Delivering

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Through the National Science and

Technology Consortium

Science and Technology

MISSION:

Provide products and services to

conservation planners
Acquire, develop, and deliver technology in a
timely manner

GOALS:
Identify and meet field staff
needs
for scientific and technical information
Deliver training and information to the field in a
timely and efficient manner
Respond to requests for information, research, and
technology development from the field
Provide scientific and technical support to program
implementation

Priority Issues
for the
Science and Technology
Consortium

A TRAINED FIELD STAFF TO

PROVIDE EXPERT TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS,
RANCHERS, AND OTHERS

DROUGHT
Water Supply
Water Conservation
Ground Water Decline

N um ber o f Dam s

AGING WATERSHEDS

700

PL-566
Pilot/RC&D
PL-534

600
500
400
300
200
100
0

Year

Many of the 10,000 NRCS assisted

dams are reaching their life expectance

ANIMAL WASTE MANAGEMENT

298,500 Animal Feeding Operations need assistance

Flooding remains a major concern

in many watersheds

FLOODS

Science and Technology

Begins in the Field
New Technologies

Program Requirements

Customer Needs

Centers and Institutes

receive input, and support
technical assistance activities at
the state and regional level

OTHER GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES

Centers and Institutes also access, interpret and

apply research information from...

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
OTHER COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES

LAND GRANT UNIVERSITIES

CENTERS

National Cartographic and Geospatial Center

National Plant Data Center
National Design and Soil Mechanics Center
National Soil Survey Center
National Water and Climate Center
National Water Management Center
National Agroforestry Center

INSTITUTES
Grazing Lands Technology
Natural Resources Inventory and Analysis
Social Sciences
Soil Quality
Watershed Science
Wetland Science
Wildlife Habitat Management

Grazing Lands
Technology Institute
Science-based,
ecologically and
economically sound
technology that
meets the needs of
owners and
managers of
grazing lands.

Natural Resources Inventory

and Analysis Institute
Exists to improve NRCS
ability to inventory,
monitor and assess the
status, conditions and
trends of natural and
related environmental
resources.

National Cartographic and

Geospatial Center
The mapping and spatial data
center for NRCS provides a
variety of map products and
services as well as serving as
the center for the agencys
resource data collection and
analysis.

Social Sciences Institute

Analyzes how social

and economic aspects
of human behavior can
be applied to natural
resource programs,
policies and activities.

Soil Quality Institute

Assessment
Land Management for Soil Quality
Soil Biology

Education, Outreach, Training

Develops and transfers

appropriate technology in
response to comprehensive
watershed needs and
environmental sustainability

Wetland Science Institute

Develops, adapts, and disseminates the

science and technology needed to
protect and restore wetlands

Develops and disseminates technical

materials that will assist NRCS field
staff in working with their customers to
create sound wildlife habitat.

National Plant Data Center

Provides a focused
effort to meet the plant
information needs of
the agency and its
partners activities.

Using a database called PLANTS, plant

data are defined, developed, quality
controlled, maintained and
disseminated to support conservation
activities.

Provides technical support for

design, construction, operation, and
rehabilitation of complex engineering projects.
National Design, Construction,
and Soil Mechanics Center

National Soil Mechanics Center provides

soil testing of samples submitted by the
NRCS field personnel

National Soil Survey Center

Provides technical
leadership and
coordination to soils
programs, with state-ofthe-art soil survey
technology, standards,
data and expertise

National Soil Survey

Products and Activities:
Soil Surveys and Maps
Soil Science Educational Materials
Soils Information and Data
Soil Geography
Soil Use and Management
Research and Investigations

National Water and Climate Center

Data and Technology Acquisition and Transfer
Climate Data
Snow Survey and Water
Supply Forecasting
Agronomic and Chemical
environmental engineering
Soil moisture/temperature
Water quality and quantity
sciences

National Water
Management Center

Provides direct technical assistance to

state specialists regarding water-related
issues to help implement conservation
activities.

National Water Management Center Provides Direct

assistance to states in planning and application

Rehabilitation of aging watershed structures

NPS pollution
Agricultural waste management
CNMPs
Agricultural water projects
Irrigation water management
Ground water management
Peer review for watershed planning efforts
Environmental compliance of water-related programs
Streambank and wetland restoration
Hydrology, hydraulic, and economic evaluations

NATIONAL
AGROFORESTRY CENTER
A partnership between the
Forest Service and NRCS
that conducts research on
forested buffers, and
develops and delivers
technology on agroforestry
practices.

PLANT MATERIALS
CENTERS
Develop improved plants and plant technology for
natural resource conservation. Native plants are
promoted as a healthy way to solve
conservation problems.

Science & Technology

WEB SITE
More information on the
Science and Technology
Consortium can be found
on the web site at:

http://www.info.usda.gov/nrcs/SandT

http://www.info.usda.gov/nrcs/SandT