The changing nature of conservation planning

Helping people solve soil and water resource problems is the major work of the Soil Conservation Service. Employees of SCS have worked with farmers and ranchers for more than SO years to help develop and apply conservation plans. The concept of a conservation plan is to help the farmer or rancher decide on the most effective way to conserve soil and water resources and provide for a profitable agriculture. Conservation plans are the building blocks of all SCS programs and assistance. Effective conservation planning assistance to farmers and ranchers depends upon SCS employees having a thorough knowledge of conservation planning principles and having sufficient technical knowledge to present satisfactory, cost-effective alternative solutions to conservation problems. Planning principles Conservation planning principles include the concept that the farmer or rancher is the only person who can truly make conservation decisions for the land that he or she operates, although help from professional conservationists may be needed to point out precisely the interrelated soil and water conservation problems. In addition, help often is needed to …