Conservation Technical Assistance

Conservation technical assistance (CTA) involves working with farmers, ranchers, forest managers and others to identify resource concerns and develop science-based solutions for addressing their priorities. It is typically done before a producer submits an application for program financial assistance, but can also be done during the contracting and implementation phases of conservation programs.

All owners, managers, and others who have a stake and interest in natural resource management are eligible to receive technical assistance from NRCS. To receive technical assistance, the individual may contact their local NRCS office or the local conservation district. This explicitly mentions Tribal governments and others interested in conserving natural resources. 

NRCS provides conservation technical assistance which can enable land managers to: Maintain and improve private lands and their management; Implement better land management technologies; Protect and improve water quality and quantity; Maintain and improve wildlife and fish habitat; Enhance recreational opportunities; Maintain and improve the aesthetic character of private land; Explore opportunities to diversify agricultural operations and; Develop and apply sustainable agricultural systems. Each of these efforts can assist land managers in responding to and mitigating the impacts of more extreme and variable weather due to climate change; therefore, conservation technical assistance can enable land managers to build more resilient landscapes and business operations in the face of a changing climate.