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9.26.2011
76 years ago, America was losing thousands of tons of topsoil as a
result of relentless dust storms caused by years of catastrophic
drought conditions and poor farming practices. In 1935,
national leaders established the Soil Conservation Service to help
save America’s soil resources. States followed suit by
establishing soil and water conservation commissions and local
districts.
In 1938, the
Louisiana Legislature established the State Soil and Water
Conservation Committee and authorized it to work with local farmers
to establish local conservation districts.
Today, the
Soil Conservation Service is known as the Natural Resources
Conservation Service, the State Soil and Water Conservation
Committee is known as the Louisiana Soil and Water Conservation
Commission, and 44 Soil and Water Conservation Districts
serve Louisiana's landowners.
The
Conservation Partnership
USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service
(NRCS) |
Soil and Water Conservation
Districts
(SWCD) |
Office of Soil and Water
Conservation |
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An agency of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture. This federal agency works
with private landowners and communities to improve our soil,
water, air, plants, wildlife, and energy use. Ensuring
productive lands in harmony with healthy environments.
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Local units of government
established under state law to carry out natural resources
management programs at the local level. |
An office of the Louisiana
Department of Agriculture and Forestry. This office
provides financial assistance, administrative support, and
coordination to Louisiana's 44 soil and water conservation
districts. |
NRCS and
SWCD offices are staffed with experts from many disciplines to help
landowners conserve natural resources in sustainable ways. On staff
are soil scientists, resource conservationists, grazing lands
specialists, engineers, biologists, botanists, agronomists,
foresters, conservation technicians, administrative professionals,
and many others trained to help landowners make the right decisions
for every natural resource.
NRCS and
SWCDs in Louisiana are successful because of partnerships, and
because of the close working relationship among individual farmers
and ranchers, landowners, government agencies, Tribes, Earth Team
volunteers, and other people who care about the quality of
Louisiana’s natural resources.
For more information
on Soil and Water Conservation
Districts, contact
your local
Soil and Water Conservation District or
Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
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Women and Hispanic Farmers
and Ranchers Claims Adjudication Process
If you believe that USDA improperly denied farm loan
benefits to you for certain time periods between 1981 and
2000 because you are a female or because you are Hispanic,
you may be eligible to apply for compensation. To
request a claims package by telephone, call 1-888-508-4429.
To request a claims package online, please visit
www.farmerclaims.gov |
Native American Farmer and
Rancher Class Action Settlement (Keepseagle v. Vilsack)
If you are a Native American who was denied a farm loan or
loan servicing by the USDA between January 1, 1981, and
November 24, 1999, you may be eligible for benefits from a
Class Action Settlement. To request a claims package
by telephone, call: 1-888-233-5506. To request a
claims package online, or for more information, please
visit:
www.indianfarmclass.com |
African American Farmer and
Rancher Class Action Settlement (Pigford II)
If you are an African American farmer (a) who submitted a
request to file a late claim on or between October 13, 1999,
and June 18, 2008, under the 1999 USDA settlement in the
earlier class action known as Pigford v. Glickman ("Pigford")
and (b) who did not receive a merits determination on your
discrimination claim, you may be eligible for benefits from
a Class Action Settlement. To hear information by
telephone, call 1-866-950-5547 or 1-866-472-7826. To
find information online, please visit:
www.blackfarmercase.com |
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