NRCS New York Technical Resources

Updated: 11/13/2009

Welcome to the Technical Resources area of the NRCS New York Web site.

Select a topic from the list below or along the left margin. Each link will take you directly to the topic.

Scroll down this page to view a brief summary of all topics.

Agronomy
Air Quality
Biology
Conservation Planning
Conservation Practices
Cultural Resources
Economics
Energy
Manure Management
Nuisance and Invasive Species
Organic Agriculture
Pasture and Grazing Systems
Plants
Soils
Sustainable Agriculture
Technical Service Providers Now located in Partnerships
Wetlands
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).

Conservation Practices Photo Gallery

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

With global climate concerns increasing and energy costs skyrocketing, the need to reduce energy consumption through increased efficiency and conservation, and the development of alternative and renewable energy sources, has become more important than ever.

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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.

Electronic Field Office Technical Guide (eFOTG)

The Electronic Field Office Technical Guide 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.

Manure Management

Manure management is a critical component in improving water quality. Mismanagement of manure can cause excessive nutrients and pathogens impacting surface and groundwater.

National Resources Inventory (NRI)

The National Resources Inventory is a statistical survey of land use and natural resource conditions and trends on U.S. non-Federal lands, in the contiguous 48 states, conducted since 1982. The data collection is suitable for many regional and State level analyses.

Asian Longhorned
Beetle

Glossy Buckthorn

Nuisance and Invasive Species

Improvements in travel technology have dramatically increased the rate of nonnative species of plants and animals being introduced into the United States. Many arrive on our shores in the ballast water of ships, packing materials, wood used for shipping pallets, ornamental plants, and soil. Once here, they often lack their natural enemies, pests, or disease that kept them in check in their native environment. This can allow them to spread quickly, causing negative biological and economic impacts.

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.

Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable agriculture integrates farming systems that conserve the environment by minimizing damage to soil, water sources, biodiversity, species habitat and other natural resources, while maintaining and enhancing productivity and economic viability of farm operations.

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

Information related to Technical Service Providers has been moved to the Partnerships area of the NRCS New York Web page.

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 location and 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.

Wetlands

Wetlands are important components of our New York's ecological, social and economic assets. They provide important, often critical, habitat for many plants and animals. Their social value is expressed through open, natural spaces supporting outdoor recreation and immeasurable intrinsic aesthetic value.

Wildlife

Contact Information

If you encounter any problems with this page, have questions, suggestions, or find a broken link, please contact Gary Vandawalker at 315-477-6546.