The Steuben County SWCD works closely with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), and other agencies in the Indiana Conservation Partnership to help you develop conservation plans for multiple aspects of your farm. We provide technical assistance, site visits, and additional resources. Looking for United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) information? The Ask USDA site makes it easy by providing information from a wide variety of organizations all in one place. 

Enhance Conservation On Your Farm

Are you looking to make improvements on your farm? Let us learn about your current practices and we will provide additional options for managing your land, all with conservation in mind. We can guide you through farm enhancements that will help you preserve topsoil and build soil health, which may include grassed waterways, cover crops, no-till planting, field borders, and pollinator plantings.

Partnership

The SWCD works closely with many conservation agencies, including NRCS and the Farm Service Agency (FSA). These valuable partnerships mean that multiple staff with a wide range of experience are ready to answer questions about your operations. The NRCS District Conservationist for Steuben County, Arthur Franke, is a great resource for Steuben county farmers, and can be contacted through the Steuben SWCD office. Give us a call to set up a visit.

Setting Goals

The SWCD and NRCS staff will listen to your questions and get to know you and your current practices. We then help you identify goals and priorities for your farm operations. Set up a site visit with our staff, and we will walk your property with you to get a tangible understanding of any areas where you are experiencing issues or want to make improvements. We provide follow-up technical assistance based on our conversation and farm field assessments.

Conservation Plans

Staff will help create a conservation plan that is based on your goals, priorities, and on-site assessments. The plan lays out various methods for how to achieve your conservation and production goals. The plan can be used throughout the year to implement new practices on your land. It is a living document that provides a snapshot of your current practices and long-term goals.

Long Term Conservation

The practices you choose to use on your land guide the future of your farm when your conservation plan is put into action. Staff are available along the way to answer questions and offer further technical assistance, workshops, and site visits. The SWCD and partner agencies offer a range of grant and cost-share options for conservation practices. Check out the Cost-Share Programs and USDA Programs pages for more information.