NRCS New York Technical Resources

Updated: 06/17/2008

Welcome to the Technical Resources area of the NRCS New York Web site. The information on this site is provided through links to other servers within NRCS and other technical sites of interest.

Agronomy
Air Quality
Biology
Conservation Planning
Conservation Practices
Economics
Energy
Engineering
Environmental Compliance
Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG)
Natural Resources Data
Pasture and Grazing Systems
Permits
Plants
Resource Assessment Tools
Soils
Technical Guidance
Technical Service Providers
Watersheds
Wildlife

Agronomy

Find references to planning and implementing conservation practices that are based on soil and plant sciences to achieve natural resource protection.

NRCS field conservationists promote conservation activities that contribute to the reduction and mitigation of gases that threaten global climate change. Cooperators and landowners seek assistance to solve air resource concerns ranging from odors to wind induced erosion of fine soil particles.

Biology

Biology related resources provided by the New York Natural Resources Conservation Service, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service national and other interested parties Web sites.

Conservation Planning

NRCS employees help landowners plan and apply integrated resource management systems that have a positive effect on the quality of the nation’s natural resources, are economically and environmentally sustainable, and meet mandated requirements.

Conservation Practices

A specific treatment, such as a structural or vegetative measure, or management technique, commonly used to meet specific needs in planning and implementing conservation, for which standards and specifications have been developed. Conservation practices are contained in the Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG), Section IV, which is based on the National Handbook of Conservation Practices (NHCP).

Economics

The economic evaluation of the effectiveness of conservation measures and the cost implications of alternatives is used to estimate beneficial and/or adverse effects and assess the probability of practice adoption.

Energy

Evaluate options to reduce energy costs on the farm. Use our four energy estimators to evaluate costs for livestock housing operations, fuel costs for planting crops, irrigation of crops and the cost of nitrogen fertilizer use.

Engineering

Tools and information to assist with the evaluation, design and application of engineering conservation practices.

Environmental Compliance

Federal law requires an inventory and assessment process to appraise potential affects of Federal agency activities on natural and cultural resources. Before commencement of projects a lead agency will identify concerns, avoid degradation of surrounding resources, preserve and limit loss of on-site resources or mitigate as an alternative.

Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG)

The guide represents the latest conservation treatment technology. It helps NRCS decision makers and others outside the agency identify resource problems, evaluate the effects of conservation treatments, compare alternatives, and select the best options to meet conservation needs and objectives.

Natural Resources Data

A statistical survey of land use and natural resource conditions and trends on US non-Federal lands, in the contiguous 48 states, has been conducted since 1982. The data collection is suitable for many regional and State level analyses.

Pasture and Grazing Systems

Tools and information to help the conservation planner, farmer, and consumer understand and promote the vitality of grass-based farming.

Permits

Regulatory agencies of the Federal and State governments require appropriate advance notice of planned disturbances in environmentally sensitive areas, projects of a minimally assigned size and potential or regulated discharges to the environment. Designated activities will require permits that stipulate recognized safeguards and operational procedures to protect natural resources or human exposure to toxic elements.

Plants

Identify plants by characteristics; find plants beneficial for wildlife, erosion control, stream bank stabilization, windbreaks and urban conservation. Print out planting guidelines and fact sheets. Discover new plant releases from NRCS Plant Materials Centers.

Resource Assessment Tools

Links are provided to software tools that model erosion rates (RUSLE2), evaluate the potential for pesticides to move with water and sediment from rainfall events (WinPST), and allocate livestock wastes, with a spreading schedule, that is based on crop nutrient requirements and water quality protection (Cornell Cropware).

Soils

There are thousands of different kinds of soils. Soil scientists investigate, study, classify and map these soils. The field information has been assembled in a Web format which defines soil properties and delineates their boundaries on aerial photographs. Obtain soils data for a specific area. You can access information about soil suitability for wide ranging land uses from farming to development to recreation and forestry.

Technical Guidance

This section provides references and other information for use in understanding natural resources and making decisions about resource use and management.

Technical Service Providers

Participants of NRCS conservation programs may obtain technical assistance to implement conservation practices from a certified Technical Service Provider. Links are provided to assist with the selection of a TSP and for TSP’s to register and obtain certification for selected practices.

Watersheds

Lake water quality is influenced by runoff from all upland areas that flow toward a lake’s lower elevation. This drainage area is known as a watershed. Unique features of watersheds include their topography, soil fertility and erodibility, vegetation and hydrology which directly effect runoff and the lake’s natural condition.