement conservation provisions of USDA legislation. The committee also helps assure that Civil Rights requirements in Program Delivery are met. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist and Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Director co-chair the committee.
Additionally, the State Technical Advisory Committee provides recommendations on a number of issues within a variety of conservation programs. Although the Oregon State Technical Advisory Committee (OTAC) has no implementation or enforcement authority, USDA gives strong consideration to the Committee's recommendations.
Technical Committees are organized and composed of a number of individuals and groups who represent a diverse mixture of interests in a variety of natural resource, agricultural and wildlife issues.