NRCS Celebrates 70 Years of Conservation Achievements

"A Partner in Conservation Since 1935"

RICHMOND, April 26, 2005—U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service celebrates its 70^th anniversary on April 27, 2005.  Seven decades of conservation achievements is largely due to the private landowners who take pride in protecting our natural resources, said NRCS State Conservationist M. Denise Doetzer. 

NRCS was created as the Soil Conservation Service within USDA on April 27, 1935 in response to the devastation of the Dust Bowl on the nation’s agricultural land. The agency’s primary mission then was to conserve soil on agricultural land. It became NRCS in 1994 to better reflect its expanded role of protecting other natural resources such as soil, water, air, plants, and animals on private and tribal lands.

Improvements in Virginia’s natural resources have resulted from the use of conservation practices such as crop rotations, contour farming and no-till.  "Investments in conservation contribute to an increased quality of life for all Americans through an abundance of food and fiber, clean water, pure air, productive soils and improved wildlife habitat," said Doetzer. 

NRCS offers a wide selection of voluntary conservation programs that give farm producers, landowners and others the technical and financial assistance they need to develop effective conservation plans that improve the environment and help rural communities. Some of the programs include: the Conservation Security Program, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, the Farm and Ranchlands Protection Program, the Wetlands Reserve Program, the Grassland Reserve Program, the Small Watershed Program and numerous others.  NRCS also conducts soil surveys and develops interpretive soil maps.  

The anniversary’s theme, “A Partner in Conservation Since 1935,” reflects the agency’s mission—providing leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment.

 For more information about NRCS, contact your local USDA Service Center or visit us on the web: http://www.va.nrcs.usda.gov

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