Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
The Natural Resources Conservation Service is an agency of the USDA.
Mission: Natural Resources Conservation Service delivers conservation solutions so agricultural producers can protect natural resources and feed a growing world.
Vision: A world of clean and abundant water, healthy soils, resilient landscapes, and thriving agricultural communities through voluntary conservation.
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What does NRCS do?
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides financial and technical assistance and easement programs for conservation on working lands. When you make an appointment and visit the NRCS office, your NRCS team member will ask about your goals for your land and can help you develop a conservation plan and file an application for the wide range of NRCS programs.
How do I connect with NRCS?
Local NRCS field offices are located in USDA service centers and are the first point of contact for farmers and forest owners to access USDA conservation programs and technical assistance. In Michigan, there are 56 local field offices located in USDA Service Centers.
To visit your NRCS office in a USDA Service Center:
- To find an NRCS office:
- Find your location on this Map of NRCS Regions.
- Find the office address on this list.
- Select your county and find all USDA agencies in a nearby Service Center.
- Prepare for your visit:
- Explore this helpful guide: Finding USDA Service Centers in Michigan which includes making an appointment with the office.
NRCS has a state office in Michigan to work with the state's agricultural producers and private forestland owners on a voluntary basis. The Michigan NRCS Office supports one of the nation's most diverse agricultural economies while helping producers and landowners protect the Great Lakes and the state's water, soil, wildlife, and other natural resources. The state office can be a resource when you run into challenges with a local service center.
3001 Coolidge Rd
Suite 250
East Lansing, MI 48823-6349
Phone: 517-324-5270
Fax: 855-701-4363
What resources does NRCS offer?
The most common assistance farmers receive from NRCS comes through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program- Michigan (CSP).
- Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP)
- NRCS works one-on-one with producers to develop a conservation plan that outlines conservation practices and activities to help solve on-farm resource issues. Producers implement practices and activities in their conservation plan that can lead to cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat, all while improving their agricultural operations. EQIP helps producers make conservation work for them. Financial assistance for practices may be available through EQIP. Some producers may also qualify for advance payment.
For more information about EQIP, check out this guide from Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS): The MIFFS Farmers' Guide to EQIP - EQIP Programs in Michigan:
- Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative - Wayne & Genesee
- Organic Initiative
- Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
- NRCS works one-on-one with producers to develop a conservation plan that outlines conservation practices and activities to help solve on-farm resource issues. Producers implement practices and activities in their conservation plan that can lead to cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat, all while improving their agricultural operations. EQIP helps producers make conservation work for them. Financial assistance for practices may be available through EQIP. Some producers may also qualify for advance payment.
- Conservation Stewardship Program- Michigan (CSP)
- The Conservation Stewardship Program offers annual payments for implementing, operating, and maintaining conservation practices on your farm. NRCS works one-on-one with producers to develop a conservation plan that outlines and enhances existing efforts using new conservation practices or activities, based on management objectives for your operation. Producers implement practices and activities in their conservation plan that expands on the benefits of cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat, all while improving their agricultural operations.
Whether you are looking to improve grazing conditions, increase crop resiliency, or develop wildlife habitat, NRCS can custom design a CSP plan to help you meet those goals. We can help you identify natural resource problems in your operation and provide technical and financial assistance to solve those problems or attain higher stewardship levels in an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner.
- The Conservation Stewardship Program offers annual payments for implementing, operating, and maintaining conservation practices on your farm. NRCS works one-on-one with producers to develop a conservation plan that outlines and enhances existing efforts using new conservation practices or activities, based on management objectives for your operation. Producers implement practices and activities in their conservation plan that expands on the benefits of cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat, all while improving their agricultural operations.
NCRS also offers other programs, resources and opportunities:
- Agricultural Conservation Easement Program-Michigan (ACEP)
- The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) provides financial and technical assistance to help conserve agricultural lands and wetlands and their related benefits.. Under the Agricultural Land Easements component, NRCS helps Indian tribes, state and local governments and non-governmental organizations protect working agricultural lands and limit non-agricultural uses of the land. Under the Wetlands Reserve Easements component, NRCS helps to restore, protect and enhance enrolled wetlands.
- The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) provides financial and technical assistance to help conserve agricultural lands and wetlands and their related benefits.. Under the Agricultural Land Easements component, NRCS helps Indian tribes, state and local governments and non-governmental organizations protect working agricultural lands and limit non-agricultural uses of the land. Under the Wetlands Reserve Easements component, NRCS helps to restore, protect and enhance enrolled wetlands.
- Regional Conservation Partnership Program-Michigan (RCPP)
- The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land. By leveraging collective resources and collaborating on common goals, RCPP demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in delivering results for agriculture and conservation.
- The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land. By leveraging collective resources and collaborating on common goals, RCPP demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in delivering results for agriculture and conservation.
- Conservation Innovation Grants-Michigan (CIG)
- Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) is a competitive program that supports the development of new tools, approaches, practices, and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands.
- Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) is a competitive program that supports the development of new tools, approaches, practices, and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands.
- Emergency Watershed Protection Program-Michigan (EWP)
- The Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program, a federal emergency recovery program, helps local communities recover after a natural disaster strikes.
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