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Economic Partnerships

Updated 10/09/2007

Partners that work with NRCS Economics

  • Texas A&M Blackland Research and Extension Center
  • USDA/ARS Grassland, Soil and Water Research Laboratory
  • Agricultural Research Service - As the in-house research arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Agricultural Research Service has a mission to conduct research to develop and transfer solutions to agricultural problems of high national priority and provide information access and dissemination to ensure high-quality, safe food, and other agricultural products, assess the nutritional needs of Americans, sustain a competitive agricultural economy, enhance the natural resource base and the environment, and provide economic opportunities for rural citizens, communities, and society as a whole.
  • American Agricultural Economic Association (AAEA) - NRCS
     hosts the AAEA Commodity Costs and Returns Estimation Handbook on the Cost and Returns Estimation Website. NRCS representation on the AAEA Economics, Statistics and Information Resources Committee since 1996. USDA/NRCS has exhibited at annual AAEA meetings since 1996.  2005 NRCS Report
  • American Farmland Trust, Farmland Information Library - In 1993, USDA's Soil Conservation Service (now NRCS) designated American Farmland Trust as a FIC (Farmland Information Center) under the Farmland Protection Policy Act.
  • American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA). NRCS
     has coordinated the USDA exhibit at each ASFMRA meeting since 1996, and has representation on the ASFMRA National Technology Committee.
  • Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) - This site features two interrelated major components: the Farm Resources Management section includes conservation tillage survey figures, numerous types of agricultural BMPs, etc.; the Know Your Watershed section features the National Watershed Network, the National Watershed Library, State Contacts, and more. NRCS
     used CTIC databases with the NRI in many analyses.
  • Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service - In cooperation with our partners and customers, CSREES provides the focus to advance a global system of research, extension and higher education in the food and agricultural sciences and related environmental and human sciences to benefit people, communities, and the Nation. The CSREES mission emphasizes partnerships with the public and private sectors to maximize the effectiveness of limited resources. CSREES programs increase and provide access to scientific knowledge; strengthen the capabilities of land-grant and other institutions in research, extension and higher education; increase access to and use of improved communication and network systems; and promote informed decision-making by producers, families, communities, and other customers.
  • Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst - A NRCS sponsored program aimed at preventing pollution on farms, ranches, and in the home. Links to Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst are maintained at NRCS Economics & Analysis Site.
  • The Farm Service Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture ensures the well-being of American agriculture, the environment and the American public through efficient and equitable administration of farm commodity programs; farm ownership, operating and emergency loans; conservation and environmental programs; emergency and disaster assistance; domestic and international food assistance and international export credit programs.
  • National Organization of Professional Hispanic NRCS Employees - The Organization assists NRCS in the delivery of program benefits and services to the Hispanic rural/urban community by strengthening NRCS efforts in the recruitment, retention, development and advancement of Hispanics. NRCS Economists developed and maintains the Hispanics In Agriculture website.
  • National Agricultural Statistics Service, (NASS) - provides timely, accurate, and useful statistics in service to U. S. agriculture. NRCS
     and NASS cooperate on many surveys and analyses, and jointly sponsor the USDA exhibit at the annual ASFMRA meetings.
  • Society for Range Management - A professional scientific society and conservation organization concerned with studying, conserving, managing and sustaining the varied resources of rangelands, which comprise nearly half the land in the world.
  • Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) - The mission of RBS is "to enhance the quality of life for all rural Americans by providing leadership in building competitive businesses and sustainable cooperatives that can prosper in the global marketplace." RBS accomplishes this mission by investing its financial resources and technical assistance in businesses and communities, and by building partnerships that leverage public and private, cooperative resources to create jobs and stimulate rural economic activity.
  • USDA's Rural Development (RD) is committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America. Through our programs, we touch rural America in many ways. Our financial programs support such essential public facilities and services as water and sewer systems, housing, health clinics, emergency service facilities and electric and telephone service. We promote economic development by supporting loans to businesses through banks and community-managed lending pools. We offer technical assistance and information to help agricultural and other cooperatives get started and improve the effectiveness of their member services. And we provide technical assistance to help communities undertake community empowerment programs. NRCS Economists assisted RD in developing their first Census/Demographic data warehouse.
  • Sustainable Agriculture Network - SAN is the communications and outreach arm of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. SARE is a U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded initiative that sponsors competitive grants for sustainable agriculture research and education in a regional process nationwide.
  • Soil and Water Conservation Society - SWCS is a professional organization dedicated to soil and water conservation. NRCS Economist staff regularly present studies at the chapter and annual SWCS meetings.
  • The Society of American Foresters mission is to advance the science, education, technology and practice of forestry; and to use the knowledge, skills and conservation ethic of the profession to ensure the continued health of forests and the availability of forest resources to benefit society. Our members include public and private practitioners, researchers, administrators, educators, forest technicians and students.
  • USDA National Agro forestry Center - NAC had its origins in the 1990 Farm Bill. It began as a Forest Service effort in 1992 and expanded into a partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service in 1995. NAC conducts research on how to design and install forested buffers to protect water quality and develops and delivers technology on a broad suite of agro forestry practices to natural resource professionals who directly assist landowners and communities. NRCS Economists provides assistance in developing the NAC Economic Tools. 
  • Urban Greening has a primary focus on the living part of the urban environment, — gardens, parks, urban forests, and urban waters (watersheds, rivers, creeks, lakes, ponds, wetlands, deltas, beaches, harbors, ports, and bays). It includes EcoIQ Magazine on Urban Greening, more than 100 Link Center and Directory pages linking to online urban greening resources, a calendar, anthologies, related educational and media resources, and more.
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior - Working with others, to conserve, protect, and enhance fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Major responsibilities: migratory birds, endangered species, freshwater and anadromous fish, the National Wildlife Refuge System, wetlands, protecting habitat, conserving coastal areas, environmental contaminants.
  • Wildlife Habitat Council works to increase the amount of quality wildlife habitat on corporate, private, and public lands.