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The 2002 Farm Bill includes language on the use of
Technical Service Providers (TSPs) to provide conservation technical
assistance – directs the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a process to
certify and pay TSPs for technical assistance
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The $17 billion conservation title of the Farm Bill
greatly expands funding for NRCS
Programs: the Environmental Quality Incentives Program(EQIP), the Wildlife
Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), the
Farm and Ranchland Protection Program(FPP), the Wetlands Reserve Program(WRP),
and the new Conservation Security Program (CSP)
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The premise behind TSP is that the anticipated demand
for assistance to do conservation work will exceed current staffing capacity
of NRCS and conservation districts
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Technical assistance includes conservation planning
and design, layout, installation and check out conservation practices for
landowners in the various farm bill programs such as EQIP or WHIP
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NRCS and conservation districts have traditionally
provided technical assistance and will continue to do so – what’s new is that
technical assistance will also be available from individuals outside of USDA
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Tech Pros can be individuals, private sector entities
such as engineering or environmental consulting firms, or public agencies such
as CDOW, CSFS
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Tech Pros will be certified to provide specific
categories of conservation practices and systems
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National self-certification process available for
potential Tech Pros on the NRCS Tech Reg homepage – http;//TechReg.usda.gov
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Tech Pro Application includes contact information,
technical services the person plans to provide, geographic area (states and
counties where the tech pro wants to work), education, experience, and state
licenses
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Landowner decides if he/she wants to have NRCS or a
Tech Pro provide technical assistance
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Technical assistance costs associated with the use of
a Tech Pro will be incorporated into an approved USDA contact
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