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U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) draws a long history of helping people help the land. For more than 75 years, NRCS and its predecessor agencies have worked in close partnership with farmers and ranchers, local and state governements, and other federal agencies to maintain healthy and productive working landscapes. NRCS assists owners of private land with conserving their soil, water, and other natural resources. They deliver technical assistance based on sound science and suited to a customer's specific needs. Cost share and financial incentives are available in some cases and participation in NRCS programs is voluntary. Our partnership with local soil and water conservation districts serves almost every county in Ohio. The NRCS office serving Geauga County is in the Orwell Service Center at 33 Grand Avenue, Orwell, Ohio 44076-9566.
For more information about NRCS and the available programs, call the Orwell Service Center at (888) 217-3947 or (440) 437-5888 ext. 3.
Conservation Technical Assistance
NRCS delivers conservation technical assistance through its voluntary Conservation Technical Assistance Program (CTA). Conservation technical assistance is available to any group or individual interested in conserving our natural resources and sustaining agricultural production in this country. NRCS and its partners can provide assistance to land users to address opportunities, concerns, and problems related to the use of natural resources and to help land users make sound natural resource management decisions on private, tribal, and other non-federal lands.
More Information on Conservation Planning
More Information on Conservation Planning
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's principal agency for providing conservation technical assistance to private landowners, conservation districts, tribes, and other organizations.
Financial Assistance
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVE PROGRAM The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers in order to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, reduced soil erosion and sedimentation or improved or created wildlife habitat.
More Information about EQIPEQIP Funding Categories CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM The Conservation Stewardship Program helps agricultural producers maintain and improve their existing conservation systems and adopt additional conservation activities to address priority resources concerns. Participants earn CSP payments for conservation performance - the higher the performance, the higher the payment. More Information about CSP
More Information about EQIPEQIP Funding Categories CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM The Conservation Stewardship Program helps agricultural producers maintain and improve their existing conservation systems and adopt additional conservation activities to address priority resources concerns. Participants earn CSP payments for conservation performance - the higher the performance, the higher the payment. More Information about CSP
Agricultural Conservation Easement Programs
AGRICULTURAL LAND EASEMENTS
NRCS provides financial assistance to eligible partners for purchasing Agricultural Land Easements that protect the agricultural use and conservation values of eligible land. In the case of working farms, the program helps farmers and ranchers keep their land in agriculture. The program also protects grazing uses and related conservation values by conserving grassland, including rangeland, pastureland and shrubland. Eligible partners include Indian tribes, state and local governments and non-governmental organizations that have farmland or grassland protection programs.
Under the Agricultural Land component, NRCS may contribute up to 50 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement. Where NRCS determines that grasslands of special environmental significance will be protected, NRCS may contribute up to 75 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement. More Information about Agricultural Land Easements
Under the Agricultural Land component, NRCS may contribute up to 50 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement. Where NRCS determines that grasslands of special environmental significance will be protected, NRCS may contribute up to 75 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement. More Information about Agricultural Land Easements
WETLAND RESERVE EASEMENTS
NRCS provides technical and financial assistance directly to private landowners and Indian tribes to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands through the purchase of a wetland reserve easement.
Through the wetland reserve enrollment options, NRCS may enroll eligible land through:
Permanent Easements – Permanent easements are conservation easements in perpetuity. NRCS pays 100 percent of the easement value for the purchase of the easement. Additionally, NRCS pays between 75 to 100 percent of the restoration costs.
30-year Easements – 30-year easements expire after 30 years. Under 30-year easements, NRCS pays 50 to 75 percent of the easement value for the purchase of the easement. Additionally, NRCS pays between 50 to 75 percent of the restoration costs.
Term Easements - Term easements are easements that are for the maximum duration allowed under applicable State laws. NRCS pays 50 to 75 percent of the easement value for the purchase of the term easement. Additionally, NRCS pays between 50 to 75 percent of the restoration costs.
30-year Contracts – 30-year contracts are only available to enroll acreage owned by Indian tribes, and program payment rates are commensurate with 30-year easements.
For wetland reserve easements, NRCS pays all costs associated with recording the easement in the local land records office, including recording fees, charges for abstracts, survey and appraisal fees, and title insurance.
More Information about Wetland Reserve Easements
Through the wetland reserve enrollment options, NRCS may enroll eligible land through:
Permanent Easements – Permanent easements are conservation easements in perpetuity. NRCS pays 100 percent of the easement value for the purchase of the easement. Additionally, NRCS pays between 75 to 100 percent of the restoration costs.
30-year Easements – 30-year easements expire after 30 years. Under 30-year easements, NRCS pays 50 to 75 percent of the easement value for the purchase of the easement. Additionally, NRCS pays between 50 to 75 percent of the restoration costs.
Term Easements - Term easements are easements that are for the maximum duration allowed under applicable State laws. NRCS pays 50 to 75 percent of the easement value for the purchase of the term easement. Additionally, NRCS pays between 50 to 75 percent of the restoration costs.
30-year Contracts – 30-year contracts are only available to enroll acreage owned by Indian tribes, and program payment rates are commensurate with 30-year easements.
For wetland reserve easements, NRCS pays all costs associated with recording the easement in the local land records office, including recording fees, charges for abstracts, survey and appraisal fees, and title insurance.
More Information about Wetland Reserve Easements