If you are a farmer, rancher or forester interested in mentoring a new NRCS employee, then USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service urges you to learn more about its Conservation Agricultural Mentoring Program (CAMP).
CAMP is a state-driven program that matches an experienced producer who is passionate about conservation with an NRCS field employee that is new to the job or new to the area.
According to NRCS, the goal of the program is to grow critical relationships with producers, while at the same time advancing employee knowledge of production agriculture and natural resources in their local area, ultimately enhancing our ability to provide excellent customer service.
Once matched with a producer mentor, the employee will go out on the land with them 6 to 12 times per year for a period of 12 to 18 months – always during agreed-upon times that are convenient for the producer.
Producer mentors provide a safe, low-risk learning environment for employees to advance their knowledge of:
- Common agricultural practices, equipment, inputs and other topics.
- The types of daily challenges and decisions producers face.
- Local resource problems and concerns.
- How producers use conservation practices to address resource concerns.
For more information on the CAMP program, go to the NRCS website, or contact your local USDA Service Center.