Natural Resources Conservation Service provides assistance to agricultural producers to conserve natural resources including soil, water, and air, and improve wildlife habitat.

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Government Administration

USDA

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service | 5,248 followers on LinkedIn. Helping People Help the Land | As the USDA’s primary private lands conservation agency, we generate, manage, and share the data, technology, and standards that enable partners and policymakers to make decisions informed by objective, reliable science. 

And through one-on-one, personalized advice, we work voluntarily with producers and communities to find the best solutions to meet their unique conservation and business goals. By doing so, we help address climate change and ensure the long-term sustainability of American agriculture.

USDA NRCS

Diana Sturrock Dellinger

Hydrologist, Civil Engineer, Public Works and Resource Conservation Professional

Jonathon Goldman

GIS Specialist

Trish Long

Basin Resource Conservationist

Matt Bahm

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

NRCS is excited to celebrate Native American Heritage Month! Shí éí Nizhoni LaFrance-Pettigrew yinishyé. Tábąąhá nishli, Nahiłii bashishchiin, Tsé Ńjíkiní dashicheii, Nahiłii dashinalí. Ákót’éego Diné Nahiłii asdzáán nishłį́. My name is Nizhoni LaFrance-Pettigrew, I am from the Water’s Edge Clan, born for the African Clan, my maternal grandfather is from the Cliff Dwellers People Clan and my paternal grandfather is from the African Clan. In this way, I am a Navajo African Woman. Nizhoni LaFrance-Pettigrew is no stranger to conservation. As a proud Indigenous-Creole woman from the Navajo Nation, she was raised on a farm/ranch where the days began before the sunrise and ended when the dark came. Her parents are still operating so when she visits home, it’s a reset saying, “I know who I am, and I know where I come from”. “I was raised to conserve natural resources and to always respect and protect Mother Earth and all living things under Father Sky. So, it is without hesitation for me to choose a career path that aligned with my values – protecting the land, animals, and people.”. Nizhoni has more than a decade of experience with NRCS and has held many positions throughout her career, including Soil Conservationist, District Conservationist (acting), Resource Conservationist, Natural Resource Specialist (Business Tools Coordinator), State Resource Conservationist (acting), State Soil Scientist (acting), Technical Service Provider (TSP) Coordinator, Farm Bill Program Specialist (Conservation Stewardship Program Manager), and Assistant State Conservationist-Programs (acting). Through her career she has developed over 100+ conservation plans resulting in over $2+ million dollars to address over 10+ resource concerns, including developing over 100,000+ acres of prescribed grazing plans. She has also assisted with the development of the updated “TSP Orientation and Conservation Planning” AgLearn course and served on Civil Rights Advisory Committees in multiple states. From her humble beginnings as a student trainee with NRCS, to now helping the NRCS Equity Division identify and overcome barriers to equitable service for all. “I am truly grateful to work for an agency that is helping to protect and improve the natural resources that we depend upon, and my work in equity helps ensure that NRCS programs and services can benefit every customer.” Nizhoni and her husband, Harold reside in Tennessee with their dog Kali. Thankful and optimistic for the years ahead, Nizhoni says “Hózhǫ́ónaasháadoo (May you walk in beauty)” to all.

It's that time of year again - @USOPM’s 2024 CFC is back! The online giving system is now open for pledges until January 15, 2025. Show your support and make a difference by donating at GiveCFC.org . #GiveCFC

Register now for the 2024 Black, Indigenous, and People of Color ( BIPOC) Farmers Conference, November 12-13. Only 1 week left until the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Farmers Conference 2024 Have you registered yet? Visit www.bipocfarmer.org to reserve your spot today. We are excited to announce our opening Keynote Speaker, Secretary Michael T. Scuse, Delaware Department of Agriculture. Also, the conference Keynote Speaker is Dr. John Boyd Jr., President, National Black Farmers Association and the Session Keynote Speaker is Dennis J. Coker, Principal Chief, Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware Get ready for engaging panel discussions, interactive workshops, and much more at the 2024 BIPOC Farmers Conference! Don't miss out—register today ( https://lnkd.in/eq9pjkHa )

USDA Seeks Urban Producer for Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production USDA is seeking nominations for one urban producer position on the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. USDA will accept nominations from October 30, 2024 to November 29, 2024. The 12-member Committee, which first convened in March 2022, is part of USDA’s efforts to increase support for urban agriculture and innovative production. Members of the Committee provide input on policy development and help identify barriers to urban agriculture as USDA works to promote urban farming and the economic opportunities it provides in cities across the country. Nominations are open to the public. Any interested person or organization may nominate qualified individuals for membership, including self-nominations. Individuals who wish to be considered for membership must submit a nomination package to include the following required items: (1) A completed background disclosure form (Form AD-755) signed by the nominee (see https://lnkd.in/eAMCpEcH ); (2) A brief summary explaining the nominee's experience as an urban producer including any unique qualifications or experience representing and being an advocate for other producers; and (3) A résumé providing the nominee's background, experience, and educational qualifications. Additional optional items for your nomination package may include: (1) Recent publications by the nominee relative to extending support for urban agriculture or innovative production; and (2) Letter(s) of endorsement. Please send nominations via email to: UrbanAgricultureFederalAdvisoryCommittee@usda.gov as the preferred method. Alternatively, nominations can be mailed to Brian Guse, Director of the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production, Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 4083, Washington, DC 20250. https://lnkd.in/epK9D2cx

NRCS is celebrating Native American Heritage Month! David Pesicka has worked with NRCS for 36 years, starting off as a student trainee and working in seven different offices throughout South Dakota. For the last 26 years, David has served as a tribal liaison. He works primarily with the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, of which he is an enrolled member, and is proud to have brought millions of dollars to help the people of this reservation. In his role as a tribal liaison, he works with a large and cooperative community to implement conservation practices, which includes the Tribal Historical Preservation Office, tribal councils, Bureau of Indian Affairs, the tribal land office, partners like the Intertribal Agriculture Council and local conservation districts, and NRCS field staff, agronomists, and range specialists. With the increased focus on urban agriculture, which David often refers to as "community agriculture," he has been able to bring conservation to new producers and gardeners. David is also a member of the American Indian Alaskan Native Employee Association as the Central Regional Representative, and a member of the Regional Tribal Conservation Advisory Council. Through these efforts, he joins together with State Conservationists and tribal representatives to work towards improvements in conservation practices that will benefit all tribes. He is also a 'Working Effectively with American Indians' course trainer for NRCS staff around the country, spreading his wealth of knowledge and experience to colleagues around the country. Reflecting on his work over the last three and a half decades, David shared, "When you help people help the land, you become a part of their family and community. It has been amazing to talk to producers that I worked with 15-20 years ago and hear about how I worked with them to help their farm through a drought or saved their ranching operation. I have also gotten to see youth from my time volunteering in their classrooms who are now tribal council members and leaders of their tribe. We have done a lot of good here, but we're not done. I'm looking forward to the future."

Your field doesn’t care if you have a bit of stubble, so why worry if your field has some stubble, too? Join No-Till Nolan on his no-shave/no-till journey this November as he learns more about the benefits of leaving the stubble. #LeavetheStubble #NoTillNovember

Now is the Time to Apply for NRCS Pathways Internships and Recent Graduate positions! Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to gain hands-on experience and make a real impact in the world of natural resources conservation. Internship applications are due tomorrow, October 31, and applications for recent graduates are open through November 5. Apply today! Go to USAJOBs.gov and search keywords, ‘NRCS’ and 'Recent Graduates', ‘Student Trainee’ or ‘Pathways’.

We Have Exciting Opportunities at NRCS! We’re hiring for Administrative Support Assistant positions in multiple locations. Don’t miss this chance to contribute to the mission of conserving our natural resources. Positions close between October 30th and November 8th. Apply today and be part of something impactful! https://lnkd.in/enKScg7K

Calling all Soil Conservationist/District Conservationists and Civil Engineering Technicians Minnesota NRCS is hiring for Non-Supervisory District Conservationists (18 vacancies) and Civil Engineering Technicians (4 vacancies). Locations will be determined by the Hiring Manager at time of selection. The closing date is October 29, 2024. Apply today! https://lnkd.in/eQq_Sua4 https://lnkd.in/e7BTH-bt

Our folks from the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production are at the Farmer Veteran Coalition meeting in Kansas City, Missouri. So many veterans grow in urban areas and/or are getting into innovative production! We love to see it. We thank our veterans for their service. In the photo: Diego Loredo, Jeanette Lombardo, Deshauna Hollie (all Farmer Veteran Coalition), and Brian Guse (NRCS) https://lnkd.in/gqjHHAJG https://lnkd.in/gEEkQRKp

USDA

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Natural Resources Conservation Service