Local Private Consultants Wanted For Federal Program

Contact:
Diana S. Dellinger (707) 442-6058

EUREKA, Calif., April 12, 2011—The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is looking for local private consultants who are interested in becoming Technical Service Provides (TSPs) for USDA's Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) program.

"Technical Service Providers are needed to meet our anticipated increased workload," said NRCS District Conservationist Diana Dellinger. "With the development and implementation of the Region 1 North Coast Water Quality Control Board Dairy Permits starting in August 2011, we anticipate an increased number of producers requesting technical assistance to participate in the CNMP program. This will be in addition to our normal sign-up numbers."

TSPs are individuals, private businesses, non-profit organizations or public agencies certified to provide technical assistance on behalf of USDA. USDA reimburses producers for technical assistance provided by certified Technical Service Providers.

The CNMP program focuses on Animal Feeding Operations (primarily dairies) that need assistance in assessing their water and manure collection, management, and application needs. Preparing a CNMP typically requires knowledge in engineering, agronomy and crop nutrient management, erosion control practices, irrigation systems, and water management in order to adequately evaluate and manage water and manure associated with animal feeding operations and control runoff.

NRCS has worked with farmers to develop CNMP’s for many years. But farmers have the option to have a CNMP plan developed by a certified TSP rather than a USDA-NRCS employee. A certification program has been established for persons offering to prepare CNMPs to assure certain standards are met. There are four areas of TSP certification required to prepare a CNMP. Although one person could obtain all four certifications, it is more typical for CNMPs to be developed by a multi-disciplinary team of specialists (e.g., an engineer, an agronomist and a planner). You can visit www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/cnmp/tsp.html for more information.

"Using TSPs benefits the local economy because it puts more dollars in the hands of the private sector that will do the planning work," said Dellinger. "It also helps to build the capacity and expertise for doing conservation work for non-USDA employees. The more people we have involved in doing quality conservation work, the better it is for the farming community and the environment. NRCS welcomes TSPs to assist us in getting conservation work accomplished."

For more information, please contact Diana S. Dellinger, District Conservationist, in the Eureka Field Office at 707-442-6058, ex. 102.

Since its inception in 1935, NRCS has worked in partnership with private landowners and a variety of local, state and federal conservation partners to deliver conservation based on specific, local needs.

-NRCS-

 The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people
conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment.

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