By Michele F. Mihaljevich

Indiana Correspondent

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recent changes to the priorities and mission of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) demonstrate a commitment to putting farmers first in all decisions made by the agency, according to Colton L. Buckley, NRCS chief.

The agency’s top priority is “to keep working lands in working hands,” Buckley told Farm World. NRCS is prioritizing the preservation and protection of agricultural land and empowerment of the nation’s farmers, he said.

“We’re also highly focused on our front-line staff, who help farmers with conservation planning, financial assistance programs and technical assistance to boost their operations,” Buckley explained. “When I became chief in May, it was an opportunity to outline and update the agency’s path for success for the coming years.

“NRCS’s updated priorities, motto, mission and vision statements reaffirm our role as the trusted, boots-on-the-ground conservation partner for America’s farmers, ranchers and private landowners. These changes better reflect NRCS’s operational direction, producer-centered focus, and the conservation philosophy guiding our work today.”

Buckley said each NRCS chief outlines his or her own priorities. He said he added two key priorities – a focus on wildlife conservation and strengthening the agency’s workforce.

Ultimately, these updated priorities expand the agency’s historic role in providing practical, voluntary and locally led conservation solutions for producers, Buckley noted.

“We are laser focused on preserving and protecting agricultural land, modernizing NRCS technology and infrastructure, getting staff out into the field to deliver more hands-on personalized support, expanding wildlife conservation and outdoor access, strengthening partnerships and workplace culture, and modernizing our infrastructure and technology,” he said.

The agency said it wants to shift to outcome-based conservation and farmer empowerment; re-center field engagement and strengthen technical expertise; and strengthen partnerships by streamlining processes and accountability.

The agency’s updated strategic priorities will guide agency operations, program delivery, stakeholder engagement and modernization efforts through fiscal year 2026 and beyond, NRCS said in a press release.

In its new mission statement, the agency said the conservation solutions it offers help to keep working lands productive for generations to come.

The agency’s new vision statement echoes its mission statement, saying, “An America where working lands remain productive, resilient and in the hands of those who steward them.”

NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to eligible agricultural producers through various conservation programs to address soil, water, air and related natural resource concerns on agricultural land and non-industrial private forestland, according to the agency’s website. NRCS is the nation’s primary private lands conservation agency.