MSU Extension Agrifood Safety

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) was born out the tragedy of the Dust Bowl with goals of restoring the land and preventing future land erosion. Today the agency offers technical and financial assistance to producers and landowners who are looking to implement an array of conservation practices with agency guidance.

NRCS is an agency of the USDA and you can often find them co-located with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) in county field offices. You can locate your local NRCS office using this link.

For farmers unfamiliar with conservation or working with NRCS, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a great program to start with. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program can help farmers get their feet wet by providing technical assistance and funding for the implementation of around 200 introductory conservation practices that can help to preserve the soil, create habitat for wildlife, and extend the growing season.

Not only can NRCS practices help you become a good steward of the land, but many practices offered by the agency can aid in the development of your produce safety program. Produce safety programs should consider using co-management. Co-management is defined as the practices that minimize the risk of fecal contamination and microbiological hazards associated with food production while simultaneously conserving soil, air, wildlife, and other natural resources. For example, the EQIP practice of cover cropping can be used in between production rows to reduce runoff and soil erosion while also decreasing the risk of pathogen movement into other areas of production or water sources. Another example of an EQIP practice that could fall under co-management is microirrigation. Microirrigation, also known as drip or trickle irrigation, is a practice that allows for the irrigation of a crops on or below the soil surface to improve plant health and prevent excessive erosion of the soil which other types of irrigation methods may cause. This form of irrigation also allows for the irrigation of a variety crops without the water touching the harvestable portion of the crop lowering the risk of spreading pathogens to produce through irrigation water. The benefit of implementing these types of practices through NRCS is the opportunity for cost share funding and solid technical guidance. If selected to enter into a contract with NRCS cost share funds become available to you after a conservation practice is implemented. Historically underserved participants also have the opportunity to receive an advanced payment. Generally, cost share covers anywhere from 50-90% of the cost of implementing a practice depending on the practice being implemented and whether the producer is considered historically underserved.

Contact your local Produce Safety Technician for help identifying NRCS practices that fit into your farm’s produce safety program.

Locate your local Produce Safety Technician here.