Natural Resources Conservation Service
Encyclopedia : N : NA : NAT : Natural Resources Conservation Service
The
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) formerly known as the
Soil Conservation Service (SCS) was founded in 1935 at the urging of
Hugh Bennett, who also served as the agency's first chief. It was formed to address the problems caused by poor farming practices that resulted in the
Dust Bowl, primarily
soil erosion. Over the years the agency has been tasked with additional responsibilities such as agricultural
water conservation. The name of the agency was changed in 1994 during the
Clinton administration to reflect its broader mission. It is a relatively small government agency in the
United States Department of Agriculture currently comprised of about 12,000 employees. Its mission is to improve, protect, and conserve natural resources on private lands through a cooperative partnership with local and state agencies. While its primary focus has been agricultural lands, its many technical contributions to
soil surveying and
classification and to water quality improvement are well known.
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