Sponsors
Bank Plus
Barnett Phillips
Bozeman Farms
Craft Farms
Clyde Edwards
Edgar Timber Services
Chip Estes
Federal Land Bank
Town of Flora
Harreld Chevrolet
Jimmy Sanders, Inc.
Irwin Farms
Jerome Farms
McMullen Farms
Patrick Farms
C. Ray Phillips
Providence Plantation
Tyner Farms
Vertex Aerospace
Whitworth Farms
Ben & Elaine Childress
Dr. Alton & Mary Cobb
Stanley & Pam Coleman
Carey & Nina Johnston
Larry Smith-Vaniz Realty
Lee Hawkins Realty
Madison County Co-op
Madison County Bank
Madison County Farm Bureau
Merchants & Farmers Bank
Bob Montgomery
L.T. & Virginia Myers
Sam Hailey Oil Co.
Sedgewood Plantation
Bill and Donna Shanks
Bob & Ruth Summerlin
Trustmark Nat'l Bank
NRCS Programs
The Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District work hand-in-hand to offer services to the residents of Madison County in the conservation of our natural resources.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), formerly
the Soil Conservation Service, is the federal agency that works hand-in-hand
with the American people to conserve natural resources on private lands. Using
scientific and technical expertise, and partnerships with soils and water
conservation districts and others, NRCS helps people conserve all natural
resources on private lands.
The Mission of NRCS:
To provide leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve,
improve, and sustain our natural resources.
To accomplish this mission, programs are available to assist the
landowners. Programs applicable to Madison County are identified below.
Available Programs
Click on the appropriate titles for more information on
individual programs.
Conservation Security Program (CSP)
Three Mississippi watersheds were among two hundred across the nation
invited to participate in a historic new program designed to reward farmers for
long-term stewardship. The Conservation Security Program (CSP) was authorized by
the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Farm Bill). CSP is a
voluntary program, where participants are eligible to receive a payment and
technical assistance for enhancing natural resources on working agricultural
lands.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program provides technical,
educational, and financial assistance to eligible farmers and ranchers to
address soil, water, and related natural resource concerns on their lands in an
environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner.
Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)
The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program
for people who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private
land. Through WHIP, USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service provides both
technical assistance and up to 75% percent cost-share assistance to establish
and improve fish and wildlife habitat.
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)
The Wetlands Reserve Program is a voluntary program offering
landowners the opportunity to protect, restore and enhance wetlands on their
property. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides
technical and financial support to help landowners with their wetland
restoration efforts. The NRCS goal is to achieve the greatest wetland functions
and values, along with optimum wildlife habitat, on every acre enrolled in the
program. This program offers landowners an opportunity to establish long-term
conservation and wildlife practices and protection beyond that which can be
obtained through any other USDA program.
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
The Conservation Reserve Program reduces soil erosion, protects the
Nation's ability to produce food and fiber, reduces sedimentation in streams and
lakes, improves water quality, establishes wildlife habitat, and enhances forest
and wetland resources. It encourages farmers to convert highly erodible cropland
or other environmentally sensitive acreage to vegetative cover, such as tame or
native grasses, wildlife plantings, trees, filter strips, or riparian buffers.
Farmers receive an annual rental payment for the term of the multi-year
contract. Cost sharing is provided to establish the vegetative cover practices.
Forestry Incentives Program (FIP)
The Forestry Incentives Program (FIP) supports good forest management
practices on privately owned, non-industrial forest lands nationwide. FIP is
designed to benefit the environment while meeting future demands for wood
products. Eligible practices are tree planting, timber stand improvement, site
preparation for natural regeneration, and other related activities. FIP is
available in counties designated by a Forest Service survey of eligible private
timber acreage.
Soil Surveys
The purpose of the program is to help people understand soils. Soil
surveys provide the public with local information on the capabilities and
conservation treatment needs of their soil. Soil surveys are based on scientific
analysis and classification of the soils. The soil survey for a county or
designated area includes maps and interpretations with explanatory information;
it is the foundation of resource planning by land users and for policy malting
for Federal, State, county and local community programs. The surveys are
conducted cooperatively with other federal agencies, land grant universities,
State agencies, and local units of government.
Plant Materials Centers
The purpose of the program is to provide native plants that can help
solve natural resource problems. Beneficial uses for which plant material may be
developed include biomass production, carbon sequestrian, erosion reduction,
wetland restoration, water quality improvement, stream bank and riparian area
protection, coastal dune stabilization, and other special conservation treatment
needs. Scientists at the centers seek out plants that show promise for meeting
an identified conservation need and test their performance. After species are
proven, they are released to the private sector for commercial production. The
work at the 26 centers is carried out cooperatively with state and Federal
agencies, commercial business, and seed and nursery associations.
Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D)
The purpose of the program is to improve the capability of state and
local units of government and local nonprofit organizations in rural area to
plan, develop, and carry out programs for resource conservation and development.
RC&D plans may address land conservation, water management community
development, or other elements including energy conservation, protection of
agricultural land, or protection of fish and wildlife habitat.
Buffer Strips: Common Sense Conservation
The National Conservation Buffer Initiative pledged to help
landowners install 2 million miles of conservation buffers by the year 2002.
Agricultural producers and other landowners who install buffers can improve
soil, air, and water quality; enhance wildlife habitat, restore biodiversity,
and create scenic landscapes.