NRCS Conservation Programs

Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA)

The Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) program provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to voluntarily address issues such as water management, water quality, and erosion control by incorporating conservation into their farming operations. Producers may construct or improve water management structures or irrigation structures; plant trees for windbreaks or to improve water quality; and mitigate risk through production diversification or resource conservation practices, including soil erosion control, integrated pest management, or transition to organic farming. AMA is available in 16 states where participation in the Federal Crop Insurance Program is historically low: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

To learn more see AMA

Financial Information: Total Obligations | Technical Assistance | Financial Assistance
Contracts: Contract Data |Maps
Conservation Practice Implementation Reports: by State | by State and Conservation Practices related to: Cropland Soil Quality | Irrigation Efficiency | Water Quality
Civil Rights Report

Financial Information

The Financial Information section presents data from the USDA Office of the Chief Financial Officer's Financial Management Modernization Initiative (FMMI) system and its predecessor, the Foundation Financial Information System (FFIS). The Financial Information presented here is Total Obligations which the Government Accountability Office defines as binding agreements (orders placed, contracts awarded, services rendered, etc.) that will result in outlays, immediately or in the future. Before obligations can be incurred, budgetary resources must be made available by Congress. The obligations displayed for each year are the total obligations reported as of the end of each fiscal year. Subsequent adjustments after the close of the fiscal year are not included.

There are two categories of Total Obligations presented below:

  • Technical Assistance (TA) Obligations refer to the scientific expertise, natural resource data, tools, and technology that USDA NRCS personnel provide to help producers, landowners, and communities develop conservation plans and implement conservation practices to solve natural resource problems at the field, operation, or larger landscape scales. NRCS is the lead agency for providing technical assistance for USDA.
  • Financial Assistance (FA) Obligations refer to the commitment of funds to contracts for payments that will be made to program participants for implementing conservation practices, which can provide both on-site and off-site conservation benefits.
This program does not include Reimbursable funds.

Total Obligations, by Fiscal Year and Type
AMA Total Obligations, by Fiscal Year
In thousands of dollars
Division 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Connecticut $344.3
 $118.3
 $58.1
 $113.6
 $103.2
 $217.7
 $180.1
Delaware $153.6
 $138.5
 $72.0
 $83.6
 $71.4
 $19.5
 $14.4
Hawaii $153.3
 $336.9
 $151.2
 $121.1
 $81.0
 $316.9
 $336.9
Maine $315.7
 $195.3
 $2,349.3
 $312.2
 $499.9
 $1,410.7
 $1,037.1
Maryland $372.3
 $499.4
 $149.1
 $100.6
 $99.8
 $156.1
 $189.8
Massachusetts $164.4
 $251.4
 $476.0
 $151.4
 $74.6
 $118.5
 $134.1
Nevada $429.7
 $817.0
 $123.6
 $76.6
 $66.4
 $944.8
 $134.6
New Hampshire $150.2
 $155.6
 $43.2
 $38.8
 $106.2
 $16.8
 $81.8
New Jersey $370.7
 $368.8
 $409.0
 $250.5
 $197.2
 $218.7
 $293.4
New York $1,113.8
 $698.6
 $794.7
 $188.3
 $213.1
 $515.9
 $404.1
Pennsylvania $1,291.8
 $1,056.1
 $916.9
 $229.1
 $335.0
 $1,346.9
 $436.8
Rhode Island $81.5
 $95.4
 $71.2
 $50.2
 $47.7
 $142.8
 $136.0
Utah $789.9
 $587.6
 $311.4
 $207.3
 $13.3
 $333.0
 $195.4
Vermont $274.0
 $411.1
 $313.9
 $114.5
 $114.0
 $77.7
 $143.9
West Virginia $475.0
 $336.6
 $441.4
 $164.1
 $218.5
 $288.7
 $353.1
Wyoming $898.0
 $1,183.2
 $787.8
 $178.1
 $208.7
 $346.5
 $265.6
Other




$98.9
 $64.6
Total $7,378.1
 $7,249.7
 $7,468.9
 $2,380.0
 $2,450.0
 $6,570.1
 $4,401.8
Notes:
• Data Source: USDA-NRCS, 2012-2015 data from Financial Management Modernization Initiative (FMMI);
2009-2011 data from Foundation Financial Information System (FFIS).
• Other indicates Headquarters, Regional, or other non-State divisions.
• Totals may not exactly match sum over divisions due to rounding.
AMA Technical Assistance Obligations,
by Fiscal Year
In thousands of dollars
Division 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Connecticut $37.9
 $31.8
 $32.4
 $17.4
 $9.4
 $69.9
 $48.2
Delaware $21.9
 $43.5
 $47.6
 $12.8
 $8.8
 $6.3
 $3.7
Hawaii $8.3
 $39.8
 $48.5
 $14.7
 $40.9
 $59.0
 $67.8
Maine $50.6
 $23.0
 $164.1
 $35.0
 $46.7
 $256.4
 $152.0
Maryland $59.0
 $86.1
 $88.2
 $21.9
 $37.1
 $23.9
 $30.3
Massachusetts $24.3
 $27.9
 $52.5
 $21.8
 $17.9
 $27.1
 $14.4
Nevada $50.2
 $27.9
 $42.3
 $13.8
 $7.6
 $191.2
 $8.5
New Hampshire $27.8
 $22.3
 $22.3
 $6.4
 $10.2
 $6.7
 $16.3
New Jersey $102.6
 $44.1
 $72.3
 $32.6
 $63.0
 $38.2
 $51.1
New York $192.6
 $169.9
 $198.2
 $60.3
 $45.8
 $78.5
 $74.0
Pennsylvania $214.2
 $201.0
 $228.5
 $61.0
 $55.6
 $265.9
 $75.3
Rhode Island $3.6
 $14.4
 $17.2
 $6.0
 $10.6
 $25.9
 $22.0
Utah $99.6
 $105.6
 $94.7
 $31.8
 $13.3
 $53.4
 $27.0
Vermont $72.7
 $169.0
 $175.7
 $33.4
 $20.5
 $20.5
 $37.9
West Virginia $100.7
 $63.0
 $81.9
 $36.1
 $35.1
 $63.0
 $119.0
Wyoming $130.7
 $132.0
 $162.6
 $50.0
 $69.9
 $99.9
 $78.4
Other




$99.0
 $64.6
Total $1,196.7
 $1,201.3
 $1,529.1
 $454.9
 $492.4
 $1,384.8
 $890.5
Notes:
• Data Source: USDA-NRCS, 2012-2015 data from Financial Management Modernization Initiative (FMMI);
2009-2011 data from Foundation Financial Information System (FFIS).
• Other indicates Headquarters, Regional, or other non-State divisions.
• Totals may not exactly match sum over divisions due to rounding.
AMA Financial Assistance Obligations,
by Fiscal Year
In thousands of dollars
Division 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Connecticut $306.5
 $86.4
 $25.8
 $96.2
 $93.8
 $147.9
 $131.8
Delaware $131.7
 $95.0
 $24.4
 $70.8
 $62.6
 $13.2
 $10.7
Hawaii $144.9
 $297.0
 $102.7
 $106.4
 $40.1
 $257.9
 $269.1
Maine $265.1
 $172.3
 $2,185.2
 $277.2
 $453.2
 $1,154.3
 $885.2
Maryland $313.4
 $413.4
 $60.9
 $78.7
 $62.7
 $132.2
 $159.5
Massachusetts $140.1
 $223.5
 $423.6
 $129.6
 $56.7
 $91.3
 $119.8
Nevada $379.6
 $789.2
 $81.3
 $62.7
 $58.8
 $753.6
 $126.2
New Hampshire $122.4
 $133.3
 $20.9
 $32.4
 $96.0
 $10.1
 $65.5
New Jersey $268.1
 $324.7
 $336.6
 $217.9
 $134.2
 $180.5
 $242.3
New York $921.2
 $528.6
 $596.5
 $128.1
 $167.3
 $437.4
 $330.1
Pennsylvania $1,077.6
 $855.1
 $688.4
 $168.0
 $279.4
 $1,080.9
 $361.5
Rhode Island $78.0
 $81.1
 $54.0
 $44.3
 $37.1
 $116.9
 $114.0
Utah $690.3
 $481.9
 $216.7
 $175.5
$279.6
 $168.4
Vermont $201.3
 $242.1
 $138.3
 $81.1
 $93.5
 $57.2
 $106.0
West Virginia $374.2
 $273.6
 $359.5
 $128.1
 $183.4
 $225.7
 $234.1
Wyoming $767.3
 $1,051.2
 $625.2
 $128.1
 $138.8
 $246.6
 $187.1
Other




$-0.1
Total $6,181.4
 $6,048.4
 $5,939.9
 $1,925.2
 $1,957.6
 $5,185.3
 $3,511.3
Notes:
• Data Source: USDA-NRCS, 2012-2015 data from Financial Management Modernization Initiative (FMMI);
2009-2011 data from Foundation Financial Information System (FFIS).
• Other indicates Headquarters, Regional, or other non-State divisions.
• Negative numbers reflect fund adjustments made throughout the year.
• Totals may not exactly match sum over divisions due to rounding.

Contracts


NRCS enters into AMA contracts with eligible producers or landowners willing to implement conservation practices. Applicants must own or control the land. By entering into a contract, the participant agrees to apply specified conservation practices, and NRCS obligates funds to provide technical and financial assistance for planning and applying these conservation practices. AMA contracts can be up to ten years in length. The table below reports the number of active or completed AMA contracts signed during each contract fiscal year, and the acres associated with those contracts. For example, for a ten year contract signed in contract year 2009, funds are obligated in fiscal year 2009, and conservation practices may be applied using those funds during the 2009-2019 fiscal year time period.

The Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Maps page contains maps illustrating contracts enrolled, acres treated, and financial assistance obligated by state and year.

AMA Contract Data by State and Fiscal Year
State 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Number of Active and Completed Contracts Total Acres on Active and Completed Contracts Number of Active and Completed Contracts Total Acres on Active and Completed Contracts Number of Active and Completed Contracts Total Acres on Active and Completed Contracts Number of Active and Completed Contracts Total Acres on Active and Completed Contracts Number of Active and Completed Contracts Total Acres on Active and Completed Contracts Number of Active and Completed Contracts Total Acres on Active and Completed Contracts Number of Active and Completed Contracts Total Acres on Active and Completed Contracts
Connecticut 7
 103.0
 7
 138.5
 1
 1.0
 8
 48.5
 10
 35.1
 11
 74.8
 10
 29.5
Delaware 7
 4.5
 4
 721.3
 5
 53.1
 10
 103.3
 3
 58.4
 1
 25.0
 3
 3.4
Hawaii 5
 19.1
 4
 48.7
 5
 76.0
 4
 24.0
 3
 8.4
 15
 888.8
 15
 314.7
Maine 6
 762.0
 19
 385.2
 39
 2,645.7
 13
 256.1
 16
 444.8
 28
 703.8
 29
 581.8
Maryland 9
 273.0
 61
 386.3
 8
 15.0
 13
 12.3
 5
 64.5
 5
 183.0
 6
 362.8
Massachusetts 11
 75.6
 13
 168.1
 23
 299.1
 8
 60.8
 7
 71.3
 6
 163.3
 11
 60.9
Nevada 5
 339.9
 20
 1,113.1
 18
 18.7
 14
 22.8
 9
 280.6
 8
 165.0
 12
 13.4
New Hampshire 6
 50.0
 11
 38.2
 2
 7.5
 9
 145.3
 8
 707.0
 1
 25.0
 6
 115.8
New Jersey 10
 623.3
 17
 473.2
 15
 234.8
 11
 288.1
 6
 125.8
 11
 217.1
 12
 641.9
New York 37
 1,871.6
 58
 526.4
 46
 581.9
 4
 75.5
 2
 193.2
 8
 176.5
 6
 112.5
Pennsylvania 33
 2,236.8
 113
 942.4
 49
 1,209.0
 6
 182.0
 7
 240.4
 13
 1,062.5
 5
 164.2
Rhode Island 6
 172.5
 6
 97.4
 4
 22.5
 5
 14.9
 9
 109.1
 8
 107.2
 14
 88.8
Utah 6
 1,832.9
 18
 1,334.9
 8
 685.3
 3
 120.5

7
 78.5
 4
 81.0
Vermont 8
 248.0
 19
 134.7
 8
 163.3
 2
 12.8
 8
 25.1
 5
 23.5
 4
 19.5
West Virginia 19
 872.5
 21
 819.2
 22
 574.9
 16
 243.7
 20
 236.4
 52
 187.7
 44
 217.2
Wyoming 39
 4,390.3
 35
 3,774.0
 22
 1,280.8
 14
 501.0
 6
 821.7
 11
 145.4
 19
 691.1
Total 214
 13,874.9
 426
 11,101.6
 275
 7,868.5
 140
 2,111.5
 119
 3,421.7
 190
 4,227.0
 200
 3,498.5
Notes:
• Data Source: USDA-NRCS, ProTracts Program Contracts System, October 2015.
• Totals may not exactly match sum over states due to rounding.

Conservation Practice Implementation

Conservation practices are planned and applied at the land unit level. The land unit is the smallest unit of land that has a permanent or contiguous boundary, a common land cover and land management, and a common owner or a common producer. The following tables include data for the fiscal years since enactment of the 2008 Food, Conservation, and Energy Act (Farm Bill) in 2009.

As conservation practices are measured in different units (acres, feet, square feet, etc.), the challenge for reporting performance at various levels is how to aggregate across practices. Although practices may affect resources beyond the land unit boundary, or be applied only on part of the land unit, the land unit does provide a common metric to aggregate over practices since each applied practice is associated with a specific land unit. Analysis of the data reveals that most practices are measured in acres and most of the practice applied amounts match the land unit acres of the field on which the practice was applied. Therefore, land unit acreage is the metric on which the acres of land receiving conservation treatment are calculated.

The data presented in this section reflect the fiscal year in which conservation practices were applied, which can occur at any point during the duration of the AMA contract. Totals presented here are not comparable to program enrollment acres or contract acres.


Land Unit Acres Receiving Conservation

The following table summarizes land unit acres by fiscal year. Here, land unit acres are counted once when the program has been used to apply one or more practices on that land unit in a given fiscal year. Therefore, land unit acres may be counted multiple times across fiscal years.

Land Unit Acres Receiving Conservation (including practice count),
by Fiscal Year
AMA Practices
State 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count
Connecticut 12
 7
 70
 24
 54
 29
 91
 15
 37
 21
 91
 27
 42
 24
Delaware 260
 22
 735
 44
 640
 33
 712
 74
 326
 25
 52
 16
 108
 10
Hawaii 13,997
 12
 3,221
 49
 22
 40
 48
 43
 61
 25
 29
 41
 119
 27
Maine 37
 1
 102
 9
 708
 32
 1,500
 95
 803
 66
 817
 67
 2,227
 95
Maryland 1,591
 115
 561
 79
 850
 128
 929
 150
 1,394
 97
 379
 48
 410
 27
Massachusetts 57
 7
 117
 26
 184
 38
 330
 56
 357
 48
 61
 22
 79
 18
Nevada 262
 11
 841
 32
 800
 37
 282
 24
 237
 31
 159
 11
 323
 18
New Hampshire 181
 12
 343
 17
 110
 13
 378
 16
 219
 19
 296
 33
 527
 41
New Jersey 325
 58
 490
 78
 1,064
 198
 883
 128
 828
 176
 564
 80
 475
 79
New York 2,952
 223
 2,109
 180
 1,153
 169
 1,540
 220
 804
 130
 641
 89
 506
 60
Pennsylvania 2,153
 231
 2,914
 279
 2,801
 323
 1,535
 145
 1,561
 147
 715
 57
 768
 57
Rhode Island 78
 61
 60
 13
 5
 8
 31
 10
 1
 1
 5
 2
 15
 2
Utah 4,333
 104
 5,731
 78
 24,556
 39
 335
 57
 909
 33
 792
 31
 107
 24
Vermont 1,406
 164
 1,296
 161
 1,067
 138
 442
 78
 208
 30
 53
 12
 276
 41
West Virginia 1,431
 115
 902
 98
 1,175
 88
 691
 62
 479
 92
 425
 73
 728
 108
Wyoming 42,015
 120
 24,779
 112
 9,708
 145
 12,624
 114
 15,249
 192
 4,863
 63
 6,452
 106
Total 71,090
 1,263
 44,271
 1,279
 44,897
 1,458
 22,350
 1,287
 23,473
 1,133
 9,942
 672
 13,161
 737
Notes:
• Data Source: USDA-NRCS, National Planning and Agreements Database, November 2015.
• Land unit acres may be counted multiple times across fiscal years.
Land Unit Acres Receiving Conservation by Practice

The following set of chart/table combinations present conservation practice data grouped by purpose: Cropland Soil Quality, Irrigation Efficiency, and Water Quality. Any practices not included in one of these groups are included in an All Other category. Data for practices in the All Other category can be downloaded in the Farm Bill Conservation Programs Profile csv file.

Note that there is some overlap between these groupings, since some practices address multiple resource concerns. Here land unit acres are counted each time a practice is applied on that land unit in the fiscal year. Therefore land unit acres may be counted multiple times across practices, practice groupings, and fiscal years. To learn more about specific conservation practices, see the National Handbook of Conservation Practices.


Conservation Practices Related to Cropland Soil Quality

The following chart and table includes practices that are related to Cropland Soil Quality Management. The six components of soil quality management are: enhancing organic matter, avoiding excessive tillage, managing pests and nutrients efficiently, preventing soil compaction, keeping the ground covered, and diversifying cropping systems. Choosing specific practices within each component depends on the situation since different types of soil respond differently to the same practice. Each combination of soil type and land use calls for a different set of practices to enhance soil quality. Note that only practices applied on cropland or hay land are included.

Land Unit Acres Receiving Conservation, FY 2009-2015

Only practices representing a significant portion of the total for the period are included in the above chart. Practices not included are summed into the All Other category.

Land Unit Acres Receiving Conservation (including practice count) by Fiscal Year
AMA Cropland Soil Quality Practices
Practice Name Practice Code 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count
Deep Tillage 324 3
 3

2
 2
 4
 2





Conservation Cover 327 39
 1
 25
 2
 81
 1

36
 3
 14
 2
 86
 7
Conservation Crop Rotation 328 254
 17
 294
 12
 113
 2
 53
 7
 14
 2
 13
 4
 1
 1
Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed 329 1,046
 52
 489
 50
 439
 24
 168
 9
 24
 2



Cover Crop 340 1,280
 76
 1,239
 100
 778
 69
 887
 94
 1,156
 61
 438
 49
 441
 41
Critical Area Planting 342

67
 3
 136
 12
 7
 2
 19
 4

28
 2
Residue Management, Seasonal 344 15
 1

8
 1







Residue and Tillage Management, Mulch Till 345 341
 33
 19
 3
 15
 1

5
 1



Diversion 362 28
 2
 53
 2
 81
 1
 20
 1
 47
 1



Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment 380 74
 4
 0
 1
 58
 3
 20
 5
 30
 5
 12
 1
 4
 3
Field Border 386



93
 5

8
 2

28
 2
Riparian Forest Buffer 391

13
 2









Grade Stabilization Structure 410





35
 2
 33
 1



Grassed Waterway 412

54
 3
 85
 2







Irrigation Water Management 449 3,287
 59
 999
 66
 1,576
 110
 1,395
 111
 1,761
 110
 1,564
 99
 1,766
 120
Lined Waterway or Outlet 468



81
 1







Mulching 484 408
 29
 265
 23
 255
 16
 66
 18
 134
 26
 143
 14
 16
 11
Forage and Biomass Planting 512 456
 24
 88
 1
 96
 11
 83
 8
 24
 2
 14
 3
 28
 2
Stripcropping 585 144
 8
 65
 2



7
 2



Nutrient Management 590 154
 18
 1,657
 58
 822
 70
 926
 75
 751
 72
 143
 17
 136
 12
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) 595 1,736
 82
 3,759
 133
 2,140
 162
 2,759
 82
 3,347
 102
 230
 23
 2
 2
Herbaceous Wind Barriers 603





6
 2





Subsurface Drain 606 96
 4

46
 4
 51
 2

1
 1

Underground Outlet 620 93
 4

48
 5
 0
 1
 9
 2
 41
 2
 13
 1
Water and Sediment Control Basin 638 81
 3

4
 1







Notes:
• Data Source: USDA-NRCS, National Planning and Agreements Database, November 2015.
• Land unit acres may be counted multiple times across fiscal years.

The following table includes program information under which the above practices related to Cropland Soil Quality Management were applied. These data reflect the geographic extent of cropland treated with soil quality practices by each conservation program during a fiscal year. Land unit acres may be counted multiple times across fiscal years, but are only counted once per fiscal year.

Land Unit Acres Receiving Conservation (including practice count) Fiscal Year
AMA Cropland Soil Quality Practices
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count
Land Unit Acres treated by at least one practice 8,511
 420
 6,468
 461
 4,651
 503
 4,386
 421
 6,246
 398
 2,212
 215
 2,163
 204
Notes:
• Data Source: USDA-NRCS, National Planning and Agreements Database, November 2015.
• Land unit acres may be counted multiple times across fiscal years.
Conservation Practices Related to Irrigation Efficiency

The following chart and table includes practices that are related to Irrigation Efficiency. The goal of these practices is to assist in properly designing, installing and maintaining irrigation systems to ensure uniform and efficient distribution of water, thereby conserving water and protecting water resources. Note that pumping plant (533) installation is only counted when applied on cropland or hay land.

Land Unit Acres Receiving Conservation, FY 2009-2015

Only practices representing a significant portion of the total for the period are included in the above chart. Practices not included are summed into the All Other category.

Land Unit Acres Receiving Conservation (including practice count) by Fiscal Year
AMA Irrigation Efficiency Practices
Practice Name Practice Code 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count
Irrigation Field Ditch 388







16
 1



Irrigation Water Conveyance, Ditch and Canal Lining, Plain Concrete 428

87
 4
 126
 4
 74
 1
 36
 1



Irrigation Pipeline 430 2,904
 88
 2,276
 110
 1,461
 117
 1,916
 171
 1,776
 113
 1,346
 82
 13,887
 103
Irrigation Reservoir 436 21
 4
 62
 8
 20
 4
 69
 4
 24
 4
 26
 6
 84
 10
Irrigation System, Microirrigation 441 2,182
 58
 3,125
 72
 976
 128
 935
 105
 745
 109
 978
 113
 13,212
 115
Irrigation System, Sprinkler 442 608
 18
 664
 16
 872
 29
 956
 32
 621
 24
 252
 8
 954
 17
Irrigation System, Surface and Subsurface 443 24
 1

61
 1







Irrigation Water Management 449 3,287
 59
 1,122
 70
 1,622
 111
 1,450
 113
 1,791
 113
 1,587
 105
 1,795
 123
Irrigation Land Leveling 464 33
 3
 16
 1









Pumping Plant 533 193
 12
 584
 29
 611
 34
 664
 38
 343
 32
 405
 23
 594
 39
Structure for Water Control 587 2,525
 29
 182
 11
 565
 13
 279
 6
 202
 7
 82
 5
 696
 17
Notes:
• Data Source: USDA-NRCS, National Planning and Agreements Database, November 2015.
• Land unit acres may be counted multiple times across fiscal years.

The following table includes program information under which the above practices related to Irrigation Efficiency were applied. These data reflect the geographic extent of land treated to improve irrigation efficiency by each conservation program during a fiscal year. Land unit acres may be counted multiple times across fiscal years, but are only counted once per fiscal year.

Land Unit Acres Receiving Conservation (including practice count) Fiscal Year
AMA Irrigation Efficiency Practices
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count
Land Unit Acres treated by at least one practice 8,066
 272
 5,005
 321
 4,160
 441
 4,475
 470
 3,701
 404
 3,056
 342
 6,360
 424
Notes:
• Data Source: USDA-NRCS, National Planning and Agreements Database, November 2015.
• Land unit acres may be counted multiple times across fiscal years.
Conservation Practices Related to Water Quality

The following chart and table includes practices that are related to Water Quality. Water quality is an indicator of the health of our environment and reflects what occurs on the land. The primary water quality issues from agriculture are sediment, nutrients, pesticides, pathogens, and in some parts of the country, salinity. Using conservation practices to improve land in an environmentally sound manner will result in better water quality for drinking, recreation, wildlife, fisheries and industry.

Land Unit Acres Receiving Conservation, FY 2009-2015

Only practices representing a significant portion of the total for the period are included in the above chart. Practices not included are summed into the All Other category.

Land Unit Acres Receiving Conservation (including practice count) by Fiscal Year
AMA Water Quality Practices
Practice Name Practice Code 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count
Waste Storage Facility 313 3
 1
 15
 1









Animal Mortality Facility 316

15
 1









Composting Facility 317

14
 2

37
 2

20
 2

Conservation Cover 327 79
 3
 25
 2
 81
 1

49
 4
 14
 2
 86
 7
Conservation Crop Rotation 328 254
 17
 294
 12
 113
 2
 53
 7
 18
 3
 13
 4
 1
 1
Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed 329 1,056
 54
 489
 50
 439
 24
 168
 9
 24
 2



Cover Crop 340 1,280
 76
 1,239
 100
 778
 69
 887
 94
 1,156
 61
 448
 50
 441
 41
Critical Area Planting 342 89
 9
 89
 5
 139
 13
 11
 3
 49
 9
 11
 2
 29
 3
Residue and Tillage Management, Mulch Till 345 341
 33
 19
 3
 15
 1

5
 1



Water Well Decommissioning 351



12,898
 1







Waste Facility Closure 360





57
 2
 33
 2



Diversion 362 35
 3
 53
 2
 81
 1
 20
 1
 47
 1



Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment 380 1,320
 25
 1,296
 6
 100
 6
 30
 6
 43
 7
 12
 1
 1,217
 13
Riparian Herbaceous Cover 390 9
 1
 8
 1









Riparian Forest Buffer 391 7
 2
 37
 5









Filter Strip 393



113
 4
 5
 1





Grade Stabilization Structure 410





46
 3
 33
 1



Grassed Waterway 412

58
 4
 85
 2







Irrigation System, Microirrigation 441 2,182
 58
 3,125
 72
 976
 128
 935
 105
 745
 109
 978
 113
 13,212
 115
Irrigation Water Management 449 3,287
 59
 1,122
 70
 1,622
 111
 1,450
 113
 1,791
 113
 1,587
 105
 1,795
 123
Access Control 472 37
 5
 81
 8
 138
 2
 52
 3
 38
 1
 1
 1

Mulching 484 1,014
 30
 1,535
 26
 255
 16
 66
 18
 134
 26
 143
 14
 1,065
 21
Prescribed Grazing 528 9,030
 129
 1,437
 108
 621
 53
 645
 61
 605
 48
 407
 27
 69
 8
Roof Runoff Structure 558

15
 2
 57
 7
 4
 2
 122
 2
 50
 8
 243
 3
Access Road 560 19
 3
 34
 4
 23
 5
 6
 2



4
 1
Heavy Use Area Protection 561 155
 16
 332
 19
 85
 12
 175
 28
 58
 7
 153
 11
 228
 1
Stream Crossing 578 230
 4

41
 1





17
 1
Streambank and Shoreline Protection 580 67
 5
 12
 1









Stripcropping 585 144
 8
 65
 2

220
 1
 7
 2



Structure for Water Control 587 2,525
 29
 182
 11
 565
 13
 279
 6
 202
 7
 82
 5
 696
 17
Nutrient Management 590 406
 29
 1,668
 61
 864
 81
 945
 80
 813
 82
 225
 29
 136
 12
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) 595 6,985
 153
 8,305
 169
 6,033
 180
 5,260
 102
 4,632
 116
 239
 24
 2
 2
Tree/Shrub Establishment 612 10
 2
 1
 2
 0
 2

2
 1

254
 5
Milking Center Wastewater Treatment System 629



4
 1







Waste Recycling 633 17
 1











Waste Transfer 634 1,262
 81
 450
 22
 662
 38
 28
 2





Water and Sediment Control Basin 638 81
 3

4
 1







Wetland Restoration 657







4
 1



Wetland Enhancement 659





1,013
 10





Notes:
• Data Source: USDA-NRCS, National Planning and Agreements Database, November 2015.
• Land unit acres may be counted multiple times across fiscal years.

The following table includes program information under which the above practices related to Water Quality were applied. These data reflect the geographic extent of land treated with water quality practices by each conservation program during a fiscal year. Land unit acres may be counted multiple times across fiscal years, but are only counted once per fiscal year.

Land Unit Acres Receiving Conservation (including practice count) Fiscal Year
AMA Water Quality Practices
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count Acres Count
Land Unit Acres treated by at least one practice 27,490
 839
 13,165
 771
 21,068
 775
 9,184
 661
 8,975
 606
 3,259
 398
 5,890
 374
Notes:
• Data Source: USDA-NRCS, National Planning and Agreements Database, November 2015.
• Land unit acres may be counted multiple times across fiscal years.

More Information

The data in this report can be downloaded here.


For more information about NRCS Conservation Programs, visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/

Citation for this website:
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Financial Management Modernization Initiative (FMMI) 2012-2015 Data
Foundation Financial Information System (FFIS) 2009-2011 Data
ProTracts Program Contracts System October 2015
National Planning and Agreements Database November 2015
Natural Resources Conservation Service, Washington, DC. 30 September 2016*
<http:http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/NRCS_RCA/reports/fb08_cp_ama.html>

*[use date the website was accessed]