Agency History

During the early decades of the 20th century, agriculture in the United States was developing rapidly, focused on feeding an expanding nation while providing food for the servicemen of World War I. Farmers were cultivating land in the great plains that had soils that were overused, damaged, and improperly managed. Soil erosion was widespread, and the crop yields were significantly declining.

Hugh Bennett, a soil scientist from North Carolina saw the damage as he did soil surveys for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). When serious droughts created the Dust Bowl in the early 1930s, Bennett testified before congress and pressed the need for soil conservation. Huge dust storms continue to sweep across the great plains, causing many to think it was the end of the world. On April 27th, 1935, President Roosevelt signed the Soil Conservation Act, creating the Soil Conservation Service (SCS).

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With Bennett as the Chief of SCS, the agency immediately began helping farmers protect their soil by offering expert advice and providing funding for projects such as building farm ponds, and planting trees to slow down wind erosion. All this work was organized through “Soil Conservation Districts,” local groups of elected representatives including farmers, ranchers, and timber owners. In over 80 years of the agency’s founding, the work being done has grown tremendously with projects that now address biodiversity, recreational access, suburban watershed management, and many more.

 

In 1994, the agency changed its name to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), to better suit the wide range of conservation projects they have adopted over the years. Now across the United States, nearly 3,000 conservation districts—almost one in every county—work directly with landowners to conserve and promote healthy soils, water, forests and wildlife. NACD represents these districts and the more than 17,000 citizens who serve on conservation district governing boards.