The 2002 Farm Bill expanded conservation programs managed through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). One mission of the 2002 Farm Bill was to increase the technical assistance available to private landowners by allowing and encouraging some of the USDA conservation planning and implementation activities to be administered by qualified private sector professionals. Hence, the Technical Service Provider (TSP) program was born.

The private sector has actively participated in USDA programs for many years. What is new about the 2002 farm bill is that it amplifies the partnership between its agencies and private sector service providers. The main mission of the TSP program is to ensure that conservation programs are delivered in a timely and efficient manner by using the best available resources. To date, we are still learning the roles and responsibilities associated with the TSP program.

Society will benefit from the TSP program by its expanding of the conservation practice knowledge base to many of the professionals who influence the resource management practices implemented on privately owned land. As non-government professionals become more familiar with conservation practices, increased conservation awareness will also expand to land resources currently not represented by federal programs.

As described in a USDA publication on TSPs: "These NRCS certified professionals provide for convenient access to technical services, quality work and professional one-on-one technical assistance to landowners or producers who participate in USDA conservation programs." The publication also states that TSPs can: "Develop conservation plans and perform selected compliance studies. Plan, design, and lay out conservation practices. Check out completed conservation practices."

Currently there are 43 technical service categories from which TSPs may provide conservation planning and implementation offered through NRCS. The categories are very diverse and range from traditional programs such as tillage and erosion to newer programs such as waste utilization and energy production.

Many of us in the agricultural production profession are not well versed on all conservation categories, but we are becoming increasingly familiar with those related to our areas of expertise.

There are several different criteria for becoming a certified NRCS TSP. Each category requires its own defined set of standards, training, experience and certifications.

Of the 43 TSP categories, MFA Incorporated is currently certified to provide technical services in:

-Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) plan approval

-CNMP plan development-feed management

-CNMP plan development-land treatment

-CNMP plan development-nutrient management

-Land treatment-tillage and erosion

-Nutrient managementÑorganic and inorganic

-Pest management

MFA Incorporated provides many components of the above categories on a daily basis. Currently, we have not managed an official NRCS TSP program. I envision that will change as the TSP program matures.

The Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) Program is used as a certification agent for some of the NRCS conservation practice criteria. The CCA program has allowed several agricultural production professionals to interact more closely with federal agencies. The CCA program is administered through the American Society of Agronomy, which is a non-profit and very reputable organization. Currently, MFA Incorporated has 115 CCAs.

The agricultural industry also plays a non-direct role in NRCS conservation planning programs. We do this by supplying products and services landowners currently need to meet the requirements of their conservation plans or their incentive-based, cost-share programs. Examples of this non-direct support include sales of seed used for establishing conservation practices such as vegetative filter strips or grass waterways; sales of farm supply materials required for rotational grazing programs; and services like variable rate crop input applications associated with the Environmental Quality Incentive Program.

Over the next few years, I will provide updates on the role we are playing in the conservation planning process. I'll also try to discuss some of the proactive conservation programs we have developed that are not directly tied to federal programs.

If you are interested in the TSP assistance program, please contact your local USDA service center. They will have information on the program as available in your area. Additional information and a list of TSPs certified for your county are available at the Web site: http://techreg.usda.gov.