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Challenging Careers in Natural Resources Conservation

What is the Natural Resources Conservation Service?

The Natural Resources Conservation Service—NRCS for short (formerly the Soil Conservation Service)—is an agency in the United States Department of Agriculture.

We began our conservation work during the Dust Bowl days of the 1930s. A series of dust storms had just ravaged the nation's farmland, stripping away millions of tons of topsoil. Huge dust clouds had carried the soil hundreds of miles, all the way into the Atlantic Ocean. Ever since that disaster, NRCS has been trying to make Americans more aware of the need to protect our natural resources, especially soil and water.

The employees of NRCS work with local soil and water conservation districts to convince people to conserve the nation's resources, then help them do it. Our voluntary programs are aimed at reducing erosion, keeping streams clear, protecting wildlife and promoting wise land use.

This fact sheet will give you an idea of the different kinds of conservation careers you can enter in the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Each career is unique, but they all have one thing in common: They all require a commitment to conservation, to preserving our nation's soil and water for future generations.

NRCS offers career opportunities whether you are still in college or have already graduated.

Conservation Careers

Soil conservationists
NRCS soil conservationists spend most of their time in the field working with farmers, ranchers and other landusers. They suggest ways to conserve the soil, build a farm pond, or cut down on water pollution.

Soil conservationists offer conservation planning and technical help to everyone from family farmers to land developers to local governments. They help teachers start outdoor laboratories for students. They give talks and slide programs to clubs and organizations. They write articles for local newspapers. Soil conser-vationists work at making all landusers more aware of conserving America's soil and water resources.

Qualifications. You can qualify as a soil conservationist if you have a college degree in soil conservation or a natural resources field such as agronomy, forestry, wildlife biology, agricultural education, or agricultural engineering. Studies must include 30 semester hours in a natural resources field or agricultural field, including at least 12 semester hours in a combination of soil and crop or plant sciences. Of these 12 semester hours, a minimum of 3 semester hours must be in soil science and a minimum of 3 semester hours in crop science or plant science.

Soil conservation technicians
NRCS soil conservation technicians assist soil conservationists. A technician's most important job is working with farmers, ranchers and others on their land. A technician tells them how to install conservation practices and then oversees the installation.

The day-to-day work of conservation technicians includes making engineering surveys and designing standard conservation practices such as waterways, terraces and contour stripcropping systems. Technicians make follow-up visits to check the progress and results of the practices installed and to update the landuser's total conservation program.

Qualifications. You should have knowledge of farm or ranch operations. Education or work experience that makes you familiar with conservation practices is desirable.

Soil scientists
It's difficult to run a farm, build a housing development, or pave a highway without knowing something about soils. So farmers, commercial developers, and state and local planners all turn to soil scientists for information on soils.

NRCS soil scientists map and classify soils. They identify problems such as wetness and erosion that can limit the ways a soil can be used.

They identify soils on aerial photographs, write soil descriptions, and prepare other information about soils. They spend a lot of time in the field, but they also spend some time in the office.

Qualifications. You can qualify as a soil scientist if you have a college degree in soil science or a related field of biological, physical or earth science. You must have 15 semester hours in soil science.

Range conservationists
Running a ranch is no simple matter. Sometimes water supplies run short, livestock overgraze pastures, or dense brush interferes with growing forage. Range conservationists help ranchers overcome these difficulties.

NRCS range conservationists help plan grazing systems that increase production and prevent overgrazing. They can suggest ways to control brush. They can offer advice on water management or better ways to produce forage. Whether landowners want to use their rangeland to support livestock, wildlife, recreation or a combination of these, range conservationists are ready to tailor conservation plans that will help the landowners meet their goals.

Qualifications. You can qualify as a range conservationist if you have a bachelor's degree in range management or a closely related field. Studies must include courses in animal science, plant science and soil science.

Engineers
Engineering is an integral part of successful resource conservation work. NRCS employs a large number of engineers who are skilled in erosion control, water management, structural design, construction, hydraulics, soil mechanics and environmental protection.

NRCS engineers either specialize or work across the board. On large jobs, a different engineer takes charge of each phase of the task. On small jobs, one engineer does all the work, from on-site planning to designing and overseeing construction. Job assignments vary and include water supply systems, concrete and earthen dams, and streambank and channel erosion control.

Qualifications. To be hired as an engineer, you must have a bachelor's degree in engineering. Specialties can include agricultural, environmental, civil and forestry engineering.

Engineering technicians
NRCS engineering technicians assist engineers in planning, design or construction work, but they also work on their own. The jobs of an engineering technician are as varied as those of an engineer.

Engineering technicians spend a lot of time outdoors helping with surveys, plotting notes and laying out construction measures. They gather data, make computations, and prepare maps and cross sections of profiles. Some technicians act as construction inspectors during the building of large structures for purposes such as water storage, flood prevention, irrigation and recreation.

Qualifications. You can qualify as an engineering technician if you have studied engineering in school, have experience on a survey crew running levels and transits, or have worked on construction, layout and inspection. A sound knowledge of basic mathematics is desirable.

Other careers in natural resources conservation

The Natural Resources Conservation Service also offers careers for people trained in:

Accounting
Agricultural economics
Agronomy
Aquatic biology
Business administration
Cartography
Computer technology
Contracting
Forestry
Geology
Hydrology
Landscape architecture Personnel
Pictography and audiovisual Plant sciences
Public Affairs Recreation
Wildlife biology

Student career experience program

Each year the NRCS hires students for the Student Career Experience Program. If you are still attending college or graduate school, you may qualify.

You may alternate periods of work and study. You work for and learn from soil and range conservationists, engineers, soil scientists and administrative specialists. You "earn while you learn" and you "learn by doing." If you do well, NRCS can offer you a full-time position when you graduate. For more information, contact your school's placement office or an NRCS personnel office.

Equal opportunity

The Natural Resources Conservation Service is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, or marital or familial status.

USDA prohibits discrimination in its programs on the bases listed above (not all prohibited bases apply to all programs). Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA Office of Communications at (202) 720-2791. To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, US Department of Agriculture, Washington DC 20250, or call (202) 720-7327 (voice) or (202) 720-1127 (TDD).

Placement and salary

The NRCS has field offices in counties throughout the United States. So it is likely that there is a beginning opportunity in the state in which you want to work.

Starting salaries in the conservation career you choose are competitive with other government agencies and with private business.

Training and advancement

In NRCS you will get many chances for training. NRCS wants you to set career goals and wants to help you reach those goals. On-the-job training is vital in every job. Formal training is also available to help you advance in your career.

Promotions are there for the earning-how fast and how far you go depends on you. Advancement opportunities expand as you broaden your experience with varied work assignments in different locations.

Employee benefits

Vacation, sick leave and disability. During your first three years of service you earn 13 days of vacation leave each year. After three years you earn 20 days. After 15 years you earn 26 days. Each year you earn 13 days of sick leave. You can accumulate sick leave without limit to cover serious illnesses. Special benefits are available if you are disabled or impaired while working.

Health and life insurance. The government pays a substantial part of your health insurance costs. Several medical plans are offered under this voluntary program.

Another voluntary program provides life insurance. The amount of insurance available to you depends on your salary. Again, the government pays part of the cost.

Retirement. Your benefits will depend on how long you work for the government. You must pay a part of your salary into a retirement fund.

For job information

For information on how you should apply, contact the Natural Resources Conservation Service, PO Box 2890, Washington DC 20013, or contact the NRCS office in the locality in which you would like to work. NRCS offices are listed in telephone directories under US Government, Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

USDA NRCS-Lakewood, Colorado
June 1996

Printed on recycled paper