Technical Assistance provided to a farmer discussing his goals and objectives to prevent soil erosion. A Local Work Group Meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Aug. 9 at the Service Center located at 401 East King Ave. in Kingsville.

This meeting helps to gather input for the 2011 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for Kleberg and Kenedy counties. But before anyone enters a conservation program, a conservation plan needs to be completed on the property based on the land users goals and objectives.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) was created in 1935 during the Dust Bowl era.

It was then called the Soil Conservation Service with the name change occurring in 1994.

The NRCS conservationist’s basic responsibility is to provide conservation technical assistance to landowners and operators.

The purpose of the program is to assist landusers, communities, units of state and local government, and other Federal agencies in planning and implementing conservation systems.

The NRCS is the only federal agency that deals oneon one with the landowner or operators in the conservation and wise use of our natural resources. Those are soil, water, air, plants and animals.

The purpose of the conservation systems are to reduce erosion, improve soil and water quality, improve and conserve wetlands, enhance fish and wildlife habitat, improve air quality, improve pasture and range condition, and reduce upstream flooding.

Objectives of the program are to assist individuals and groups to meet their goals for resource stewardship and to comply with certain State and local requirements.

Assistance to individuals is provided through local conservation districts in accordance with the memorandum of understanding signed by the Secretary of Agriculture, the governor of the state, and the conservation district. This assistance is provided on a voluntary basis.

Another objective is providing technical assistance to participants in USDA cost-share and conservation incentive programs and other state programs including the EQIP and Senate Bill 503 Programs.

The agency also develops effective science-based technologies for natural resource assessment, management, and conservation.

For more information on the conservation technical assistance program (CTA), conservation plans, and the upcoming Local Work Group Meeting, contact the NRCS office at 401 East King Avenue, Suite No. 100 in Kingsville or call at 592- 0309 Ext. 3.